KnowledgeFlight Operations

ICAO flight plan items explained

What goes into items 7 to 19 of the ICAO flight plan (FPL) and common formatting rules.

Updated: 2026-09-24

Example message

(FPL-EPABC-VG
-C172/L-SDFG/C
-OIBK0930
-N0110VFR DCT
-OISS0146 OIBL
-DOF/260924
-E/0605 P/002)

Items

7 — Aircraft identification: registration without hyphen (EPABC) or ICAO callsign; max 7 characters.
8 — Flight rules (I, V, Y = IFR then VFR, Z = VFR then IFR) and type of flight (S scheduled, N non-scheduled, G general aviation, M military, X other).
9 — Number of aircraft (only if more than one), type designator (ICAO Doc 8643, or ZZZZ with TYP/ in item 18) and wake turbulence category (L, M, H, J).
10 — Equipment and capabilities (e.g. S = standard VHF/VOR/ILS, G = GNSS) / surveillance (e.g. C = mode C transponder).
13 — Departure aerodrome and estimated off-block time (EOBT, UTC).
15 — Cruising speed (N0110 = 110 kt), level (F090, A055, VFR) and route (DCT, airways, significant points or coordinates like 2800N05330E).
16 — Destination, total estimated elapsed time (HHMM) and up to two alternates.
18 — Other information such as DOF/, REG/, PBN/, RMK/ — or 0 if none.
19 — Supplementary information: endurance (E/), persons on board (P/), emergency radio, survival equipment, aircraft colour, pilot in command.

Generated is not filed

Formatting a flight plan in OIBK does not file it. File through the official ATS reporting office or approved channel of the state concerned, and confirm acceptance.

Try it Flight planner (ICAO FPL tab)

References

ICAO Doc 4444 (PANS-ATM), Appendix 2 — Flight plan
ICAO Doc 8643 — Aircraft Type Designators

Every article will cite its references and show when it was last reviewed. Content will be educational and will not replace approved training material or regulations.