AIM

8/15/19

5

−

1

−

15

Preflight

(b)

File the appropriate aircraft equipment

suffix in the flight plan.

(c)

Plan the random route portion of the flight

plan to begin and end over appropriate arrival and
departure transition fixes or appropriate navigation
aids for the altitude stratum within which the flight
will be conducted. The use of normal preferred
departure and arrival routes (DP/STAR), where
established, is recommended.

(d)

File route structure transitions to and from

the random route portion of the flight.

(e)

Define the random route by waypoints.

File route description waypoints by using degree-
distance fixes based on navigational aids which are
appropriate for the altitude stratum.

(f)

File a minimum of one route description

waypoint for each ARTCC through whose area the
random route will be flown.

(g)

File an additional route description

waypoint for each turnpoint in the route.

(h)

Plan additional route description waypo-

ints as required to ensure accurate navigation via the
filed route of flight. Navigation is the pilot’s
responsibility unless ATC assistance is requested.

(i)

Plan the route of flight so as to avoid

prohibited and restricted airspace by 3 NM unless
permission has been obtained to operate in that
airspace and the appropriate ATC facilities are
advised.

NOTE

−

To be approved for use in the National Airspace System,
RNAV equipment must meet system availability, accuracy,
and airworthiness standards. For additional information
and guidance on RNAV equipment requirements, see
Advisory Circular (AC) 20

−

138, Airworthiness Approval

of Positioning and Navigation Systems, and AC 90

−

100,

U.S. Terminal and En Route Area Navigation (RNAV)
Operations.

3.

Pilots of aircraft equipped with latitude/lon-

gitude coordinate navigation capability, independent
of VOR/TACAN references, may file for random
RNAV routes at and above FL 390 within the
conterminous U.S. using the following procedures.

(a)

File airport-to-airport flight plans prior to

departure.

(b)

File the appropriate RNAV capability

certification suffix in the flight plan.

(c)

Plan the random route portion of the flight

to begin and end over published departure/arrival
transition fixes or appropriate navigation aids for
airports without published transition procedures. The
use of preferred departure and arrival routes, such as
DP and STAR where established, is recommended.

(d)

Plan the route of flight so as to avoid

prohibited and restricted airspace by 3 NM unless
permission has been obtained to operate in that
airspace and the appropriate ATC facility is advised.

(e)

Define the route of flight after the

departure fix, including each intermediate fix
(turnpoint) and the arrival fix for the destination
airport in terms of latitude/longitude coordinates
plotted to the nearest minute or in terms of Navigation
Reference System (NRS) waypoints. For latitude/
longitude filing the arrival fix must be identified by
both the latitude/longitude coordinates and a fix
identifier.

EXAMPLE

−

MIA

1

 SRQ

2

 3407/10615

3

 3407/11546 TNP

4

 LAX 

5

1 

Departure airport.

2 

Departure fix.

3 

Intermediate fix (turning point).

4 

Arrival fix.

5 

Destination airport.

  or
 
ORD

1

 IOW

2

 KP49G

3

 KD34U

4

 KL16O

5

 OAL

6

 MOD2

7

SFO

8

 

1

 Departure airport.

2

 Transition fix (pitch point).

3

 Minneapolis ARTCC waypoint.

4

 Denver ARTCC Waypoint.

5

 Los Angeles ARTCC waypoint (catch point).

6

  Transition fix.

7

 Arrival. 

8

 Destination airport.

(f)

Record latitude/longitude coordinates by

four figures describing latitude in degrees and
minutes followed by a solidus and five figures
describing longitude in degrees and minutes.

(g)

File at FL 390 or above for the random

RNAV portion of the flight.

(h)

Fly all routes/route segments on Great

Circle tracks or GPS

−

based tracks.