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4 Answers

VFR Flight Plan Question

Asked by: 2121 views ,
FAA Regulations, General Aviation

Does filing a VFR flight plan automatically give you clearance? Like for example would I need to verify that I am cleared into a Class Bravo before entering on a VFR flight plan?

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4 Answers



  1. KDS on Oct 07, 2020

    Filing a VFR flight plan give you no more authorization than if you did not file a VFR flight plan. Vice versa, you can contact ATC and get a clearance through Class B with or without a flight plan.

    The biggest advantage of filing a VFR flight plan is to reduce the time between your accident and when you are located. I cannot quote them, but I have seen the number of hours and it is substantial.

    It is not part of your question, but I will add a tip I heard for remembering to close your flight plan. Another pilot would put a bright orange clothes pin on his shirt. Then, at the end of the flight when he looked in the restroom mirror, he would see it hanging there and be reminded to close the flight plan if not already closed. He called it his “Close Pin”.

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  2. EAD on Oct 07, 2020

    As far as I know, ATC does NOT even see VFR filed flight plans.

    VFR flight plans are opened and closed only by calling FSS (via phone or radio), or if you signed up for it, clicking the easy open or close links in your email.

    You would ABSOLUTELY need to hear the words “Cleared into Class Bravo” before entering.

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  3. Mark Kolber on Oct 08, 2020

    In case it wasn’t absolutely clear from the other two replies, except for a few very specific exceptions with their own requirements and limitations like the DC SFRA…

    A VFR flight plan has absolutely no ATC function whatsoever. It’s one and only function is to initiate search and rescue if you don’t show up. It gives you clearance for absolutely nothing.

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  4. John D Collins on Oct 08, 2020

    And to add to the discussion, filing a VFR flight plan by itself will not do anything. No one will come looking for you if you are overdue if you don’t in addition to filing the VFR flight plan, activate the flight plan. I see many VFR flight plans that are never activated. The FSS computer automatically deletes them from their system if they are not activated within 2 hours of the filed departure time.

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