A Detailed Guide: Creating a Flight Plan Using ChatGPT ✈️

Disclaimer: AI and Aviation Safety

It is critical to understand that a flight plan generated by any AI, including ChatGPT, is a draft only. It must be thoroughly reviewed, verified, and finalized using official aeronautical charts, publications, weather services, and regulations (like NOTAMs and TFRs) by a certified pilot or flight dispatcher before filing or use. Safety is the pilot's final responsibility.

Step 1: Gather Essential Information

Before you ask ChatGPT to draft a flight plan, you need to provide it with the core data. The more detail you give, the better the result will be.

Category	Information to Provide
Aircraft	Aircraft type (e.g., Cessna 172 Skyhawk), Registration, Performance specifics (Cruise speed, service ceiling, fuel burn rate, usable fuel).
Route	Departure Airport (ICAO Code), Destination Airport (ICAO Code), Desired route (Direct, VFR, preferred VORs/fixes), Alternate Airport(s) (ICAO Code).
Time & Date	Estimated Departure Time (Zulu/UTC), Date of Flight.
Conditions	Desired cruise altitude, Planned cruise speed, Number of people on board (POB).

Step 2: Craft Your ChatGPT Prompt

Use a structured and clear prompt to instruct ChatGPT on its role and the data you need it to process.

Prompt Template Example

"You are a professional flight planner. I need you to draft a preliminary VFR flight plan and navigation log for a flight.

Aircraft: Cessna 172, Cruise Speed: 110 KTAS, Fuel Burn: 8 gallons/hour (usable fuel 40 gallons).
Departure: KXYZ (Example Airport)
Destination: KABC (Example Destination)
Date/Time: 2025-12-01 at 1500Z
Route: Direct, VFR at 5,500 ft MSL.
Request:
1. Calculate the estimated Time Enroute (ETE) and Required Fuel using the provided performance data.
2. Create a basic Navigation Log table with columns for: Leg, Course (Magnetic), Distance (NM), Estimated Ground Speed (EGS - *Use a conservative assumption like 100 KT to start*), Estimated Time Enroute (ETE) for the leg, and Fuel Burn (Gals).
3. Provide the official ICAO Flight Plan required fields, ready for filing."

Step 3: Review and Refine the Output

ChatGPT will provide a response based on the data you gave it, but it cannot access real-time or site-specific data like winds aloft or current NOTAMs.

Critical Review Points

Check Calculations: Verify the distances, ETE, and fuel burn calculations. AI can make math errors, or its assumed head/tailwind may be incorrect. Use your Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) or manual flight computer.
Weather Integration: ChatGPT cannot retrieve current or forecast Winds Aloft. You must obtain the actual forecast winds from an official source and re-calculate the Ground Speed and True Course for each leg.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensure the chosen route and altitude comply with airspace restrictions, Minimum Enroute Altitudes (MEAs), and regulatory requirements.
Fuel Reserve: Verify the total required fuel includes the necessary VFR or IFR reserves as mandated by regulation (e.g., 30 minutes for VFR day, 45 minutes for VFR night or IFR).

Step 4: Finalize and File

Once you have manually verified and updated the draft with real-world weather and regulatory data, you are ready to file the plan.

Update the Nav Log: Input the actual, calculated Magnetic Course, Ground Speed, and Time/Fuel for each leg into your final navigation log.
Final Check: Do a final walk-through (pilot briefing) covering the entire flight plan, including weather, performance, and procedures.
Filing: File the final ICAO Flight Plan using an approved service (like an FBO, an EFB app, or the official aviation filing system in your region).