Route Planning

This is a long flight, so you want to minimize distance and go as direct as possible. You scan the route from TAFOY to KFSM on the chart, and it doesnt pass through any special use airspace (SUA), so you could go direct. But, you want to comply with the AIM guidance (see below) and pick a fix or two in each centers airspace. You zoom in on the chart to see TAFOY clearly, then just scroll the chart to the east along your route, looking for fixes on your route that you could add.

Fred Simonds

Monday, July 01, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The article details a meticulous, iterative process for planning long-distance cross-country flights, which involves breaking the journey into legs, using graphical tools to visualize routes, and adding waypoints to navigate terrain and comply with ATC center boundaries.
A primary focus of route planning is the strategic avoidance of Special Use Airspace (SUA) like MOAs and Restricted Areas, as this is considered more reliable than relying on uncertain ATC permission, even if it adds minor distance.
Comprehensive pre-flight checks are essential, including reviewing sectional charts, checking NOTAMs, identifying suitable alternate airports based on approaches and services, and performing detailed weight and balance calculations specific to the aircraft's limitations.
The article emphasizes that detailed, manual planning, even with modern electronic tools, provides a deeper understanding of the route and better pilot preparedness than simply using auto-routing or previously cleared routes.

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