To do a Practice Approach at a Drop-In Airfield, what type of flight plan should you file?

To do a Practice Approach at a Drop-In Airfield, what type of flight plan should you file?

• A. Terminal Area Delay
• B. IFR Flight Plan
• C. VFR Flight Plan
• D. Special-Use Flight Plan

Answer: (A)

When you’re planning to practice an instrument approach at a drop-in field, coordinating with ATC in the terminal area is essential. Filing a Terminal Area Delay flight plan communicates to ATC that your operation will occur within the terminal area and may require a deliberate delay or holding pattern before you’re cleared for the approach. This setup gives ATC the timing and sequencing they need to slot you into the arrival stream without disrupting other traffic, so you can safely perform the practice approach and then depart.

Other flight plan types don’t fit this scenario. An IFR flight plan is for a standard instrument flight with en route clearance and isn’t specifically about obtaining a prescribed terminal-area delay for a practice approach. A VFR flight plan is for visual operations and wouldn’t address the controlled sequencing required for an instrument approach in the terminal area. A Special-Use flight plan is for operations in restricted or other special-use airspace, not for routine practice approaches at a drop-in field.