Rules of the Air — Page 122, Lesson 196

Let’s pick up with the VFR flight plan rules, because they set the stage for everything that follows. A VFR flight plan is to be filed before operating a VFR flight as a controlled flight. So the key word there is "controlled" — if you want your VFR flight to be a controlled flight, you must file a flight plan first. To indicate that the flight will be operated under VFR, the letter "V" is placed in item 8 of the flight plan form. Item 8 is the field where you state the flight rules you intend to fly under. Now here’s a clever little detail. If a flight is to commence under VFR and at some point en route change to IFR, the letter "Z" is placed in field 8. And the book gives you a neat way to remember it: V → I = Z. That’s the transition from VFR to IFR, and the code letter is Z. Now, what happens if the pilot in command of a VFR flight wishes to change to IFR? There are two paths, depending on the situation. First, if a VFR flight plan was submitted, the PIC is to communicate the necessary changes to be effected to the current flight plan. In other words, you update the existing plan. Second, if you’re in controlled airspace, he or she is to submit an IFR flight plan and obtain a clearance prior to proceeding under IFR. So in controlled airspace, you can’t just switch — you need a new IFR flight plan and an ATC clearance before you fly under IFR. Next, the EET. That’s the estimated elapsed time. The time put in field 16 of a VFR flight plan is the time from take-off until overhead the destination aerodrome. Note that carefully — it’s not until landing, it’s until you’re overhead the destination aerodrome. That’s the definition you need to hold onto. Then communications. Controlled VFR flights, and VFR flights into airspace where the ATS authority considers it advisable, are to maintain two-way RTF communication with a controlling or monitoring ATSU, and make position reports as necessary. RTF is radio telephony, and ATSU is air traffic services unit. So you stay in contact with whoever is controlling or monitoring you, and you report your position as needed. But there’s an important exception: in airspace classified as class E, F, or G, VFR flights may operate without two-way communications — that’s called non-radio operation. Now we move into the Instrument Flight Rules, or IFR. For aircraft to be operated in IMC — and IMC exists when VMC does not — the following rules are applicable. So the definition of IMC is simply the absence of VMC. The rules are collectively known as the Instrument Flight Rules, IFR. There’s a licensing requirement from Annex 1, Personnel Licensing, section 2.1.7. It states that where a licence is issued by a contracting state, it shall not permit the holder to act as PIC or co-pilot of an aeroplane under IFR unless the holder also holds a valid instrument rating, or IR, appropriate to the aircraft category. So if you want to act as pilot in command or co-pilot under IFR, you need both the licence and a valid instrument rating for that aircraft category. Finally, aircraft equipment. Aircraft are to be equipped with suitable instruments and with navigation equipment — and that’s where the excerpt cuts off, so we’ll continue from there next.