Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 SERA : Standardised European Rules of the Air
Revision from December
2024
- EUROPA.EU
- EASA :
- FRANCE :
SECTION 4 Flight plans
Formulaire Plan de Vol CERFA N° 14806*01 à télécharger ici.
SERA.4001 Submission of a flight plan - Regulation (EU) 2023/1772
- Information relative to an intended flight or portion of a flight, to be provided to air
traffic services units, shall be in the form of a flight plan. The term ‘flight plan’ is
used to mean variously, full information on all items comprised in the flight plan
description, covering the whole route of a flight, or limited information required, inter
alia, when the purpose is to obtain a clearance for a minor portion of a flight such as to
cross an airway, to take off from, or to land at a controlled aerodrome.
- A flight plan shall be submitted prior to operating:
- any flight or portion thereof to be provided with air traffic control service;
- any IFR flight within advisory airspace;
- any flight within or into areas, or along routes designated by the competent
authority, to facilitate the provision of flight information, alerting and search
and rescue services;
- any flight within or into areas or along routes designated by the competent
authority, to facilitate coordination with appropriate military units or with air
traffic services units in adjacent States in order to avoid the possible need for
interception for the purpose of identification;
- any flight across international borders, unless otherwise prescribed by the States
concerned;
- any flight planned to operate at night, if leaving the vicinity of an aerodrome.
- A flight plan shall be:
- submitted, before departure:
- to the Network Manager directly or via an air traffic services reporting
office, in accordance with the operations manuals containing the necessary
instructions and information developed and maintained by the Network
Manager, if there is the intent for the flight to operate in accordance with
IFR for a portion, or the entire route, of the flight within the single
European sky airspace; or
- to an air traffic services reporting office for other cases;
- transmitted, during flight, to the appropriate air traffic services unit or
air–ground control radio station.
- Unless a shorter period of time has been prescribed by the competent authority for domestic
VFR flights, a flight plan for any flight planned to operate across international borders or
to be provided with air traffic control service or air traffic advisory service shall be
submitted as follows:
- not more than 120 hours before the estimated off-block time;
- at least 3 hours before the estimated off-block time for flights that may be subject
to air traffic flow management measures;
- at least 60 minutes before departure for all other flights not covered in point (2);
or
- if submitted during flight, at a time which ensures its receipt by the appropriate
ATS unit, at least 10 minutes before the aircraft is estimated to reach:
- the intended point of entry into a control area or advisory area; or
- the point of crossing an airway or advisory route.
- For flights operated partially or entirely in accordance with IFR, entering the area of
responsibility of an air traffic services unit, for which no flight plan has previously been
received from the Network Manager, the unit concerned shall transmit to the Network Manager
the aircraft identification, aircraft type, point of entry to its area of responsibility,
time and flight level at that point, route and destination aerodrome of the flight.
- Requirements laid down in points (c), (d), and (e) shall not apply in the Single European
Sky airspace that is not part of the ICAO EUR region.
GM1 SERA.4001 Submission of a flight plan - ED Decision 2013/013/R
GENERAL
- A flight plan may cover only part of a flight, as necessary, to describe that portion of
the flight or those manoeuvres which are subject to air traffic control.
- The term ‘submit a flight plan’ refers to the action by the pilot or the operator to
provide ATS with flight plan information. The term ‘filed flight plan’ refers to the
flight plan as received and accepted by ATS whereas ‘transmit a flight plan’ refers to
the action by a pilot to submit the flight plan, or submit abbreviated flight plan by
radiotelephony to the ATS unit concerned.
AMC1 SERA.4001(c) Submission of a flight plan - ED Decision
2016/023/R
In cases where no air traffic services (ATS) reporting office has been established, the
flight plan should be submitted to the ATS unit performing the functions of such an office,
or via approved direct methods as indicated in the aeronautical information publication
(AIP).
FRA.4001 a)
Dispositions supplémentaires
Sauf s'il bénéficie déjà du service de contrôle de la circulation aérienne, l'aéronef qui a
déposé un plan de vol prévoyant un changement de régime de vol de VFR à IFR contacte, au
plus tard dix minutes avant le survol du point où est prévu le changement de règles de vol,
l'organisme des services de la circulation aérienne assurant le service d'information de vol
afin de connaître la fréquence du secteur de contrôle responsable de lui fournir le service
du contrôle de la circulation aérienne.
