PART 127 Manual Ref: NAC 214

Part 1.9.5
OPERATIONS MANUAL ATS – Operational
Flight Plan

ATS – FLIGHT PLAN, OPERATIONAL LOG &

OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE CARRIED IN FLIGHT

1. ATS FLIGHT PLAN

(Reference SA-CARs 91.03.4)

1.1 An ATS flight plan shall be submitted to the appropriate air traffic unit for all flights for the purpose of
commercial air transportation, except for those flights which will be conducted in accordance with
visual flight rules (VFR) and are intended to take off and land at the same aerodrome.

1.2 Flight plans must also be filed for positioning flights, test flights and training flights, whenever these are
intended to follow a planned route to a destination other than the point of departure.

1.3 The PIC is responsible for ensuring that a flight plan has been filed and that the requirements set out
herein are met. He / she must be fully aware of the details stipulated on the flight plan.

1.4 A flight plan shall be filed with the nearest convenient air traffic services unit and such unit shall be
responsible for transmitting the flight plan to all air traffic services units concerned with the flight.

1.5 A flight plan shall be filed in respect of –

1.5.1 all flights to be conducted in controlled or advisory airspace: Provided that this requirement
shall not apply in respect of a local flight, a flight crossing an airway or advisory route at right
angles or a VFR flight entering or departing from an aerodrome traffic zone or control zone,
from or to an unmanned aerodrome, and where no other controlled or advisory airspace will
be entered during the flight;

1.5.2 an international flight;

1.5.3 all flights in the public transport operation or public transport of cargo operation categories;
and

1.5.4 a flight for which alerting action is required.

1.6 An air traffic control unit may instruct a flight for which a flight plan is prescribed in terms of paragraph
1.2 and for which a flight plan has not been filed, to clear or to remain clear of a controlled airspace,
and not to cross the border of the Republic or to enter its airspace until such time as the required flight
plan has been filed.

1.7 Unless otherwise authorised by the responsible air traffic services unit, a flight plan for a flight to be
conducted in controlled or advisory airspace shall be filed at least 30 minutes before departure or if
filed during flight while outside of controlled or advisory airspace for a flight to be conducted in such
airspace, it shall be filed with the responsible air traffic services unit at least 10 minutes before the
aircraft is estimated to reach the intended point of entry into the controlled or advisory airspace.

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 PART 127 Manual Ref: NAC 214

Part 1.9.5
OPERATIONS MANUAL ATS – Operational
Flight Plan

The PIC of an aircraft shall ensure that all changes which become applicable to a flight plan before
departure or in flight are reported, as soon as practicable, to the responsible air traffic services unit.

If a flight plan has been filed with an air traffic services unit prior to departure and is not activated with
an air traffic services unit within one hour of original estimated time of departure or amended estimated
time of departure, such flight plan shall be regarded as cancelled and a new flight plan shall be filed.

2. CONTENTS OF ATS FLIGHT PLAN

2.1 An air traffic service flight plan filed prior to departure must contain the following items:

AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE FLIGHT PLAN REQUIRED FIELDS

 Aircraft identification and transponder  aerodrome of destination and estimated times of

data ;
 flight rules and type of flight
 number and type(s) of aircraft and wake
turbulence category;
 radio communication, navigation and
approach-aid equipment;
 aerodrome of departure and time;
 flight information region boundaries and
estimated times
 Cruising speed and flight level.
 route to be followed;
arrival;
 alternate aerodrome(s;
 alerting action required
 fuel endurance;
 total number of persons on board
 Emergency and survival equipment and colour of
aircraft.
 name, postal address, telephone and telefax number
of the owner or operator of the aircraft which must be
completed in field 18 of the standard flight plan form
and other pertinent information

2.2 An air traffic service flight plan filed in Flight to comply with CAR 91.03.4(6) must contain the following
items:

AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE FLIGHT PLAN REQUIRED FIELDS

 Aircraft registration;
 flight rules
 aircraft type
 aerodrome of departure and time
 cruising speed and flight level
 route to be followed and estimates as applicable
 aerodrome of destination and estimated time of
arrival
 alternate aerodrome(s) (IFR Flights)
 alerting action required
 fuel endurance if alerting action required;
 total number of persons on board
 name, postal address, telephone and telefax
number of the owner or operator of the
aircraft which must be completed in field 18
of the standard flight plan form.

2.3 Where an air traffic services unit is not in operation at the aerodrome of arrival, a report shall be
submitted on arrival to the nearest convenient air traffic services unit, by the quickest means of
communication available, immediately before or after landing, in respect of a flight for which alerting
action was provided.
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 PART 127 Manual Ref: NAC 214

Part 1.9.5
OPERATIONS MANUAL ATS – Operational
Flight Plan

2.4 Except as prescribed, the PIC shall ensure that the aircraft adheres to the current flight plan filed for a
controlled flight, unless a request for a change has been made and accepted by the air traffic control
unit responsible for the controlled airspace in which the aircraft is operating, or unless an emergency
situation arises which necessitates immediate action, in which event the responsible air traffic control
unit shall, as soon as circumstances permit, be notified of the action taken and that this action was
taken under emergency authority.

2.5 In the event of a controlled flight inadvertently deviating from its current flight plan, the following action
shall be taken:

2.5.1 if the aircraft is off track, action shall be taken forthwith to adjust the heading of the aircraft to
regain track as soon as practicable; or

2.5.2 if the average true airspeed at cruising level between reporting points varies or is expected to
vary from that given in the fight plan by plus or minus five per cent of the true airspeed, the
responsible air traffic services unit shall be so informed; or

2.5.3 if the estimated time at the next applicable reporting point, flight information regional
boundary or aerodrome of intended landing, whichever comes first, is found to be in error in
excess of three minutes from that notified to air traffic services, a revised estimated time shall
be notified to the responsible air traffic services unit as soon as possible.

