AIM ¶ 5-1-14 — Closing VFR Flight Plans
AIM 5-1-14 explains pilot responsibility for closing VFR/DVFR flight plans, who to contact, and what happens if you don't cancel within 30 minutes of ETA.
In Plain English
When you file a VFR or DVFR flight plan, it is your responsibility as pilot in command to close (cancel) it after landing — no one does it for you automatically.
Key points from AIM 5-1-14:
- Close your flight plan with the nearest Flight Service Station (FSS).
- If an FSS isn't available, you may ask any ATC facility to relay the cancellation to FSS.
- Control towers do NOT automatically close VFR/DVFR flight plans — they don't know which arriving VFR aircraft are on a flight plan.
- If you fail to report or cancel within 30 minutes after your ETA, search and rescue (SAR) procedures begin.
Why this matters operationally: forgetting to close a flight plan triggers a costly SAR response, embarrasses the pilot, and ties up emergency resources. A common technique is to cancel airborne with FSS on 122.2 (or via Flight Watch / a Remote Communications Outlet) before landing at a non-towered field, or by phone (1-800-WX-BRIEF) immediately after shutdown.
AIM Source Text
FAA AIM ¶ 5-1-145-1-14. 5-1-14. Closing VFR/DVFR Flight Plans
A pilot is responsible for ensuring that his/her VFR or DVFR flight plan is canceled. You should close your flight plan with the nearest FSS, or if one is not available, you may request any ATC facility to relay your cancellation to the FSS.Control towers do not automatically close VFR or DVFR flight plans since they do not know if a particular VFR aircraft is on a flight plan. If you fail to report or cancel your flight plan within / 2 hour after your ETA, search and rescue procedures are started. REFERENCE- 14 CFR Section 91.153. 14 CFR Section 91.169.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Who is responsible for closing a VFR flight plan, and how do you do it?
Per AIM 5-1-14, the pilot is responsible for ensuring the VFR or DVFR flight plan is canceled. You should close it with the nearest FSS, or request any ATC facility to relay the cancellation to FSS if no FSS is available.
Q2Does landing at a towered airport automatically close your VFR flight plan?
No. Per AIM 5-1-14, control towers do not automatically close VFR or DVFR flight plans because they have no way of knowing whether a particular VFR aircraft is on a flight plan.
Q3What happens if you forget to close your VFR flight plan?
Per AIM 5-1-14, if you fail to report or cancel your flight plan within 30 minutes after your ETA, search and rescue procedures are initiated.
Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 5