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Island Reporting Flight Plans
Although standard VFR Flight Plans may be used for inter-island flights,
you are advised to instead file an “island reporting flight plan.” Under
the island reporting service, you make position reports to FSS when over
designated checkpoints along your route (Fig. 3-1 in the book). The flight
service station keeps track of your progress and will inform you of NOTAMs
or significant weather changes. If one of your reports is 15 minutes overdue
and FSS cannot establish communications with you, preparations for search
and rescue operations will begin.
To obtain island reporting service, describe
your type of flight plan as “VFR island reporting” instead of “VFR” when
filing. The remainder of the flight plan is filed in the same manner as
standard VFR flight plans. Once aloft, give FSS a call to activate the
flight plan and inform them of your off time. FSS will then let you know
which checkpoint to report next. Touch-and-go landings may be performed
at enroute airports if flight service is aware of your plans. However,
an island reporting flight plan must be closed prior to any full-stop
landings. If the airport you'll be landing at has approach control or
a tower control, close your flight plan prior to contacting the controller.
There are a few disadvantages to using
island reporting service. First, pilots enroute to Kauai often find that
when the service is used along with traffic advisories from Honolulu Center,
the necessary switching between frequencies can become distracting. Kauai-bound
pilots flying at altitudes too low for Center advisories should definitely
file island reporting flight plans, but those who fly at higher altitudes
may instead choose the combination of straight VFR flight plans and flight
following from Center. Second, if radio failure prevents you from making
a position report on time, you'll need to land at a nearby airport in
order to quickly telephone flight service and prevent an unnecessary search
from being organized.
The advantages of using island reporting
services are obvious. Your chances of being rescued after a ditching are
best if search and rescue operations are begun soon after the ditching
and searchers have a good idea of where to look. Island reporting flight
plans are superior to straight VFR flight plans in these respects.