Home >> Hobbies >> Aviation

How to Prepare for a VFR Plane Flight

When it comes to VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight, many pilots aboard general aviation airplanes opt for it. Flying VFR gives you the freedom to do what you want, even when you are airborne. It is unnecessary to create a flight plan, you can change your route en-route, and you can have a friendly conversation with the people down at air-traffic control. For some, VFR flight is just an option for flight. For others, it is the only way they can fly. Although bad weather can delay VFR flights, it still is a great way to get up in the sky in a casual manner.

Things You'll Need

Aircraft
Private Pilot's Licence
Logbook
Clear Weather
Airport
Charts
Flight Plan

Instructions

Planning Your VFR Flight
- 1
  Check the weather to make sure that they conditions are flyable. Don't be the one stuck up there in gale-force winds!
- 2
  Create a flight plan. Although this is not legally required, it is done by almost all VFR pilots because of its simplicity and helpfulness. Although you can change this flight plan while up in the air, it is still a great thing to create before taking off.
- 3
  Contact air-traffic control, and notify them of your flight. This will reserve a spot for your plane, and it will make taking off and landing easier.
- 4
  Fly your plane to your desired destination, remembering to always be in contact with the ground. This is a mandatory step of VFR flight: make sure you have your airport's frequency.
- 5
  After landing, jot down in your logbook how your flight went. Was it windy, or did you experience turbulence? Write down things about the plane too. This will help in the future if you experience aircraft problems.

Aviation