VFR Flight Planning
OBJECTIVE
Equip trainees with the skills to develop comprehensive Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plans, incorporating route selection with waypoints, METAR/TAF interpretation, fuel management calculations specific to the T-38C, and regulatory compliance, to promote safe and efficient cross-country navigation in virtual simulator environments.
CONTENT
Flight Planning Fundamentals
- • Overview of the VFR flight planning process, including defining objectives (e.g., departure, destination, alternates), gathering required documents.
- • Importance of pre-flight briefings: Checking aircraft performance data, weight and balance calculations, and personal minimums for weather and fuel.
- • Required information: NOTAMs, TFRs, airspace along route, and airport information (runway lengths, services, frequencies).
Reading METARs (Aviation Routine Weather Reports)
METARs provide current weather conditions at an airport. They are issued hourly (or as conditions change with SPECI reports). Learn to decode each element:
EXAMPLE METAR
KLBB 251753Z 32015G22KT 10SM FEW045 SCT120 28/12 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP142
METAR BREAKDOWN
CLOUD COVER ABBREVIATIONS
SKC/CLR
Clear
FEW
1-2 oktas
SCT
3-4 oktas
BKN
5-7 oktas
OVC
8 oktas (overcast)
VV
Vertical visibility (obscured)
COMMON WEATHER PHENOMENA
VFR Check: Ensure visibility ≥ 3 SM and ceiling (BKN/OVC) ≥ 1,000' AGL for basic VFR. If you see BKN005 or 1/2SM FG, that's IFR conditions!
Reading TAFs (Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts)
TAFs forecast weather conditions at an airport for the next 24-30 hours. They use similar codes to METARs but include change indicators:
EXAMPLE TAF
TAF KLBB 251730Z 2518/2618 31012KT P6SM SKC FM252200 28008KT P6SM FEW080 TEMPO 2602/2606 4SM HZ
TAF BREAKDOWN
TAF CHANGE INDICATORS
Building a VFR Flight Plan with Waypoints
A well-structured flight plan uses waypoints to break your route into manageable segments. This helps with navigation, fuel planning, and time management.
SAMPLE FLIGHT PLAN: KLBB (Lubbock) → KMAF (Midland)
| Waypoint | Identifier | Dist (NM) | Course | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Departure | KLBB | — | — | 0 NM |
| Levelland (town) | LEVLD | 28 | 245° | 28 NM |
| Seminole Airport | KSNL | 42 | 215° | 70 NM |
| Destination | KMAF | 35 | 185° | 105 NM |
WAYPOINT SELECTION TIPS
- • Visual landmarks: Towns, highways, rivers, lakes, railroad tracks
- • Airports: Provide emergency landing options and easy-to-identify features
- • VORs/GPS fixes: Named intersections or navaids for precision
- • Spacing: Keep legs 20-50 NM apart for regular position checks
- • Avoid: Route over restricted/prohibited airspace, high terrain without alternatives
FLIGHT PLAN DOCUMENTATION
Include for each leg:
- • True course → Magnetic course
- • Distance
- • Estimated time en route (ETE)
- • Estimated time of arrival (ETA)
- • Fuel required
Also document:
- • Cruising altitude
- • Frequencies (CTAF, Tower, ATIS)
- • Alternate airport(s)
- • Emergency fields along route
- • NOTAM/TFR notes
T-38C Fuel Management and Calculations
Proper fuel planning is critical in the T-38C due to its high fuel consumption. Learn these formulas and apply them to every flight.
