T02 · Cross-Country Flight Planning: VFR, IFR & Go/No-Go
Airport Research (Three Passes)
One sheet per airport — departure, destination, and every fallback — researched the same way every time.
Worked example — fictional values, for format only. Never use these numbers for an actual flight.
Pass 1: published data (current Chart Supplement and chart)
- Identifier, elevation, public/private, PPR
- KLKE, 612 ft, public, no PPR
- Runway dimensions, surface, slope
- 09/27, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt, negligible slope
- Pattern altitude and direction
- 1,612 ft MSL, left traffic both runways
- Lighting
- MIRL, pilot-controlled
- Frequencies (CTAF, weather, etc.)
- CTAF 122.8, AWOS 119.025
- Fuel listed
- 100LL, self-serve
- Operating hours
- Airport: 24 hr; FBO office: 0700–1800 local
- Remarks / special notices
- Deer on/near runway, wildlife activity
Pass 2: current NOTAMs
- Runway / taxiway closures
- None at time of check
- Lighting / navaid outages
- None at time of check
- TFRs or temporary restrictions
- None at time of check
- Overlaps your arrival or return?
- N/A
- NOTAMs rechecked at (time)
- [fill before departure]
Pass 3: FBO / operator call log
Call and confirm — do not rely on a directory listing alone. Record who you spoke to.
| Question | Answer | Confirmed by / when |
|---|---|---|
| Open and accessible at my arrival and departure times? | Yes, both within office hours | Dana, FBO desk, [date/time] |
| Fuel grade in stock, self- or truck-serve, after-hours notice needed? | 100LL self-serve, no notice needed | Dana, FBO desk, [date/time] |
| Current fuel price, fees, minimum purchase? | $6.10/gal, no ramp fee under 4 hrs | Dana, FBO desk, [date/time] |
| Reservations or PPR needed? Transient ramp? | No PPR, public transient ramp available | Dana, FBO desk, [date/time] |
| Tie-downs / hangar if needed? | Tie-downs available, bring own ropes | Dana, FBO desk, [date/time] |
| Gate code or escort needed after hours? | Gate code provided on request | Dana, FBO desk, [date/time] |
| Courtesy car / taxi / rental available? | Courtesy car, 2-hour limit, confirmed insurance | Dana, FBO desk, [date/time] |
| After-hours contact number? | [fictional number on file] | Dana, FBO desk, [date/time] |
Fictional data, for format only, see this worksheet’s own chapter for the real regulation and source behind each figure. Never enter this data, or any invented data, into an operational flight plan.