FAA Seeks Comments on Domestic Flight Plan Forms
Published Date: 7/13/2026
Notice
Summary
The FAA wants to keep collecting flight plan info from both domestic and international flights to keep the skies safe and help with things like search and rescue. Pilots, airlines, and safety teams use these forms, and the FAA is asking for your thoughts by September 11, 2026. No big changes or costs are expected—just a smooth renewal to keep things flying right!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Flight Plan Data Collection Renewal
The FAA will renew its collection of domestic and international flight plan information using FAA Form 7233-1 and FAA Form 7233-4 (OMB Control Number 2120-0026). Filing is estimated to take 2.5 minutes per response and the agency estimates a total annual burden of 292,724 (comments due September 11, 2026). The information is used by air traffic controllers, search-and-rescue teams, accident investigators, military, law enforcement, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Washington DC SFRA Filing Requirement
Within the Washington, DC Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA), pilots operating within a certain radius of Washington, DC — including those departing from three general aviation airports in Maryland — must file a flight plan regardless of whether they are operating under visual flight rules (VFR) or instrument flight rules (IFR). This is an additional operational obligation for pilots in that region.
Free Electronic Flight-Filing Option
Pilots can file flight plans electronically via web applications provided by flight service at no cost to users, and almost 100 percent of flight plans are filed electronically. Third-party subscription-based vendors are also available for direct electronic filing for users who choose them.
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Key Dates
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