FRA.4001 b) 3)
Mise en oeuvre
Le dépôt du plan de vol est requis pour :
- les vols effectués conformément aux règles de vol aux instruments, à l’exception
des vols d’hélicoptères effectuant du transport inter-hospitalier lorsqu’ils
évoluent en espace aérien de classe G
- les vols effectués dans ou à destination de régions ou le long des routes
mentionnées dans la publication d’information aéronautique comme nécessitant
le dépôt d’un plan de vol
- les vols VFR qui évoluent au-dessus des étendues maritimes et s'éloignant de
la côte d'une distance supérieure à la plus faible des deux distances
suivantes :
- la distance maximale permettant à l'aéronef, un moteur en panne, d'atteindre
une terre se prêtant à un atterrissage d'urgence
- la distance égale à quinze fois l'altitude de l'aéronef.
FRA.4001 d)
Mise en oeuvre
Pour l’application de SERA.4001 d) :
- un vol au cours duquel l’aéronef doit franchir une frontière du territoire français
fait l’objet d’un plan de vol déposé au moins 60 mn avant le départ.
- pour un vol VFR intérieur, le plan de vol est déposé au moins 30 minutes avant le
départ.
FRA.4001 e)
Disposition supplémentaire
Lorsqu’un plan de vol a été déposé et en l’absence d’organisme de la circulation aérienne
sur le lieu de départ, le commandant de bord indique son heure réelle de décollage, dès
que possible après l’envol, à un organisme des services de la circulation aérienne.
SERA.4005 Contents of a flight plan - Regulation (EU) No 2024/1111
- A flight plan shall include all information considered relevant by the competent authority
as regards the following:
- Aircraft identification;
- Flight rules and type of flight;
- Number and type(s) of aircraft and wake turbulence category;
- aircraft equipment and capabilities;
- Departure aerodrome or operating site;
- estimated off-block date and time;
- Cruising speed(s);
- Cruising level(s);
- Route to be followed;
- Destination aerodrome or operating site and total estimated elapsed time;
- Alternate aerodrome(s) or operating site(s);
- Fuel endurance;
[applicable until 30 April 2025 – Regulation (EU) 2023/1772]
- Fuel endurance;
[applicable from 1 May 2025 – Regulation (EU) 2024/1111]
- Total number of persons on board;
- emergency and survival equipment, including ballistic parachute recovery system;t
- Other information.
- For flight plans submitted during flight, the departure aerodrome or operating site provided
shall be the location from which supplementary information concerning the flight may be
obtained, if required. Additionally, the information to be provided in lieu of the estimated
off-block time shall be the time over the first point of the route to which the flight plan
relates.
GM2 SERA.4005(a) Contents of a flight plan - ED Decision
2013/013/R
ABBREVIATED FLIGHT PLAN
An abbreviated flight plan transmitted in the air by radiotelephony for the crossing of
controlled airspace, or any other areas or routes designated by the competent authority,
normally contains, as a minimum: call sign, type of aircraft, point of entry, point of exit
and level. Additional elements may be required by the competent authority.
GM2 SERA.4005(a) Contenu d’un plan de vol - ED Decision 2016/023/R
INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPERATOR IN THE FLIGHT PLAN IN CASE OF PROVIDING ALERTING
SERVICE
According to ICAO Annex 11, an ATS unit shall, when practicable, inform the aircraft operator
when an alerting service is provided to an aircraft. In order to facilitate quick and
effective coordination, it is advisable to provide in the flight plan (item 18 ‘Other
information’) information sufficient to enable the ATS unit to contact the on-duty staff of
the aircraft operator if such information has not been provided to the ATS unit by other
means.
GM1 SERA.4005(a)(14) Contents of a flight plan - ED Decision
2024/007/R
BALLISTIC PARACHUTE RECOVERY SYSTEM
The information on ballistic parachute recovery systems may be included in
the field for remarks under Item 19 of the ICAO model flight plan, as specified in Appendix
6 ‘COMPLETION OF A FLIGHT PLAN’ to the Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No
923/2012.
