At the 1988 IFATCA conference SC 1 presented a working paper on “Development of Policy on the Method of Identifying Replacement Flight Plans”.

The conference accepted the recommendation that “Procedures to handle replacement flight plans should be applicable world-wide”.

During the presentation of this work study item the SC 1 and IFATCA representative to the Airspace and Traffic Management Group (ATMG) indicated that, from October 1988, a new procedure to identify replacement flight plans would be introduced. The working paper concluded that this item should remain on the SC 1 work programme, in order that SC 1 could monitor developments and prepare further policy recommendations, if necessary.

The new procedure to identify replacement flight plans uses field 18 of the flight plan form. Field 18 (other information) should contain the remark : RFP Q’n’, eg Q1 would be the first replacement flight plan for that flight. This procedure has been in use since the 20th October 1988 and up to now SC 1 has received no reports from European MA’s that would indicate that there are problems with the procedure itself. However, there have been reports that the procedure is not being fully applied in some cases. Difficulties have been caused when the original flight plan is not cancelled and further plans, for the same flight, are not clearly indicated as replacement flight plans.

The real test will, however, be the summer of 1989, when undoubtedly a large number of flights will be re-routed to avoid long delays.

A new procedure to identify replacement flight plans is now being used in the European Region. Little experience has been gained with this procedure to indicate whether or not it is satisfactory.

SC 1 has received few reports and has not heard of any problems experienced with the new procedure itself. However, the period in which the procedure will receive the heaviest use is still to come.

The further development of policy on this item requires more information on the operational value of the new procedure.