Which filing form should be used for military flight planning?

Selecting the correct flight plan form for filing military flight plans depends on the type of flight and operational requirements. Below are guidelines for choosing between the ICAO and DD-1801 forms, as well as considerations for electronic filing and data privacy.

ICAO Flight Plan

The ICAO flight plan form is suitable for filing most flights and can be used when base operations do not require a signed copy. For flights departing from or arriving at a military installation, base operations will receive an electronic filing message of the ICAO plan, but not a signed form.

DD-1801 Flight Plan

The DD-1801 is a modified version of the ICAO form tailored for military operations and should be used in the following cases:

Departing from or arriving at a military installation.
When base operations require a signed Department of Defense (DoD) flight plan form. ForeFlight sends a signed PDF copy of the flight plan to base operations when their email address is added to the form.
Filing from remote fields as directed by base operations.

Electronic Filing Options with DD-1801

When using the DD-1801 form, enabling or disabling electronic filing affects how the flight plan is processed:

Enabled: Sends data directly to ATC via the AFTN network, automating the process.
Disabled: Only sends a PDF copy to base operations, allowing personnel to input data into the ATC systems manually. This option is used for OPSEC to delay filing or to include route elements such as MOAs that the FAA system cannot process.

Data Privacy and Anonymity

The US DoD assumes the liability for its pilots, meaning that no personally identifiable information should be transmitted to the FAA. By default, only aircraft and route details (blocks 1-18 of the ICAO form) are sent in the “FPL message.”

Deviation or Emergency Situations

In case of deviations, accidents, or search-and-rescue situations, the FAA may request additional information (SPL message). Pilot information is handled as follows:

ICAO Filing: The SPL message may include personally identifiable information.
DD-1801 filing: ForeFlight anonymizes the SPL message, ensuring the pilot’s identity remains confidential except to base operations.