SEC F-PLN: PREPARE THE ALTERNATIVE BEFORE IT IS NEEDED
Use COPY ACTIVE as a starting point when preparing a useful secondary route, such as a runway change or return. Inspect and edit SEC F-PLN while the active route continues to provide the working flight plan. Preparation and activation are separate parts of the task. [66, PDF p. 121] [66, PDF pp. 427-438]
For the Frankfurt departure, a prepared return can reduce later keyboard work. Check the runway or approach, leg order, discontinuities and performance assumptions with the same care as the main route. A spare plan that has not been reviewed merely postpones that work to a busier moment. [66, PDF pp. 427-438]
Before activation, confirm the clearance, aircraft position and intended first leg. Afterwards, check the ND, flight-plan sequencing and active guidance. The stored alternative is useful when it fits the situation at activation; its presence alone does not establish that the aircraft can fly the intended continuation from its current position. [66, PDF pp. 427-438]
IN PRACTICE: SEC F-PLN: prepare an alternative without changing the active route
Before you begin: The active route has been checked. For this workshop use a genuine planned departure-runway alternative supported by current charts; preparing a full return is a separate, equally deliberate route task.
1. Begin from a verified active plan
Action. Read the active departure, destination and initial route once more. Correct any unresolved active-plan error before copying it into the secondary plan.
Check. The spare will begin from a known, checked baseline rather than reproduce an error in a second place. [66, PDF p. 121] [66, PDF p. 128]
2. Copy the active route
Action. Press SEC F-PLN and use COPY ACTIVE. Open the secondary flight plan and inspect its endpoints and initial legs.
Check. The secondary copy represents the active route at the time of copying. Preparing it has not itself activated it. [66, PDF pp. 432-435]
3. Make the intended secondary revision
Action. Within SEC F-PLN, open the departure airport’s lateral revision and prepare the actual alternative runway/SID/transition. Keep the alternative tied to the current enroute connection and charted restrictions.
Check. The secondary route now represents the specific departure option you intended to prepare. Its procedure names and connection have been checked independently. [66, PDF pp. 432-435] [66, PDF pp. 113-114]
4. Inspect the whole secondary connection
Action. Scroll its revised departure and several enroute legs, checking discontinuities, duplicate fixes and restrictions. Review the route display where available and identify any performance work a later runway change will require.
Check. The spare is more than a different runway name. Its route construction and the remaining work are understood. [66, PDF pp. 432-435] [66, PDF pp. 142-165]
5. Confirm that the active route stayed active
Action. Return to ordinary F-PLN and compare it with the original departure and initial legs. Then reopen SEC F-PLN to confirm the intended alternative is still there.
Check. The active flight remains the original one; the reviewed alternative remains secondary. The two plans have not been confused during editing. [66, PDF pp. 432-435]
6. Keep activation as a separate operation
Action. Identify the ACTIVATE SEC function without selecting it merely to finish this drill. Before an actual activation, confirm the intended clearance, aircraft position, first leg and subsequent guidance, then review the new active route.
Check. You know what activation will replace and what must be checked afterwards. A prepared spare has not silently become the working route. [66, PDF pp. 436-438]
Complete when: A reviewed secondary alternative is available and the original active route is intact. Activation remains a separate decision tied to the intended clearance and aircraft position.