On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 15:23:35 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
: ... and a corollary: If one does *NOT* do a popup, but rather files IFR
: and departs VFR, how much of a hassle is it to open said flight plan
: mid-stream? Picking up a flight plan filed with a different FSS for
: departure
: 3 hours earlier is not likely to work and will degenerate into a popup.
:

: Do you mean filing IFR from an untowered field and calling for clearance
: shortly after departure? That usually works quite well as it is actually
: easier for the controller.

I'm primarily used to untowered fields, so the clearance delivery and void
time et al can be kinda a pain. It was the "shortly after departure" that I was
thinking about. Basically, planning to make the trip VFR, but filing an IFR plan in
case the weather's worse than you expected. If you're 2 hours down the road VFR
without having opened your IFR flight plan and you try to open it then and get a
clearance, it's probably been flushed from the system and is as bad as a pop-up.

I've filed two stage IFR. Coming out of OSH to Newberry (ERY). Then
two hours later activating (picking up the clearance) the separate
plan from ERY to 3BS. No void times and other than the clearance it's
just like activating a VFR flight plan. Of course it probably works a
lot better out here in the sparsely populated areas in the middle of
the night.

I just called Minneapolis Center and said "This is November eight
thirty three Romeo IFR out of ERY for 3BS. There as a pause followed
by "stand by" followed by, Eight thirty three Romeo, climb to and
maintain seven thousand, cleared as filed which was direct. Other than
a call about every 10 minutes (I think to keep me awake) I didn't hear
anything until they passed me off to MBS approach which was just
before entering Cleveland center's airspace. MBS was "Descend to and
maintain 3000 at pilots discretion. Would you like to cancel now of
when on the ground?" (they wanted to go home) I said I'd be on the
ground in 5 minutes if they didn't mind staying with me. I called on
the RCO/GCO and they still got to leave on time.



Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

-Cory