T-38C FUEL PLANNING DATA
Cruise Burn Rate
2,400 lbs/hr
At typical cruise settings
Typical Cruise Speed
350 KTAS
Knots True Airspeed
Taxi/Runup Fuel
~100 lbs
Ground operations
Climb Fuel (to FL250)
~400 lbs
Approximate
FUEL CALCULATION FORMULAS
Step 1: Calculate Flight Time
Time (hours) = Distance (NM) ÷ Ground Speed (knots)
For 105 NM at 350 kts: 105 ÷ 350 = 0.30 hrs (18 min)
Step 2: Calculate Cruise Fuel Burn
Cruise Fuel (lbs) = Time (hours) × Burn Rate (lbs/hr)
For 0.30 hrs at 2,400 lbs/hr: 0.30 × 2,400 = 720 lbs
Step 3: Add Fixed Fuel Requirements
Total = Cruise + Taxi + Climb + Reserve
EXAMPLE: KLBB → KMAF (105 NM)
| Item | Fuel (lbs) |
|---|---|
| Taxi and Runup | 100 |
| Climb to Cruise Altitude | 400 |
| Cruise (105 NM @ 350 kts = 0.30 hrs × 2,400 lbs/hr) | 720 |
| Reserve (30 min = 0.5 hrs × 2,400 lbs/hr) | 1,200 |
| TOTAL FUEL REQUIRED | 2,420 lbs |
QUICK REFERENCE: FUEL PER DISTANCE (at 350 KTAS, 2,400 lbs/hr)
50 NM
343 lbs
100 NM
686 lbs
150 NM
1,029 lbs
200 NM
1,371 lbs
Formula: (Distance ÷ 350) × 2,400 = Cruise fuel in lbs
Bingo Fuel: Always know your "bingo" fuel state—the minimum fuel needed to return to base or reach an alternate. In the T-38C, fuel awareness is critical. Running low is not an option!
Route Selection and Navigation Planning
- • Selecting direct or waypoint-based routes using visual checkpoints (e.g., rivers, highways) to avoid restricted airspace and terrain; plotting on sectional charts with pilotage and dead reckoning methods.
- • Incorporating GPS as a supplemental tool: Entering waypoints, estimating time en route (ETE), and accounting for magnetic variation.
- • Diversion planning: Identifying suitable alternates with fuel stops, runway lengths, and services.
Runway Selection
Selecting the appropriate runway is a critical decision that affects safety, performance, and efficiency. Consider these factors when choosing a runway for takeoff or landing:
PRIMARY SELECTION FACTOR: WIND
Always prioritize landing and taking off into the wind when possible. Headwind provides:
- • Shorter takeoff roll and ground speed
- • Shorter landing distance
- • Better aircraft control at lower speeds
- • Improved go-around performance
Calculating Headwind/Crosswind Components
If wind is 320° at 15 knots and runway is 35 (350°):
Wind angle = 350° - 320° = 30° off the nose
Headwind ≈ 15 × cos(30°) ≈ 13 kts
Crosswind ≈ 15 × sin(30°) ≈ 7.5 kts
RUNWAY SELECTION CRITERIA
1. Wind Direction
Select runway most aligned with wind. Max crosswind for T-38C: 15 kts (dry), 10 kts (wet).
2. Runway Length
Verify runway length meets T-38C requirements with appropriate safety margins.
3. Surface Condition
Check NOTAMs for closures, construction, or contamination (water, snow, ice, rubber).
4. Obstacles & Terrain
Review departure/arrival paths for terrain, towers, or obstacles affecting climb/descent.
5. Traffic Pattern
Consider active runway assignments, traffic flow, and noise abatement procedures.
6. Lighting & Navaids
For low visibility: prioritize runways with VASI/PAPI, ILS, or better lighting systems.
RUNWAY SELECTION DECISION FLOW
Remember: At towered airports, ATC assigns the active runway based on traffic and conditions. You may request a different runway if needed, but be prepared to explain your reasoning (e.g., crosswind limits, performance requirements).
Performance and Emergency Considerations
- • Assessing takeoff and landing distances based on density altitude, wind, and runway conditions; using performance charts to confirm safe operations.
- • Integrating emergency procedures: Planning lost procedures, forced landing sites, and communication frequencies along the route.
COMPLETION STANDARDS
Trainees will exhibit mastery of VFR flight planning through hands-on exercises and verbal explanations. Trainees must:
- • Correctly decode and interpret a METAR, identifying VFR/IFR conditions
- • Correctly decode and interpret a TAF, including change indicators (FM, TEMPO, BECMG)
- • Create a flight plan with at least two intermediate waypoints
- • Calculate T-38C fuel requirements for a given route using the formulas provided
- • Determine flight time based on distance and ground speed
- • Select appropriate alternates and identify emergency landing options
- • Identify at least three potential hazards and mitigations per FAA guidelines
Completion: Demonstrate understanding through discussion, METAR/TAF interpretation exercises, and a sample flight plan with fuel calculations