Flight plan modification during the flight by Azzurro Articles

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Yes, we can modify our flight plan during the flight, it's a trick discovered by Tony Cervone (Tonyc). He spoke about it on Avsim forum.

This trick works as well with the GPS computer as with the FMC used by the Hawker and other jets.

Thus, let us consider that we have a VFR flight plan with an ALAT's TBM * from Ajaccio (LFKJ) to Cannes (LFMD).
Note: that works also in IFR and with all equipped aircraft.
*ALAT: "Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre" that we may translate in "Army Light Air Force".

We have lots of possibilities of changing our mind: meteorological degradation, either lack of fuel, or sick passenger, or problem on destination airport, or still simple whim.

Today, it's a problem on the destination airport; the runways of Cannes are closed further to an accident. We are exceptionally authorized to land at Nice (LFMN), where VFR is usually excluded from. It's true that we pilot a plane from the Army, that also helps !

Turn on the automatic pilot, because this operation takes about ten seconds, and there is no "break" key on planes !

We approach the point SA, well we open the "Flight planner", we can delete all points become useless (here it's not the case), and to insert new points to go to LFMN. We can use as well existing points, as create artificial points. Is it right ?

Now, this is the trick, we leave the "Flight planner" by only closing the window, without using the "flight plan" button (otherwise, Fly! starts from scratch again, and it's not the objective).

And now, what do we see in our GPS (or our FMC) ? Well the new points were taken into account; it only remains to make the rerouting.

And it looks like this (you can enlarge all pictures by clicking). If you want to reproduce this flight, install the France VFR waypoints (dex file here).

An extract from SIA VAC map for Nice (LFMN) TMA area The original one is here: Nice VAC map Then choose "NICE COTE D'AZUR" to download the corresponding pdf file. The air-traffic controllers will assign us a VFR route inside lands, in order to not bother jet IFR traffic. Here is the result : - point SA (already in the flight plan) - over LFMD – points EW then WA, then over the tower, and downwind above the sea for runways 04 or 22. To be done visually and on tower instructions. Thus key in all these points in our flight planner, and we will adjust altitudes as one goes along.

We approach the point SA, we see the islands of Lérins which close the bay of Cannes. What, we must divert ?	Quick! Let us open the flight planner; here is our original flight plan
Click, click click, here is the modified flight plan.	And what a surprise, it's already in the GPS !
Our rerouting is going well	Soon over the tower
	And we are downwind for one of the tracks 04, we see the airport buildings, as well as the mouth of the Var. By the way, everybody knows the GPS function "Direct to" ! Is it sure ? It's necessary to know it, because it's simple and very practical to use. To sum up, you understood that the applications of this modification are multiple: for example you cross a controlled area, and the tower asks to follow a way which you did not plan, click-click, you modify the flight plan, and it's good. It's the same if during an IFR procedure the tower put you in holding pattern, "click", an artificial point to 180° behind, and it's done...

It's not bad, eh ? Thank you Tony !