IFR Flight Planning & Flying

Let's plan a flight from WIDD to WIDN using appropriate Sid's And IFR Approaches.

Preflight considerations, all logical, include:

What is the weather? Are changes expected?

Is the departure airport suitable for my operation?

Is the destination airport suitable for my operation?

What routes are suitable in terms of terrain, weather and available en route NAVAIDs?

Prepare charts (DPs, en route charts, instrument approach charts, VFR sectionals, etc.).

WxRadar Image

Remember, Radar does not indicate cloud coverage.

Example of Satellite Picture displaying cloud cover

METAR For Departure, Enroute and Destination Airport

SAID31 WIDD 040400

METAR WIDD 040400Z 03016KT 9000 SCT013 27/24 Q1015=

SAID32 WIDN 040400

METAR WIDN 040400Z 02013KT 8000 -RA BKN015 26/23 Q1015 =

SAID35 WIDS 040400

METAR WIDS 040400Z 04006KT 9999 BKN017 30/25 Q1014=

SAID34 WIPK 040400

METAR WIPK 040400Z 32008KT 8000 SCT014 FEW017CB 30/24 Q1013 CB OVER THE FIELD=

TAF For Departure, Enroute and Destination Airport

FTID31 WIDD 032300

TAF WIDD 032300Z 0400/0424 35008KT 9000 SCT014 PROB30 TEMPO 0405/0407 7000 -RA BKN014 BECMG 0410/0412 01006KT 8000 FEW014=

TAF WIDN 032300Z 0400/0424 01008KT 9000 SCT013 PROB30 TEMPO 0400/0404 4000 -TSRA FEW017CB=

FTID43 WIDS 032300

TAF WIDS 032300Z 0400/0412 00000KT 8000 SCT017 BECMG 0402/0404 01010KT 9999=

FTID41 WIPK 032300

TAF WIPK 032300Z 0400/0424 35010KT 9000 SCT016 TEMPO 0405/0408 33006KT 3000 RA FEW017CB BECMG 0412/0413 34003KT 7000 FEW017=

WIDD INFORMATION

Select an Appropriate Departure Procedure suitable for Direction of Flight

Maximum holding Speeds according to Altitude

As we have seen, various factors such as airport information, weather, departures, enroute navigation, arrival procedures ,are brought in to completing our IFR flight.

The amount of information available and needed to be analyzed may seem overwhelming at first, but with proper preparation and planning it can be made more satisfying than a VFR flight.