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, especially in busy airspace, is often an unrealistic approach that offloads critical flight planning responsibilities (fuel, weather, TFRs) to ATC, potentially leading to in-flight reroutes, increased workload, and reduced situational awareness.
• Modern flight planning tools utilize historical ATC data to help pilots research and file realistic routes they are likely to receive, thereby improving pre-flight planning accuracy and reducing the likelihood of in-flight diversions or surprises.
• Thorough route planning using these available tools is considered a professional responsibility, enhancing safety, situational awareness, and ensuring the validity of pre-flight checks, rather than relying solely on ATC to "sort it out."

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