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Alaska relies on an older filing system, which presents challenges when processing VFR ICAO flight plans. The main complications include:

• Manual Conversion by FSS: Filing a VFR ICAO plan requires the local Flight Service Station (FSS) to cancel the ICAO plan and manually convert it into an FAA Domestic format.
• Activation Issues: Activating a plan in ForeFlight sends an activation message for the original ICAO plan, which ATC has already canceled. This creates confusion as ATC must correlate the activation message with the manually created FAA Domestic plan.
• Emergency Contact Information: While filing directly using the FAA Domestic format might seem simpler, it omits the emergency contact information required by Alaska ATC. This information is included in the ICAO format.

Recommendations for Filing VFR Plans in Alaska

1. Use the ICAO Form:

   • Ensures required emergency contact information is included.
   • Emergency contact details can also be added in the Remarks field, though this is optional.

2. File One Plan at a Time:

   • Avoid filing overlapping plans.
   • FSS may reject plans if they cannot determine which one is correct.

3. Avoid Amendments:

   • If changes are needed, cancel the original plan and refile instead of amending it.
   • Wait a few minutes before refiling, and adjust the estimated departure time by at least five minutes to aid ATC coordination.

By following these practices, pilots can minimize confusion and ensure that VFR flight plans are processed accurately by ATC and FSS in Alaska.