The word OFP is an abbreviation which stands for Operational Flight Plan. Before you get here to the full form of OFP, you need to know the basics of aviation like a flight plan, the need for a flight plan, etc. These concepts may be new to you, but you must get an idea about them as they are important from a general knowledge point of view. As such every complex task in any field like aviation needs a strategy to follow for successful execution. So, there is a need for planning for the fruitful operation of flight phases. Let us, deep dive, into this article to understand the concept of OFP
The acronym OFP means Operational Flight Plan. This term is of immense importance in the field of aviation, which will be explained here.
The well-formatted, completely detailed, and highly useful tool necessary for the successful operation of an air flight is known as an Operational Flight Plan, abbreviated as OFP.
Commonly, the OFP is digitally generated and may be of different accepted formats.
The following are some of the objectives associated with OFP.
The proper monitoring of the ongoing flight.
The appropriate observation of the progress of the aeronautical trip.
The projected path for reaching the destination punctually.
The scrutiny for the sufficient fuel of the aircraft on board.
The proper fuel in-flight management and control.
The official recording of the flight for audit purposes
The availability of data for reconstruction purposes
The scope of perfect designing of the operational plan.
The completeness of a proper plan from every point of view.
The enhancement of situational awareness.
There are different parameters relevant to the OFP. Some of them are as follows.
The registration of the aircraft.
The entry of the details like the type, the variant, and other essentials of the aeroplane.
The flight Identification details.
The type of Operations (VFR, ETOPS, etc)
The particulars of all the crew members, such as name, age, sex, etc.
The details of duties allotted to the crew members.
The date of the scheduled flight.
The booked place of departure.
The planned place of arrival.
The scheduled altitudes for the planned route.
The scheduled flight levels for the planned route.
The safe altitudes for the designated route.
The minimum flight levels for the chosen route
The alternates for the destination with necessary information like alternate routes, fuel burden, safety altitudes, etc. as applicable
The route details like the tracks, the distances, the segments of routes, checkpoints, waypoints, etc.
The detailed estimate of fuel calculations with the fuel log for every checkpoint.
Any other information obtained from any approved source that is related to the operational process of the scheduled flight.
An OFP is implemented in the following steps which may be in any sequence.
Appropriate meteorological information as applicable.
Details of in-flight replanning to cope with the real situation.
Recording of the actual take-off time and the off-block time.
Particulars about the initial flight clearance and all the following re-clearances that are sought and approved.
Noting the definite landing with genuine on-block time.
Detailed report of real timings checkpoint-wise versus the estimated ones
The following are some of the possible authorities who can file the OFP.
Air-Pilot
Flight Dispatcher
Any Air Navigation Service Provider
Any authorized personnel
Yes, planning is an integral part of the seven stages of air flight. The OFP is, in fact, the first step of the various stages of the air-flight.
Basically, there are four types of forces involved in an air flight, which are as follows
Lift
Thrust
Drag
Weight
Primarily, there are three types of laws involved in the control of an air flight, which are as follows
Normal Law
Alternate law
Direct law
Fundamentally, the 5Ps stand for the following.
Plan (OFP)
Plane (aircraft)
Pilot (also includes the co-pilot)
Passengers (safety, health, etc.)
Programming (Properly structured)