This IFR flight briefing presentation has been made concise and simple in order to easily handle the IFR flight preparation.
As IVAO, in a simulated area, is different from real aviation, this briefing is not exactly the real briefing expected in real aviation. The procedure is just simplified using only the major elements.
Pay attention that this document presents the conditions for a domestic IFR flight of about 300NM. Overseas flights and flights to isolated airfields are not covered by this document.
The briefing shall be presented using the same order each time using a logical progress compared to the flight to be flown. Pay attention that the flight briefing shall answer the question: Is the flight possible? If yes, which conditions can validate or invalidate this flight?
All subjects presented contain some theoretical knowledge and this basis shall be known and understood by the pilot. This basis is the source for creating some questions for the theoretical part of exams, asked by your examiner.
These are the subjects to be considered for a domestic IFR flight:
The examples given are just for information. They are not extracted from a realistic flight. You must find your own parameters.
This item's goal is to list the aircraft parameters used for this flight:
| Aircraft ICAO type | B734 |
| Aircraft manufacturer | Boeing |
| Aircraft manufacturer type | 737-400 |
| Number of engines | 2 |
| Type of engines | Jet |
| Aircraft empty weight | 33650 kg or 74185 lbs |
| Aircraft wake turbulence | Medium |
| Aircraft landing category letter | C |
| ICAO defined equipment on board and used | ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ/S |
This item's goal is to list the flight route planned for this flight:
| Departure ICAO airfield | CYUL |
| Arrival ICAO airfield | KORD |
| Route to be flown | YUL Q824 FNT |
| Route validation | PASS |
| Expected Cruise flight level(s) | FL240 |
| Expected instrument mandatory for the route | WXY |
| Expected take-off time | 13:45UTC |
| Expected departure runway (pilot plan) | 10 |
| Expected departure runway length | 2800m |
| Expected departure procedure | TRUDO2 |
| Expected en-route time | 3:23 |
| Expected arrival procedure | PAITN4 entry FNT |
| Expected flight level starting arrival procedure | FL200 |
| Expected IAF | ORD |
| Expected flight level or altitude at IAF | 5000ft |
| Expected IAF time | 17:08UTC |
| Expected MSA in sector | 3100ft |
| Expected landing runway | 18R |
| Expected landing runway length | 2600m |
| Expected Final Approach procedure | ILS-Y RWY 18R |
| Alternate Final approach procedure | VOR-Z RWY 18R |
| Expected landing time | 17:23UTC |
Do not forget to check before the flight:
- Route restrictions (MEA, specific altitude restriction)
- Mix of airway types during the beginning or end of the flight (Upper or lower routes)
- GRID MORA
- Restricted or prohibited areas to avoid
An alternate airfield shall be planned for some unexpected event during the flight.
As pilot in command, you must be prepared for rerouting or proceed with no hesitation to the alternate airfield when facing aircraft pan or distress conditions.
| Alternate airfield after take off | CYOW after 10NM from CYUL |
| Procedure to be flown to reach alternate | Climb 7000ft direct ORE VOR |
| Minimum flight altitude (MEA, MSA) | 5000ft until 5DME ORE, then 4000ft |
| Expected runway at alternate | 24 |
| Expected Final approach at alternate | ILS-Z RWY 24 |
| Interception altitude | 3000ft |
| Alternate en-route airfield | KOTT |
| Procedure to be flown to reach alternate | Descent to FL180 inbound TOT VOR |
| Expected runway at alternate | 12 |
| Expected Final approach at alternate | ILS-Z RWY 12 |
| EInterception altitude | 2500ft |
| Alternate arrival airfield | KCGX |
| Distance from arrival and alternate airfield | 25NM |
| Route to be flown to reach alternate | Direct CGX VOR using radial 135° inbound |
| Minimum flight altitude (MEA, MSA) | 4200ft |
| Expected Speed | 220kt |
| Expected IAF | CGX |
| Expected En route time (EET) | 22min |
| Expected runway at alternate | 18 |
| Expected Final approach at alternate | ILS-Z RWY 18 |
| Interception altitude | 3000ft |
You can select two alternate arrival airfields in order to have more options at the arrival phase of the flight. The alternate en-route airfield is optional and taken by the pilot in function of the route strategy.p
Pay attention that the aircraft category shall be compatible with the type of approach flown and the aircraft is capable to land at any alternate chosen.
The pilot shall be always aware of the current weather and forecast along his route. This is mandatory for each part of the flight:
There are different types of weather data:
Other sources can be checked such as:
Before departure, you should have:
| Weather at departure airfield | Get METAR |
| Forecast weather at departure airfield | Get TAF |
| Weather at alternate departure airfield | Get METAR |
| Forecast weather at alternate departure airfield | Get TAF |
| Weather at arrival airfield | Get METAR |
| Forecast weather at arrival airfield | Get TAF |
| Weather at alternate arrival airfield(s) | Get METAR |
| Forecast weather at alternate arrival airfield(s) | Get TAF |
| En-route winds | Check high altitude weather charts |
| En-route weather | Check high altitude weather charts |
The en-route weather is optional for the SPP exam, recommended for the CP exam and mandatory for the ATP exam.
