Special Departure Procedures (SDP) can be used to file flight plans in ForeFlight Mobile. While SDPs are not provided with app data updates (28-day AIRAC cycle), SDP plates can be imported into the app using the Bring Your Own Plates (BYOP) feature.
To use an SDP, the pilot must have a copy of the SDP and be an authorized user of the SDP. Adding an SDP to a route will make it fileable through ForeFlight. However, the app will not adjust flight time or fuel burn. The pilot will need to account for this omission during flight planning.
How to file an SDP using ForeFlight Mobile
STEP 1: Confirm that the pilot is an authorized user of the SDP and has a copy of the procedure.
STEP 2: From the Maps view, tap FPL.
STEP 3: Enter the departure airport’s ICAO identifier into the FPL Editor.
STEP 4: Enter the coded departure in the following format with a period between the SDP name and transition fix:
SDP NAME.TRANSITION FIX
Example: “YEARS1.YEARS”
NOTE: The SDP will have a red background, and an associated error message will be presented. Ignore the error message.
STEP 5: Enter additional waypoints, navaids, airways, or coordinates into the route as desired. Consider entering the transition fix again as a specific waypoint to get more accurate flight time and fuel burn calculations since the SDP and transition fix will not be accounted for.
STEP 6: Enter the destination airport’s ICAO identifier.
STEP 7: Make desired adjustments to the flight time, altitude, performance calculation, Etc.
STEP 8: Select the Send To button (square box with an arrow pointing up).
STEP 9: Select Flights.
STEP 10: Ensure the flight plan uses Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
STEP 11: Make any necessary adjustments to the flight plan.
STEP 12: Tap Proceed to File.
STEP 13: Make any necessary adjustments to the flight plan.
STEP 14: Tap File
STEP 15: Verify the information in the pop-up and then select File. If the flight plan is properly set up, a filing confirmation message will be presented indicating that the flight plan is filed.
Following the filing confirmation message, a pop-up will be presented stating that the FAA has acknowledged the flight plan.
A green “Filed” indication will be displayed in the lower-left corner of the screen. At this point, the SDP has been successfully filed as part of a flight plan.
SDP Filing Problems
If an SDP is not filed successfully, it is due to either of the following reasons:
The SDP filed was not recognized by ForeFlight
If an SDP is filed that ForeFlight does not recognize, an error message with be presented.
The SDP filed was rejected by the FAA
If the SDP being filed has not yet been adapted by the controlling center (FIR), a notification will be presented stating that the FAA rejected the flight plan. Additionally, the Flight Plan status will indicate “Rejected.”
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