[applicable from 1 May 2025 – ED Decision 2024/007/R]
FRA.4005 a)
Mise en œuvre
Lorsqu’un plan de vol est déposé avant le départ, il contient les informations figurant
dans le formulaire
CERFA N° 14806*01 (Click pour le télécharger)
.
Note. — Les modalités pratiques de rédaction d’un plan de vol et de
communication de
celui-ci aux organismes de la circulation aérienne concernés sont détaillées dans la
publication d’information aéronautique (AIP), dans la partie ENR 1.10 « Plans de vol ».
SERA.4010 Completion of a flight plan - Regulation (EU) No 2023/1772
- A flight plan shall contain information, as applicable, on relevant items listed in point
SERA.4005(a)(1) to (11) regarding the whole route or the portion thereof for which the
flight plan is submitted.
- Aircraft operators, flight plan originators and air traffic services units following the
necessary instructions referred to in point SERA.4001(c)(1)(i) shall comply with the
following:
- the instructions for completion of the flight plan form contained in Appendix 6;
- any constraints identified in relevant Aeronautical Information Publications
(AIPs).
- Aircraft operators, or the agents that act on their behalf, which intend to operate within
the single European sky airspace for a portion of or the entire route in accordance with IFR
shall insert the appropriate indicator for the aircraft equipment available on board and its
capabilities in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1770
(*1) in
the relevant item in the flight plan as required in point SERA.4005(a)(4).
- Operators of aircraft not equipped in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1770
which intend to operate within the single European sky airspace shall insert the appropriate
indicator for the aircraft equipment available on board and its capabilities, and any
potential exemptions in the relevant items in the flight plan as per points SERA.4005(a) (4)
and SERA.4005(a) (15) respectively. The flight plan shall, in addition, contain information,
as applicable, on all other items when so prescribed by the competent authority or when
otherwise deemed necessary by the person submitting the flight plan.
(*1) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1770 of 12 September
2023 laying down provisions on aircraft equipment required for the use of the Single European
Sky airspace and operating rules related to the use of the Single European Sky airspace and
repealing Regulation (EC) No 29/2009 and Implementing Regulations (EU) No 1206/2011, (EU) No
1207/2011 and (EU) No 1079/2012 (OJ L 228, XX.9.2023, p. 39)
SERA.4013 Acceptance of a flight plan - Regulation (EU) No 2023/1770
- The Network Manager, for the portion of the route operated in accordance with IFR, and the
air traffic services reporting office shall take the necessary measures to ensure that when
a flight plan is received, or when changes are made to it, it is:
- in compliance with the applicable format and data conventions;
- complete and, to the extent possible, accurate;
- if necessary, made acceptable to the air traffic services; and
- accepted, or the changes made to it are also accepted, and this is indicated to the
originator of the flight plan.
- ATC units shall provide the Network Manager with any necessary changes of a flight plan
affecting items related to the route or flight level as listed in point SERA.4005 (a) (1) to
(10) that could affect the safe conduct of a flight, for flight plans and associated update
messages previously received by them from the Network Manager. No other changes to, or
cancellation of, a flight plan shall be made by an ATC unit in the pre-flight phase without
coordination with the aircraft operator.
- The Network Manager shall communicate to all affected ATS units the accepted flight plan and
any accepted pre-flight-phase changes made to the items listed in point SERA.4005 (a) (1) to
(10) of the flight plan and associated update messages.
- The Network Manager shall communicate to the aircraft operator any necessary
pre-flight-phase changes made to the flight plan affecting items listed in point SERA.4005
(a) (1) to (10) related to the route or flight level that could affect the safe conduct of a
flight, for flight plans and associated update messages previously received.
- The originator of a flight plan, when not being the aircraft operator or the pilot, shall
ensure that the conditions of acceptance of a flight plan and any necessary changes to these
conditions as notified by the Network Manager for the portion of the flight operated in
accordance with IFR, or by the air traffic services reporting offices, are made available to
the aircraft operator or the pilot that has submitted the flight plan.
- The aircraft operator shall ensure that the conditions of acceptance of a flight plan and
any necessary changes to it as notified by the Network Manager or by the air traffic
services reporting office to the originator of the flight plan are incorporated into the
planned flight operation and communicated to the pilot.
- The aircraft operator shall ensure prior to the operation of the flight that the content of
the flight plan correctly reflects the operational intentions.
