Mitigating Flight Plan vs. Clearance Errors

Flying the filed flight plan instead of the issued clearance remains a leading cause of lateral deviations and gross navigation errors (GNEs). This issue is most common when a revised clearance with a route amendment is issued. The most effective mitigation strategy is implementing robust standard operating procedures (SOPs) that incorporate dual independent verification when accepting, loading, and updating clearances in the flight management system (FMS), as well as ensuring the Master Operational Flight Plan and plotting chart reflect the latest changes.

Comprehensive Ramp Inspection Program implemented in Mexico

AFAC (Mexico’s Civil Aviation Authority) implemented a comprehensive Ramp Inspection Program on December 16th, 2024, and will continue until January 15th, 2025. The primary concerns are to ensure compliance with operational security procedures and, in the process, protect all stakeholders involved in business aviation operations within Mexico.

According to Universal Aviation Mexico, this program will affect the following:

OCR Gander Update

Gander Oceanic implemented Oceanic Clearance Removal (OCR) on December 4th, 2024. Since then (as of December 17th, 2024), there have been higher-than-normal levels of errors and questions. Gander OCA and NAT CMA have provided the following information. The reported events include:

  • 2 large height deviations whereby flights climbed or descended without an ATC clearance
  • 15 ATC Prevention of Gross Navigational Errors

RCL Explained: RCL is no longer defined as “Request for Clearance" ...

  • Submitting an RCL will not result in a clearance; it is a method for crews to advise ATC of your requested ETA, level, and speed for the OEP. 
  • RCLs must be sent 60-90 minutes prior to Oceanic Entry Point (OEP) and should contain your MAX flight level at the entry point. 
  • You will receive one of 3 responses.
    • RCL RECEIVED BY CZQX
    • RCL REJECTED. RCL TOO EARLY. REQUEST AGAIN SIXTY TO NINETY MINUTES PRIOR TO THE OCEANIC ENTRY POINT
    • RCL REJECTED. RCL TOO LATE. REVERT TO VOICE FOR RCL SUBMISSION.
  • If the Oceanic Flight Level will be more than 2000 feet lower than the MAX level contained in the RCL, pilots will be given advance notice by the Domestic controllers. Otherwise, Gander Domestic will advise pilots of the Oceanic Level, if it varies from the RCL level, just prior to entering Oceanic Airspace and will issue a clearance to the new level. 
  • AN ATC CLEARANCE IS REQUIRED FOR ALL LEVEL CHANGES.
  • If the Oceanic profile for an aircraft requires a reroute, a CPDLC clearance will be issued via UM79. These clearances have caused some confusion for pilots. UM79 message has the following format: CLEARED TO [WAYPOINT] VIA [ROUTE CLEARANCE].  For example: CLEARED TO KESIX VIA TUDEP 52N050W 55N040W 56N030W 57N020W SUNOT. There has been an increase of pilots interpreting this UM79 clearance as CLEARED DIRECT KESIX or failing to update the FMS with this new routing clearance.
  • ATC has been inundated with questions from pilots. These questions range from “requesting oceanic clearance,” “just confirming there is no oceanic clearance,” “waiting for clearance,” “can you confirm my routing,” and so on.  These questions have been creating an immensely high workload for Domestic controllers.

The Importance of Following Annex 6 Fuel Guidance

When operating in an international environment, you must comply with the ICAO guidance as required by CFR 14 Part 91.703. From reviewing Ramp Inspection Program (SAFA) findings, flight plans, and operating manuals, it is important to ensure your fuel allocations comply with ICAO Annex 6. 

Of the flight plans we have reviewed, the fuel allocation information varies greatly from the required standards. Typically, additional fuel is not required; it must be properly allocated. The most frequently identified and significant issues are: 

  • Taxi Fuel needs to be reasonable and included in the fuel required total 
  • Final Reserve and Contingency Fuel calculations are missing, mislabeled, or incorrect

For your convenience, the Scott IPC ICRH General Guidance tab contains extracted Annex 6 requirements for both Private and Commercial operators.

  1. Oceanic Clearance Removal Procedures
  2. French CPDLC Mandate
  3. Transponder Code 2000 Changes in the NAT HLA
  4. Space-based ADS-B Mandate coming to Canadian airspace