3. OPERATIONAL FLIGHT LOG

(Reference SA-CARs 127.04.4)

3.1 General

3.1.1 All PIC’s operating an aircraft on behalf of NAC shall ensure that an operational flight log is
completed for each flight undertaken. The operational flight plan shall be retained by NAC for
a period of at least 90 days and all entries shall be of a permanent nature and the PIC shall
sign the completed document as correct and acceptable.

3.1.2 All entries in the operational flight plan shall be current and permanent in nature and shall be
as prescribed in Document SA-CATS-OPS 127. NAC utilises a computerized flight
planning system with pre-set waypoints for the generation of its Operational Flight Logs.

3.1.3 Temperature, height and atmospheric density are also programmed into the computer.
Variations in actual flight conditions are then correlated against the computer results. This
process of averaging-out results has specific value in fuel management, and performance
monitoring.

3.1.4 Items which are readily available in other documentation or from an acceptable source or
which are irrelevant to the type of operation may be omitted from the operational flight plan.

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 PART 127
OPERATIONS MANUAL
3.2 Items in Operational Flight Log
OPERATIONAL FLIGHT LOG REQUIRED FIELDS
 aircraft registration
 aircraft type and variant
 date of flight
 flight identification
 names of flight crew members
 duty assignment of flight crew members
 place of departure
 time of departure (actual off block time, take-off
time)
 place of arrival (planned and actual)
 time of arrival (actual landing and on block time)
 type of operation (ETOPS, VFR, ferry flight, etc.)
 route and route segments with checkpoints /
waypoints, distances, time and tracks
4. DOCUMENTS, FORMS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE CARRIED IN FLIGHT
(Reference: SA-CARs 91.03.1,2,3)
4.1 Documents on International Flight and Domestic Flight:
DOCUMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT
 aircraft certificate of registration;
 aircraft certificate of airworthiness;
 the appropriate licence of each flight crew member;
 the journey logbook or general declaration;
 the aircraft radio station licence;
 the certificate of release to service;
 the navigation log when a navigator is carried;
 Aircraft Flight Manual referred to in regulation
91.03.2, or an equivalent document;
 the mass and balance report;
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Manual Ref: NAC 214
Part 1.9.5
ATS – Operational
Flight Plan
 planned cruising speed and flying times
between check-points / waypoints. Estimate
and actual times overhead
 safe altitudes and minimum levels
 planned altitudes and flight levels
 fuel calculations (record of in-flight fuel
checks)
 fuel on board when starting engines and after
shutdown
 alternate(s) for destination and, where
applicable, take-off and en route,
 initial ATS flight plan clearance and
subsequent re-clearance
 in-flight re-planning calculations
 relevant meteorological information
 the flight folio;
 the MEL, if applicable; and
 if passengers are carried, the passenger
manifest, unless the information is included in
the general declaration referred to in sub
paragraph 3.1.4; if cargo is carried, a manifest
and detailed declaration of the cargo
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 PART 127 Manual Ref: NAC 214

Part 1.9.5
OPERATIONS MANUAL ATS – Operational
Flight Plan

DOCUMENTS FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHT

 aircraft certificate of registration;  the mass and balance report;
 aircraft certificate of airworthiness;  the flight folio
 the appropriate licence of each flight crew member;  the MEL, if applicable;
 the aircraft radio station licence;
 the certificate of release to service;
 Aircraft Flight Manual referred to in regulation
91.03.2, or an equivalent document

4.2 List Of Manuals And Forms To Be Carried On Flight

LIST OF MANUALS, FORMS & INFORMATION

 Flight Operations Manual;  Hazard, Accident / Incident reporting forms
 Aircraft Flight Manual;  Details of the filed ATS flight plan;
 Aircraft Technical Log;  Appropriate NOTAM/AIS;
 Jeppesen Airway Manual;  Appropriate meteorological information;
 H/L Charts  Notification of special categories of
passengers (if applicable);
 Helicopter Normal and Emergency checklist
 Notification of special loads (if applicable);
 Operational Flight Plan;
 Current maps and charts and associated
 Load sheet;
documents;
 Emergency response guide for aircraft incidents
 Passenger Manifest;
involving dangerous goods;
 Cargo Manifest; and
 Pilot Flight Return (if applicable).

4.3 Other Documents

OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE KEPT

 Aircraft Flight  NAC shall keep a current approved Aircraft Flight Manual for each aircraft
Manual or Pilot operated by the air service. The flight crew members of the aircraft shall, on
Operating each flight, operate such aircraft in accordance with the aircraft flight manual,
Handbook unless an unforeseen emergency dictates otherwise.
 Aircraft Checklists  NAC shall, where applicable, establish and make available to the flight crew
and other personnel in his or her employ needing the information, a checklist
system for the aircraft, to be used by such flight crew and other personnel for
all phases of the operation under normal, abnormal and emergency
conditions
 Aircraft Minimum  NAC shall keep a current approved Aircraft Minimum Equipment List (MEL)
Equipment List for each aircraft operated by the air service above 5700kg. The flight crew
members of the aircraft shall, on each flight, operate such aircraft in
accordance with the aircraft MEL, unless an unforeseen emergency dictates
otherwise

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