- The Network Manager shall process and distribute the information on the 8,33 kHz channel
spacing capability received in the flight plans.
- Requirements laid down in points (a) to (h) shall not apply in the Single European Sky
airspace that is not part of the ICAO EUR region.
SERA.4015 Changes to a flight plan - Regulation (EU) No 2024/1111
- All changes to a flight plan submitted for an IFR flight, or a VFR flight operated as a
controlled flight, shall be reported:
- during the pre-flight phase, to the Network Manager for flights intended to operate
in accordance with IFR for a portion of or the entire route, and to air traffic
services reporting offices as soon as practicable;
- during the flight, subject to the provisions of point SERA.8020(b), to the
appropriate air traffic services unit.
For other VFR flights, significant changes to a flight plan shall be reported as soon as
practicable to the appropriate air traffic services unit.
- In the event of a delay of 30 minutes in excess of the estimated off-block time for a
controlled flight or a delay of 1 hour for an uncontrolled flight for which a flight plan
has been submitted, the flight plan shall be amended, or a new flight plan submitted, and
the old flight plan cancelled, whichever is applicable. For any flight operated in
accordance with IFR, delays of more than 15 minutes shall be communicated to the Network
Manager.
- In the case of a change in the aircraft equipment and its capability status for a flight,
aircraft operators, or the agents that act on their behalf, shall send a modification
message to the Network Manager or the air traffic services reporting offices with the
appropriate indicator inserted in the relevant item of the flight plan form.
- Information submitted prior to departure regarding fuel endurance or total number of persons
carried on board, if incorrect at the time of departure, constitutes a significant change to
the flight plan and, as such, shall be reported.
[applicable until 30 April 2025 – Regulation (EU) 2023/1772]
- Information submitted prior to departure regarding fuel or energy
endurance or total number of persons carried on board, if incorrect at time of departure,
constitutes a significant change to the flight plan and as such shall be reported.
[applicable from 1 May 2025 – Regulation (EU) 2024/1111]
- Requirements laid down in points (a) to (d) shall not apply in Single European Sky airspace
that is not part of the ICAO EUR region.
SERA.4020 Closing a flight plan - Regulation (EU) No 923/2012
- An arrival report shall be made in person, by radiotelephony, via data link or by other
means as prescribed by the competent authority at the earliest possible moment after
landing, to the appropriate air traffic services unit at the arrival aerodrome, by any
flight for which a flight plan has been submitted covering the entire flight or the
remaining portion of a flight to the destination aerodrome.
- Submission of an arrival report is not required after landing on an aerodrome where
air traffic services are provided on condition that radio communication or visual
signals indicate that the landing has been observe.
- When a flight plan has been submitted only in respect of a portion of a flight, other than
the remaining portion of a flight to destination, it shall, when required, be closed by an
appropriate report to the relevant air traffic services unit.
- When no air traffic services unit exists at the arrival aerodrome or operating site, the
arrival report, when required, shall be made as soon as practicable after landing and by the
quickest means available to the nearest air traffic services unit.
- When communication facilities at the arrival aerodrome or operating site are known to be
inadequate and alternate arrangements for the handling of arrival reports on the ground are
not available, the following action shall be taken. Immediately prior to landing the
aircraft shall, if practicable, transmit to the appropriate air traffic services unit, a
message comparable to an arrival report, where such a report is required. Normally, this
transmission shall be made to the aeronautical station serving the air traffic services unit
in charge of the flight information region in which the aircraft is operated.
- Arrival reports made by aircraft shall contain the following elements of information:
- aircraft identification;
- departure aerodrome or operating site;
- destination aerodrome or operating site (only in the case of a diversionary
landing);
- arrival aerodrome or operating site;
- time of arrival.
GM1 SERA.4020 Closing a flight plan - ED Decision 2013/013/R
ARRIVAL REPORTS
Whenever an arrival report is required, failure to comply with the provisions of SERA.4020
may cause serious disruption in the air traffic services and incur great expenses in
carrying out unnecessary search and rescue operations.
FRA.4020 f)
Disposition supplémentaire
Un plan de vol relatif à un vol VFR peut être clos pendant le vol lorsqu'il n'est pas ou plus
obligatoire. Cependant, il reste obligatoire pendant toute la durée d'un vol qui franchit
une frontière.