2015-08-21
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Each country provides aeronautical information concerning its own territory. This is published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (1) (AIP) and in Notices to Airmen (2) (NOTAM).
A pilot planning a flight will prepare his Flight Plan (3) from the information in these publications.
What sort of information does a pilot need to know when flying to another country or another aerodrome? For instance, he will want to know which airway (4) to follow.
Further information the pilot needs is, what sort of facilities (5) are available en route and at the aerodrome of his destination. Whether the aerodrome has suitable fuel available; paved runways; the length of these runways; the elevation of the aerodrome (6); what hangar space is available; the communication frequencies, and what meteorological information is available. This is some of the useful information that is in the AIP and NOTAM.
A pilot, therefore, who is flying from the United States to Japan presents himself to the Briefing Officer (7) at the aerodrome of departure. He fills out a Flight Plan giving the route he is to follow and the description of the route, the name of the aerodrome of his departure and that of his destination. Also the name of an alternate aerodrome. (8) This is given in case the aerodrome of destination is closed when he gets there. He gives his cruising speed (9) in knots. Also he must indicate whether he will fly IFR (10) or VFR (11) or, a combination of both and moreover, he gives the flight level he wishes to maintain during the flight.
The pilot will have to report to Air Traffic Control at the various reporting points. (12) With the information received from the pilot, air traffic control provides separation for his flight across the USA, the Pacific Ocean and Japan. The pilot must not stray (13) too far to the left or right of the centreline (14) of the airway. Of course a pilot must always maintain his approved altitude as many aeroplanes are flying at different levels in both directions and, unauthorized leaving of the airway or assigned flight level would be very dangerous.
