Is Route Planning Dead?

A pilot working on his instrument rating asked if it would be better to carefully plan a route or simply file direct. Some of his buddies recommended researching the route and filing via airways, while others suggested just filing direct and being done with it. Of course, for instrument students, the best resource is your instructor, but let us put this question into perspective.We now live in a world where its simple to navigate directly to any point on Earth. As recently as about 25 years ago, there was no question because there was no simple way to navigate distances direct. (VOR/DME-based RNAV filing was certainly a fun exercise though.)

Key Takeaways:

• Filing direct for IFR flights is largely an irresponsible and unrealistic practice, often leading to unexpected reroutes from ATC, inadequate pre-flight planning for the actual cleared route, and reduced pilot situational awareness.
• Pilots should utilize modern flight planning tools and historical data to research and file routes that are most likely to be cleared by ATC, rather than simply filing direct and offloading planning responsibilities.
• This proactive and informed approach to route planning, requiring only a few extra minutes, significantly enhances safety, improves preparedness, and demonstrates professional responsibility by ensuring accurate flight planning for the route that will actually be flown.

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