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.

Dual independent verification is a critical safeguard against expectation bias and confirmation bias, two cognitive tendencies that can impact pilot decision-making. Expectation bias occurs when pilots perceive information as they expect it to be, rather than as it actually is, often influenced by prior experience. Confirmation bias leads pilots to favor information that supports their existing beliefs or decisions, potentially compromising safety.

To mitigate these risks, dual independent verification should be applied to all flights—domestic or international—where FMS data is loaded from an external source, such as a clearance or operational flight plan. The process begins with system initialization, followed by loading the flight plan manually or via uplink. Pilots must then verify that the FMS route matches the clearance.

If a revised clearance is received, both pilots must verify and accept it before applying the dual independent verification process again. One pilot programs the new route directly from the clearance into the FMS, while the other independently repeats the process. Any discrepancies must be resolved before executing the amendment. Finally, the operational flight plan and plotting chart should be updated to reflect the revised route.

By enforcing these procedures, flight crews can significantly reduce navigation errors and enhance situational awareness, ensuring compliance with cleared routes and improving overall operational safety.

For any questions or clarification, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.