ROUTE IMPORT: RETAIN THE OPERATIONAL REVIEW
Confirm the sector identity before accepting an import: EDDF-EGLL in the exercise, the matching aircraft profile and the intended current flight. Importing a previous sector efficiently still produces a previous-sector problem. [66, PDF pp. 519-528]
Scroll the imported F-PLN and inspect it in PLAN mode. Reconcile runway, departure, arrival and approach with the OFP and clearance, then review discontinuities and leg geometry. Importing a route does not establish that later clearances or final mass and performance entries have already been incorporated. [66, PDF pp. 519-528] [66, PDF pp. 113-120]
Retain the manual VIA/TO skills needed to understand and revise an imported route. Follow the DIFRIPPS review after import and give each page its appropriate check. Automation removes typing; the result still needs to become a coherent flight plan in the loaded aircraft. [100, Unpaginated, single paragraph] [66, PDF pp. 99-128]
IN PRACTICE: Import the OFP, then verify the aircraft’s plan
Before you begin: Navdata work is complete; engines remain off for this preflight import. Use a current generated SimBrief OFP and the matching Fenix profile. An imported plan still needs the normal route and performance review.
1. Start with the matching profile
Action. In SimBrief, use the official Fenix A320 CFM WTF profile for this stated aircraft and check the profile’s actual identity. Confirm the origin, destination, alternate and flight information for the current sector.
Check. The OFP describes the loaded aircraft and intended flight. An attractive aircraft name has not concealed the wrong engine or wing option. [106]
2. Generate the OFP you intend to retrieve
Action. Complete the intended planning inputs and use Generate OFP. Check that the resulting document is the current EDDF–EGLL sector, rather than assuming the dispatch form alone has published the flight for retrieval.
Check. There is a generated OFP ready for import, with the correct sector and current planning information. [109, Account setup and Generate OFP]
3. Check the account used by the aircraft
Action. Open the EFB Settings and check the SimBrief account/username entry used for retrieval. Confirm it belongs to the account that generated this OFP.
Check. The aircraft will request the intended account’s current flight. A valid import from a different account has not become the starting point. [109, Account setup and Generate OFP]
4. Request the initialization
Action. On INIT A, use the available INIT REQUEST prompt and wait for the response. Read any message before continuing. If reception is directed to SEC F-PLN, review that plan deliberately rather than assuming the active route changed.
Check. The received plan’s location is understood. An uplink message alone has not been mistaken for a fully reviewed active flight plan. [66, PDF pp. 519-528] [110, AOC SEC F-PLN UPLINK explanation and secondary-plan reception]
5. Check what actually arrived
Action. Open F-PLN and inspect the origin, destination, route and any included procedures. Compare the result with the generated OFP; verify the active route rather than relying on a success message or flight-number display.
Check. The intended flight is actually present in the working plan. Missing or inappropriate runway/procedure selections are identified for deliberate correction. [66, PDF pp. 519-528] [66, PDF p. 128]
6. Run the page-by-page review
Action. Use DIFRIPPS to review the accepted identity, route, radio selections, weights, progress and performance. Complete any field not supplied by the import from the correct current source, including final loading and actual takeoff calculations.
Check. Imported information and subsequently entered information agree. The import has reduced typing without replacing the preparation. [66, PDF pp. 99-128] [66, PDF p. 123] [66, PDF pp. 125-128]
7. Finish with the chart and ND
Action. Select ND PLAN mode and inspect the accepted route again, including the departure connection, important restrictions and arrival connection. Address a genuine problem through the relevant revision, then review the resulting active plan.
Check. You recognise the route that the aircraft will use. The manual-entry skills remain available for a justified later change. [66, PDF p. 128] [66, PDF pp. 312-314]
Complete when: The intended route is confirmed in the active flight plan, and the full DIFRIPPS review has identified or completed all information not provided by the import.