ATC perspective needed: IFR GPS enroute best practice question(s)

pcarew Newcomer

Question about current best practices for utilizing GPS in the IFR environment from a controllers perspective.

I have been away from flying for about 3.5 years and am now in the process of getting IFR current and proficient again. While 3+ years is not a earth shattering amount of time in the big scheme of thigs, it appears to have been a lifetime with respect to the way IFR and GPS have evolved.

IFR certified GPS's are now commonplace it seems.

My question is regarding using an IFR GPS in the most efficient way.

1) Filing "A direct B"?
Simply put, When flying from A to B is it best to simply file 'A direct B' these days, rather than dig out the prefered routes and stars and put a flight plan together as we used to?

2) Do people file T-Routes or Q-Routes?
If filing "A direct B" is the way everyone is going, then what is the point of the new Q and T routes being developed?
2a)Anyone file the new GPS routes?
2b)Do T-Routes get assigned in a clearence amendment?

3) What about the "ReRoute chart shuffle"?
Does "Filing Direct" simply open up the pilot to expect multiple 're-routes' once airborne, as ATC starts assigning the Prefered Routes and STARS?

ucdras19 Newcomer

Use fltplan.com. Best aviation website around. Gives you preferred ATC routes and what other users have previously filed. Also has legal weather, FBO info, Notams, and anything else you will ever need...and its free!!!!

pcarew Newcomer

I took a look at FltPlan.com. Good features, but what a horrible website to use!
- Adverts and website services/links look alike. It all looks jumbled up.
- User interface looks circa 1995
- Color scheme is glaring
- Hard to navigate around.

irishcarbomb Moderator Houston, TX

as a pilot, i've never filed a GPS route...mostly because there arent very many. just easier to use a flight planning software like AOPA or fltplan.com and file it thru them or duat. then as a backup to the VORs I program the route into the GPS

boondr PHD without a degree North of the Equator

Just a suggestion if you are flying out of a large metro area(or basically the entire northeast) you'll only succeed in elliciting the ire of controllers if you file A..B direct. 1) 1st it isn't happening unless it is 2 o'clock in the morning 2)It screams "I am too lazy to file a real route so I'll just have the controllers find one"

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

one of my pet peeves was "A direct B" right through the middle of restricted airspace. so 1) are you a participant and allowed through that restricted airspace 2) too lazy (probably the case and i understand) or 3) just hoping to get to destination as fast as possible.

re-routes will occur depending on departure point, arrival point, and military airspace in between. it often delays pilots at uncontrolled airports when a controller has to find a good route.

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

Yeah, it's a user interface nightmare. I split flight planning between SkyVector, AirNav and AOPA's member stuff. Better details than FltPlan as a whole, and a lot more user friendly overall... albeit at the cost of more steps.

Um, so yeah, GPS.

SnowAviation Senior Member Escondido, CA

You are like me, I haven't flown or instructed in over 3 years and from all that I have learned as an ATC, it's a whole new world out there.

Me? I'd just pull out he Low Altitude Enroute chart and plan my flight like you did in the past. Now is a good time to bone up on charts anyway, and regardless of the new GPS world, I'd file a normal route and then ask for direct stuff when you are airborne. More controller friendly, and easier in the long run, you don't want to wait 10 minutes on the ground racking up hobbs time for an irritated controller to fix your route for you.