Unexpected IFR flight plan changes
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 6:41 am
Hello PE,
Yesterday, I filed a flight plan from KPSP to KSAN. I fly the 737 800. It takes at least a half hour to load up a chosen flight plan into this bird. I've flown about a hand full of times on PE and when asking for IFR clearance on my filed plan, I've always received back what I filed for the most part except on yesterdays KPSP to KSAN flight.
When it came time to ask for clearance on my filed KPSP THRM6 TRM BARET5, the controller cleared me to a completely different route. Instead, I was instructed to KPSP CATERDRAL1 DEP V514 DCT MZB. I understand this can happen in real life. Not a problem. But when I was being read the new route, I was taken by surprise and tripped all over myself when I had to read the route back to him. An ego crusher for sure!
My questions are:
1. Given that I fly the 737 which has a complex FMS (Flight Management System), should I not even bother choosing my own route and just file a blank route? Should I just ask for clearance and take what I am given instead? That way, I can save time by not pre-programming the flight system and I can focus on what the controller will give me when its clearance instruction time? Re-constructing a flight plan into your FMS is not very fun when it is not even close to what you filed.
2. Any tips on how to prepare for a controllers read back for flight plan clearance. I usually employ CRAFT and fill in the blanks as he/she speaks the route to me. They have a very tough job, and I’d like to try to not make it harder.
Thanks so much!
Yesterday, I filed a flight plan from KPSP to KSAN. I fly the 737 800. It takes at least a half hour to load up a chosen flight plan into this bird. I've flown about a hand full of times on PE and when asking for IFR clearance on my filed plan, I've always received back what I filed for the most part except on yesterdays KPSP to KSAN flight.
When it came time to ask for clearance on my filed KPSP THRM6 TRM BARET5, the controller cleared me to a completely different route. Instead, I was instructed to KPSP CATERDRAL1 DEP V514 DCT MZB. I understand this can happen in real life. Not a problem. But when I was being read the new route, I was taken by surprise and tripped all over myself when I had to read the route back to him. An ego crusher for sure!
My questions are:
1. Given that I fly the 737 which has a complex FMS (Flight Management System), should I not even bother choosing my own route and just file a blank route? Should I just ask for clearance and take what I am given instead? That way, I can save time by not pre-programming the flight system and I can focus on what the controller will give me when its clearance instruction time? Re-constructing a flight plan into your FMS is not very fun when it is not even close to what you filed.
2. Any tips on how to prepare for a controllers read back for flight plan clearance. I usually employ CRAFT and fill in the blanks as he/she speaks the route to me. They have a very tough job, and I’d like to try to not make it harder.
Thanks so much!