Methods to file or cancel your IFR flight plan

In honor of recent IFR weather, I decided to cover filing and cancelling IFR flight plans in this article.

To file, the most efficient way according to yours truly, is through ForeFlight. The way I start is by pressing the FPL (flight plan) tab on the Maps page, and route out my plan there. Once I have picked the altitude, route, departure time, and plane, I then import it into the Flights tab. From there, I can get a weather briefing, check out performance aspects of the trip, ensure I am filing the correct equipment, fuel on board, and persons aboard. Once I am ready, I hit "file" and it is sent off. Other methods consist of filing a flight plan through a local FSS or through an online provider such as Leidos.

One way to pick up your clearance is by calling clearance delivery on the ground at your airport. If that does not exist, then you can call the Flight Data number for the local area or a FSS. I have done both and are easy and quick! Keep in mind that if you are recieving a clearance on the ground from anyone but clearance delivery, you may be issued a Clearance Void time. Make sure you are in the air before then, or your IFR clearance is invalid.

Now, when it comes to closing your IFR flight plan, it is quite simple when operating at a towered airport. Just land! Tower will close it for you. When landing at an untowered airport, you can either cancel in flight before landing with the controlling agency you are currently talking to, or later on the ground with a FSS. Ensure to not dilly dally on the ground and forget to contact the FSS to close your flight plan. If you do not, the airport will not allow IFR arrivals until you cancel.

Happy flying!