Flight plans???

Question

I have a small local airport close to me and I have never seen a plane land and I want to cuz I think it would be cool. I know that before any plane leaves the ground they have to let the FAA know so they dont get shot down by the military. So I was wondering if there is anywhere online that I could find these flight plans so I know when one will be taking off/landing?? Or is this like classified info or what??

Thanks

Answer 1

Flight plans are not required.  Somebody is trying to shake you up.  Just go hang out at the airport on a Saturday afternoon.  If there is no traffic, find another airport.

Just avoid areas marked "security area," "pilots and passengers only," and things like that, and nobody will shoot you.  Some officious person may ask you who you are and what you are doing, if you have the bad luck to run into a person of that type, but most people who hang out at airports are friendly and will help you see what you want to see.

Answer 2

If there's no activity at the airport, I'll just bet that the food at the airport restaurant is lousy.

Answer 3

Flight Plans aren't neccesary but they are recommended if you are going away or a few hours away from the airport, (if you crash they know where to send help if needed to search for you)  But here is a site that will tell you the big airports and most of the small local ones.:

Answer 4

It's not classified, nor do they have to file a flight plan.  A "good" local airport will usually have a public deck or other viewing area (ours is covered and has a nearby swingset for the kids) to watch the planes takeoff and land.

In the old days, this is how kids got interested in airplanes, before cable and security.

Answer 5

In the US small aircraft do not have to file a flight plan when the weather is nice.  They do have to file when they fly on instruments (bad visibility), because they need the FAA to guide them.  You can not access flight plans on-line.  They are not secret, but they are only available to FAA personnel who work with them.

There are restricted zones, where you can not fly unless you have permission from the FAA and have a flight plan.  These zones are over Washington DC and other major cities and are clearly marked on aviation charts.  They are called Air Defense Identification Zones or ADIZ.

Your airport must have low activity.  Have you gone there on a weekend during nice weather?  Why don't you stop in the airport office and talk to someone.  I am sure they will give you the scoop on what's going on.