After a weather check, the pilot shall get the minimum take-off and landing parameters for his flight:
| Minimum Taking-off parameters | Get value from charts |
| Minimum Landing parameters for visual approach at destination airfield | Get value from charts in case of visual approach manoeuver expected |
| Minimum Landing parameters for non-precision approach(es) at destination airfield | Get value from charts |
| Minimum Landing parameters for precision approach (if available) at destination airfield | Get value from charts |
| Minimum Landing parameters for visual approach at alternate airfield(s) | Get value from charts in case of visual approach manoeuver expected |
| Minimum Landing parameters for non-precision approach(es) at alternate airfield(s) | Get value from charts |
| Minimum Landing parameters for precision approach (if available) at alternate airfield(s) | Get value from charts |
The pilot shall now compare these weather data with the minimum landing and take-off parameters taken from charts in order to decide if the planned flight is possible:
- Take-off minima and runway for departure
- Landing minima at destination airfield considering the type of approach chosen and landing runway(s)
- Landing minima at alternate airfield(s) considering the type of approach chosen and landing runway(s)
- Departure and arrival procedure selection, Route selection (if some weather effect forces to modify the route. Example: thunderstorm)
The pilot shall calculate the total fuel consumption for his flight. In function of the flight to be performed (type of aircraft and regulation taken), the pilot shall choose the general aviation regulation or commercial transport regulation.
| Taxi fuel | Estimate the value in function of taxi route |
| Trip Fuel | Calculate the value in function of route |
| Destination alternate fuel | Calculate the value in function of route to alternate |
| 45min Additional flight time fuel | Calculate the value in function of route to alternate |
| Discretionary fuel | Estimate the need yourself |
This regulation can be taken for SPP flight examinations with a small turboprop aircraft.
| Taxi fuel | Estimate the value in function of taxi route |
| Trip Fuel | Calculate the value in function of route |
| Contingency fuel | Calculate the value in function of trip fuel |
| Destination alternate fuel | Calculate the value in function of route to alternate |
| Final reserve fuel | Estimate the value in function of regulation |
| Additional fuel | Estimate the need yourself |
| Discretionary fuel | Estimate the need yourself |
This regulation is highly recommended for CP flight examinations with a bi-reactor medium aircraft. This regulation is mandatory for ATP flight examinations.
The pilot shall make a weight briefing in order to calculate the different expected weight during his flight especially for take-off and landing:
| Manufacturer's Empty Weight (MEW) | 36,779 kg | Get value from aircraft specification |
| + Operator's Items | +5,202 kg | Estimate the value |
| = Operational Empty Weight (OEW) | = 41,981 kg | |
| + Payload | + 13,529 kg | Choose a payload for your flight |
| = Actual Zero Fuel Weight (AZFW) | = 55,510 kg | Example |
| + Fuel | + 13,239 kg | Get value from fuel management |
| = Actual Gross Weight (AGW) | = 68,749 kg | |
| - Taxi Fuel | - 100 kg | Get value from fuel management |
| = Actual Take-Off Weight (ATOW) | = 68,649 kg | |
| - Fuel consumption | -10,900 kg | Get value from fuel management |
| = Actual Landing Weight (ALW) | = 57,749 kg |
The pilot shall now present the take-off parameters:
| Take-off Speed V1 | Calculate the speed |
| Take-off Speed VR | Calculate the speed |
| Take-off Speed V2 | Calculate the speed |
| Actual Take-off Weight | Get the value from weight calculation |
| Maximum Take-off Weight | Get the value from aircraft performance sheets |
| Runway Minimum Take-off length | Calculate the length for take-off |
| Take-off Wind expected | Get the value from weather briefing |
The calculation of runway minimum take-off length is mandatory only for ATP examinations. The take-off speed calculation is mandatory only for ATP examinations. But for SPP and CP examinations, the knowledge of typical or nominal values without calculation (or use of FMC calculation) is mandatory.
After the take-off parameters presentation, the pilot shall decide and explain if the take-off is possible and in which conditions if necessary.
The pilot shall now present the landing parameters:
| Landing configuration | Give landing configuration chosen |
| Reference Speed VREF | Give the reference speed |
| Actual Landing Weight | Get the value from weight calculation |
| Weather impact | Give weather hazard that may have impact on landing |
| Landing Wind expected | Get the value from weather briefing |
| Final approach speed | Give the final approach speed chosen |
| Runway Minimum Landing length | Calculate the length for landing |
| Check landing pavement strength | Calculate CAN and compare with PCN |
After the landing parameters presentation, the pilot shall decide and explain if the landing is possible and in which conditions if necessary.
The calculation of minimum runway lengths for take-off and landing, and the landing pavement strength check is mandatory only for ATP examinations.
Any flight can include applicable NOTAM for their flight. As NOTAM are optional in the IVAO network, the pilot has the choice to apply all, partially or no NOTAM constraints to his flight.