When must a flight plan be filed?

A flight plan must be filed for all IFR flights and for VFR flights that are planned to be conducted beyond 50 nautical miles from the departure point. This requirement is in place primarily for safety reasons, as filing a flight plan allows air traffic control and search and rescue services to be aware of an aircraft’s route and estimated times of arrival. For IFR flights, filing a flight plan is mandatory to provide air traffic controllers with the necessary information to maintain separation from other aircraft and ensure safe navigation.

For VFR flights, while it is not mandatory to file a flight plan for flights conducted within 50 nautical miles, doing so for longer flights significantly enhances safety by enabling monitoring and assistance if needed. In contrast, there are no requirements to file flight plans for entirely domestic flights unless stipulated by the specific air traffic control regulations in specialized airspace.