CASA releases flight planning kit for VFR pilots

CASA has released a new kit designed to assist low-hour VFR pilots with flight planning.

The 28-page flight planning handbook covers all eight stages of flights (planning, pre-flight, pre-departure, post departure or climb, en route, pre-approach or descent, approach and landing) while also offering guidance on how to set personal minimums and the use of global positioning systems (GPS).

The kit includes durable A3-sized ground manoeuvring maps for Archerfield, Bankstown, Camden, Moorabbin, Parafield and Jandakot airports. To help pilots assess their personal minimums there is a pre-flight check list covering areas such as flights in the last 30 days, hours on type, familiarity with terrain and airspace, fuel reserves, most recent available weather and alternate plans.

The kit also has a pad of fuel calculation sheets and advice on calculating 'time in your tanks'.

CASA says it has produced the kit following studies that found issues with flight planning to be the cause of about half of all fatal private flying accidents.

“The handbook is not a nuts and bolts guide to the details of flight planning,” the regulator explains. “Rather, it is a statement of the fundamental importance of planning, and how it integrates with the pilot’s ongoing in-flight tasks of judgement and decision making.”

The VFR flight planning kit is available now for free (postage fees apply) by clicking here and entering your details.