"normal" procedure for pop-up filing

"OtisWinslow" wrote in message
m...

Here's what he said and what I reply to:

"pre-file your VFR flight plan with DUATS
so ATC already has a strip on you at initial call-up, just like with IFR."


Yeah, and here's what he said earlier in the thread and what I initially
replied to:

"I've been told you can play tricks with DUAT, filing an IFR flight plan and
putting 'VFR' in the remarks section, but you shouldn't have to resort to
subterfuge like that for what seems like such a simple and logical thing."


We're talking about filing an IFR flight plan through DUATS with "VFR" as
the requested altitude for the purpose of generating strips for flight
following, not about filing a VFR flight plan for search and rescue
purposes.



If you file an IFR flight plan with a VFR altitude they'll assume you
want FF.

Exactly.

if you file an IFR fight plan through DUATS with "VFR" as the
requested altitude it WILL go to ATC

Will it also go to FSS (to be used for SAR?)

Jose
--
The price of freedom is... well... freedom.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

"Jose" wrote in message
...

Will it also go to FSS (to be used for SAR?)


No.

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

Forget about the remarks, just use "VFR" as the requested altitude.

Interesting tip, Steven.

I just tried this and the Cirrus interface software refused it,
demanding an integer for the altitude. However, DUATS accepted it when
I used the direct, interactve connection.

I plan to file this again for a real trip this weekend to see how the
TRACON reacts. I suspect it's something they rarely, if ever, see.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

Dan Luke wrote:
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

Forget about the remarks, just use "VFR" as the requested altitude.


Interesting tip, Steven.

I just tried this and the Cirrus interface software refused it,
demanding an integer for the altitude. However, DUATS accepted it when
I used the direct, interactve connection.

I plan to file this again for a real trip this weekend to see how the
TRACON reacts. I suspect it's something they rarely, if ever, see.

I've had the clearance delivery guy here at RDU swear there couldn't possibly be
a strip for me if I'm VFR... followed by "oh, here it is...".

DGB

"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...

I plan to file this again for a real trip this weekend to see how the
TRACON reacts. I suspect it's something they rarely, if ever, see.


It won't work everywhere, some ARTCCs inhibit the processing of VFR flight
plans like this to TRACONs they host. Chicago ARTCC is one, I don't know
how many others there are.

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:

"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...

By the same token, I've never understood why the FAA doesn't make it
easier to get flight following. You should be able to pre-file your
VFR flight plan with DUATS so ATC already has a strip on you at
initial call-up, just like with IFR. Then you wouldn't have to waste
so much time on the frequency with where you're going, aircraft type,
etc.

I've been told you can play tricks with DUAT, filing an IFR flight
plan and putting "VFR" in the remarks section, but you shouldn't have
to resort to subterfuge like that for what seems like such a simple
and logical thing.



Forget about the remarks, just use "VFR" as the requested altitude.



Is this an "official" FAA procedure or just something that most
controllers understand as an indication that FF will be requested?


Matt

Matt Whiting wrote:

Is this an "official" FAA procedure or just something that most
controllers understand as an indication that FF will be requested?

I've never seen it published, but it is known to work. Oakland
actually encourages it for VFR class B transitions. It's how
ADIZ and FRZ flight plans get routed in the DC Area as well (although
you are not authorized to use that ploy to get ADIZ flight plans
for VFRs).

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...

Is this an "official" FAA procedure or just something that most
controllers understand as an indication that FF will be requested?


Depends what you mean by "official", I suppose. I've never seen anything in
print about filing it through DUATS as I explained here, I just tried it one
day and it worked. The entry of VFR flight data into the NAS computer is
certainly "official", the procedure is described in the flight data
processing manual.

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...

Is this an "official" FAA procedure or just something that most
controllers understand as an indication that FF will be requested?



Depends what you mean by "official", I suppose. I've never seen anything in
print about filing it through DUATS as I explained here, I just tried it one
day and it worked. The entry of VFR flight data into the NAS computer is
certainly "official", the procedure is described in the flight data
processing manual.



I meant official in the sense that it was documented somewhere such that
most knowledgeable controllers would know what it mean when they saw it,
or that the computers would handle it properly. Sounds like the answer
is basically, yes.

Matt