<P> Flight plans are documents filed by a pilot or flight dispatcher with the local Civil Aviation Authority ( e.g. the FAA in the United States ) prior to departure which indicate the plane 's planned route or flight path . Flight plan format is specified in ICAO Doc 4444 . They generally include basic information such as departure and arrival points , estimated time en route , alternate airports in case of bad weather , type of flight ( whether instrument flight rules ( IFR ) or visual flight rules ( VFR ) ) , the pilot 's information , number of people on board and information about the aircraft itself . In most countries , flight plans are required for flights under IFR , but may be optional for flying VFR unless crossing international borders . Flight plans are highly recommended , especially when flying over inhospitable areas , such as water , as they provide a way of alerting rescuers if the flight is overdue . In the United States and Canada , when an aircraft is crossing the Air Defense Identification Zone ( ADIZ ) , either an IFR or a special type of VFR flight plan called a DVFR ( Defense VFR ) flight plan must be filed . For IFR flights , flight plans are used by air traffic control to initiate tracking and routing services . For VFR flights , their only purpose is to provide needed information should search and rescue operations be required , or for use by air traffic control when flying in a `` Special Flight Rules Area '' . </P>
<P> Flight plans are documents filed by a pilot or flight dispatcher with the local Civil Aviation Authority ( e.g. the FAA in the United States ) prior to departure which indicate the plane 's planned route or flight path . Flight plan format is specified in ICAO Doc 4444 . They generally include basic information such as departure and arrival points , estimated time en route , alternate airports in case of bad weather , type of flight ( whether instrument flight rules ( IFR ) or visual flight rules ( VFR ) ) , the pilot 's information , number of people on board and information about the aircraft itself . In most countries , flight plans are required for flights under IFR , but may be optional for flying VFR unless crossing international borders . Flight plans are highly recommended , especially when flying over inhospitable areas , such as water , as they provide a way of alerting rescuers if the flight is overdue . In the United States and Canada , when an aircraft is crossing the Air Defense Identification Zone ( ADIZ ) , either an IFR or a special type of VFR flight plan called a DVFR ( Defense VFR ) flight plan must be filed . For IFR flights , flight plans are used by air traffic control to initiate tracking and routing services . For VFR flights , their only purpose is to provide needed information should search and rescue operations be required , or for use by air traffic control when flying in a `` Special Flight Rules Area '' . </P>
who is required to file a flight plan
who is required to file a flight plan
pilot flight dispatcher
pilot flight dispatcher