Use current government publications, Flight Service, approved briefing sources, and controlling aircraft documents for operational decisions.
Flight Planning Resources
Links reviewed August 2026
Plan with current information, not a single app
Use this directory to build a complete preflight picture from official weather, charts, NOTAMs, TFRs, airport data, fuel information, and flight-plan filing services.
Third-party planners can save time and present information clearly, but no one website replaces current approved sources, aircraft documents, sound judgment, or a complete briefing appropriate to the flight.
A practical order
Build the plan in five connected passes
Planning is iterative. A weather, performance, fuel, airport, or airspace problem should send you back to revise the route.
- 1Define the flightAircraft, people, loading, destination, alternates, and personal minimums
- 2Build the routeCurrent charts, airspace, terrain, procedures, airports, and fuel stops
- 3Brief the weatherObservations, forecasts, hazards, trends, and escape options
- 4Check changesNOTAMs, TFRs, outages, closures, and chart or procedure notices
- 5Verify and filePerformance, fuel reserves, documents, briefing record, and flight plan
Know the difference
Official sources establish the picture; supplemental tools add context
Use visualization, tracking, fuel-directory, and simulator tools to compare options—then verify important information at its controlling source.
Verified resource directory
Flight planning links by task
Every link below was reviewed on August 1, 2026. Service features and operational data can still change, so confirm the source and effective date each time you fly.
Start here
Official briefing, weather, and filing
Build the regulatory and weather picture first, then use other tools to compare routes or presentation.
1800WXBRIEF
Request an online or specialist-assisted briefing, review aeronautical information, and file, amend, activate, or close supported flight plans.
Aviation Weather Center
View METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, SIGMETs, G-AIRMETs, radar, satellite, icing, turbulence, winds, and Graphical Forecasts for Aviation.
FAA ICAO Flight Plan Guidance
Review current field-by-field guidance for FAA Form 7233-4 and electronic ICAO-format flight plan filing.
FAA Form 7233-4
Open the current February 2024 International Flight Plan form, which supersedes the older edition and is approved through December 2026.
NAV CANADA Flight Planning
Access Canadian flight planning, weather, NOTAM, briefing, and flight-plan filing information, including current CFPS access.
Build the route
Charts, routes, and airport information
Use current charts and airport data, then compare route, altitude, performance, and service options.
FAA Aeronautical Data and Products
Find current VFR and IFR charts, terminal procedures, airport information, chart supplements, obstacles, and other aeronautical products.
FAA Digital Chart Supplement
Search or download current airport, NAVAID, communications, weather-source, special-notice, and operational information.
SkyVector
Explore VFR and IFR charts, routes, airport information, weather layers, and planning calculations in a web map.
FltPlan
Plan and file supported flights, obtain briefings and navigation logs, and use connected web and mobile route-planning tools.
ForeFlight
Plan routes with charts, weather, airport data, performance tools, briefing, and supported flight-plan filing on compatible devices.
iFlightPlanner for AOPA
Use AOPA’s current web planner for charts, weather imagery, airport information, weather briefs, and supported flight-plan filing.
VFRMap
Quickly view U.S. VFR charts, airport information, and selected weather layers in a simple browser interface.
SimBrief
Create detailed dispatch-style plans for flight simulation. Do not use SimBrief as an operational flight-planning source.
Dax’s VFR Planning Form
Use a printable VFR navigation-log worksheet for training calculations; verify every operational value with current approved sources.
Check what changed
NOTAMs and temporary flight restrictions
Review restrictions and changes along the entire route, including departure, destination, alternates, and diversion airports.
FAA NOTAM Search
Search current FAA NOTAM information by location and review notices affecting airports, procedures, services, and airspace.
FAA TFR List and Map
Review current and scheduled U.S. temporary flight restrictions using the FAA’s current TFR interface.
FAA NOTAM, TFR, and Safety Alerts Hub
Open the FAA’s central pilot page for NOTAMs, graphical TFRs, restriction guidance, and aircraft safety alerts.
Price the stops
Airport services and fuel prices
Compare likely fuel stops, but call the FBO before departure because posted prices, hours, fees, and availability can change.
AirNav Fuel
Search self-reported fuel prices, compare nearby airports, identify possible fuel stops, and review airport information.
GlobalAir Fuel Map
Compare reported 100LL, Jet-A, MOGAS, unleaded, and sustainable aviation fuel options by airport and service type.
IATA Jet Fuel Price Monitor
Review global and regional jet-fuel market trends. This is a market benchmark, not an airport or FBO price quote.
Add context
Supplemental weather and traffic awareness
Use these tools to visualize trends or observe public tracking data—not as substitutes for a complete briefing or ATC services.
WeatherSpork
Compare route-oriented aviation forecasts and time windows using a strategic weather-planning interface.
Windy
Explore global wind, cloud, precipitation, radar, satellite, and model layers as supplemental weather context.
FlightAware
View publicly available flight, airport, delay, and historical tracking information where coverage is available.
Flightradar24
View public aircraft tracking and flight details where receiver, satellite, and data coverage are available.
Before departure
A saved plan is only a snapshot
Recheck weather, NOTAMs, TFRs, runway and airport status, fuel availability, aircraft performance, and applicable documents close to departure. Update the plan when conditions, timing, loading, or the route changes.