How much IFR flight planning do you do?

[Lead Sled]

He told me filing thru DUATS just doesn't work...

Huh? I guess that means that the 5,000+ flight plans that I filed through DUATS via Flitesoft didn't work??? Man that's bad. I guess I'm going to have to call someone up at the FAA and apologise for something.

Here's the drill...

(Vector4fun correct me if I'm wrong...) If you file via DUATS, it's held in their computer until 2 hours prior to your proposed time of departure; then it is sent to the ARTCC computer. 30 minutes prior to your departure time it is sent to the local controller (Clearance Delivery, etc.) awaiting your call. It is available there for two hours before it is dumped. Flight service never sees it unless you call them for your clearance and they won't know if it was actually filed or not.

By the way, I'm not kidding about having filed over 5,000 flight plans through DUATS and I can count on 1 hand the number of times that it wasn't there. For all intents and purposes, it's nearly flawless. If you guys are having the problems you claim to be having you're doing something wrong or...

 

[Lead Sled]

:werd: I like FSS...also feel like I'm more on record of getting a briefing if something goes wrong...that stuff gets recorded doesn't it?

I like hearing the words "No TFRs"...

There is also a record of your DUAT downloads.

The nice thing about calling FSS is that if you don't initially get the forecast you want, you can keep calling back until you hear what you want to hear. Personally, I love hearing the guys tell me the VFR isn't recommended when I'm getting a briefing for an IFR flight in the jet. You got to love them guys.

'Sled

 

[gkrangers]

Huh? I guess that means that the 5,000+ flight plans that I filed through DUATS via Flitesoft didn't work??? Man that's bad. I guess I'm going to have to call someone up at the FAA and apologise for something.

Here's the drill...

(Vector4fun correct me if I'm wrong...) If you file via DUATS, it's held in their computer until 2 hours prior to your proposed time of departure; then it is sent to the ARTCC computer. 30 minutes prior to your departure time it is sent to the local controller (Clearance Delivery, etc.) awaiting your call. It is available there for two hours before it is dumped. Flight service never sees it unless you call them for your clearance and they won't know if it was actually filed or not.

By the way, I'm not kidding about having filed over 5,000 flight plans through DUATS and I can count on 1 hand the number of times that it wasn't there. For all intents and purposes, it's nearly flawless. If you guys are having the problems you claim to be having you're doing something wrong or...

It doesn't seem that difficult. I filled it out and hit file. It said it was filed with JAX center. Then 30 minutes later I went to the modify/cancel on DUATS, and there was no record of the plan (This was still atleast 30 minutes before departure, so itd still be with JAX). At this point, according to your timeline, its in the ARTCC computer.

Are you absolutely sure FSS has no knowledge of whether the plan exists? That sounds pretty stupid if its true...Can they check the center computer? The guy knew I filed with DUATS....so you would think he'd check the center computer?

Heres one...How can I verify that its on file?

 

[puddlejumper]

Like Lead said above, 2 hours before the proposed time off, DUATS sends the flightplan off to the ARTCC computer (HOST, I believe). A pilot can't modify through DUATS anymore inside that 2 hour period. DUATS sends it directly to HOST and FSS will not have any record of it. You can request that the FSS specialist calls the ARTCC and have them amend the flight plan or attach a note to it. This is done all the time. Clearance control can do the same thing. Say you file for 2000Z but you pax show up at 1830Z, as long as it's within 2 hours of the proposed time, you can have clearance call center and request the strip early or have FSS call and amend it.

I file with DUATS all the time via Fltplan.com. I can't remember the last time a flight plan was not there when I expected it.

BTW, FltPlan.com also lists all coded departure routes, preferred routes and routes of past users between your departure and destination and airports closeby. It's awesome. Try it out!

 

[puddlejumper]

Heres one...How can I verify that its on file?

My company subscribes to a flight tracker service, FBOWeb.com. When I file, 2 hours before the proposed time off, I get a text message on my phone. Your FBO may have a subscription, ask them if you can look at their list of proposed flights off. If you file with DUATS, it will definitely be there.

 

[Lead Sled]

How can I verify that its on file?

If you file it within 2 hours of your proposed departure time it goes directly to the appropriate ARTCC's computer and their is no way to check it or modify it - it's in their system waiting to be activated. It stays in their system until 2 hours after your proposed time of departure, then it is dumped with no way to retrieve it. The only way to check / modify it is if you file it more than two hours prior to departure, then you can still view it on the DUATS' system before it is sent on.

Additionally, DUATS only allow you to file flight plans up to 24 hours prior to departure. There is a way around that - if you use Fltplan.com you can file at least a week in advance and they will submit the flight plans on the appropriate day and time. This feature probably wouldn't be too useful for many of you, but it comes in really handy for some of us.

'Sled

 

[gkrangers]

If you file it within 2 hours of your proposed departure time it goes directly to the appropriate ARTCC's computer and their is no way to check it or modify it - it's in their system waiting to be activated. It stays in their system until 2 hours after your proposed time of departure, then it is dumped with no way to retrieve it. The only way to check / modify it is if you file it more than two hours prior to departure, then you can still view it on the DUATS' system before it is sent on.

Additionally, DUATS only allow you to file flight plans up to 24 hours prior to departure. There is a way around that - if you use Fltplan.com you can file at least a week in advance and they will submit the flight plans on the appropriate day and time. This feature probably wouldn't be too useful for many of you, but it comes in really handy for some of us.

'Sled

Thanks. I still wonder if it was on file or not. The FSS guy knew I was using DUATS, so I would assume he would have checked the ZJX computer.

Oh well, thanks for the info guys.

 

[Lead Sled]

Thanks. I still wonder if it was on file or not. The FSS guy knew I was using DUATS, so I would assume he would have checked the ZJX computer.

Don't assume that. If you filed via DUATS then it was there. Like I said, I've filed well over 5000 flight plans via DUATS and I've only had 3 or 4 lost - that's pretty good odds.

'Sled

 

[gkrangers]

Don't assume that. If you filed via DUATS then it was there. Like I said, I've filed well over 5000 flight plans via DUATS and I've only had 3 or 4 lost - that's pretty good odds.

'Sled

Tomorrow I'll trust the DUATS when I file.

Thanks for the help.

 

[gkrangers]

Just filed with DUATS..and its there! Yay!