AIM 

4/20/23 

TBL 4

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1 

Flight Specific Information 

Item 

International Flight 

Plan (FAA Form 7233

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4) 

Domestic U.S. Requirements 

Equivalent Item on 

Domestic Flight Plan 

(FAA Form 7233

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1) 

Aircraft Identification 

Item 7 

Required 

Item 2 

Flight Rules 

Item 8 

Required 

Item 1 

Type of Flight 

Item 8 

No need to file for domestic U.S. flight 

N/A 

Equipment and Capabilities 

Item 10 

Item 18 PBN/; NAV/; COM/; DAT/; 

SUR/ 

Required 

Item 3 

Date of Flight 

Item 18 DOF/ 

Include when date of flight is not today 

N/A 

Reasons for Special Handling 

Item 18 STS/; RMK/ 

Include when special category is applicable 

Item 11 

Remarks 

Item 18 RMK/ 

Include when necessary 

Item 11 

Operator 

Item 18 OPR/ 

No need to file for domestic U.S. flight 

N/A 

Flight Plan Originator 

Item 18 ORGN/ 

No need to file for domestic U.S. flight 

N/A 

d. Instructions for Flight

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Specific Information Items 

1. 

Aircraft Identification (Item 7) Aircraft Identification is always required. Aircraft identification must not 

exceed seven alphanumeric characters and be either: 

(a) 

The ICAO designator for the aircraft operating agency, followed by the flight identification (for 

example, KLM511, NGA213, JTR25). When in radiotelephony the call sign to be used by the aircraft will consist 

of the ICAO telephony designator for the operating agency followed by the flight identification (for example, 

KLM511, NIGERIA213, JESTER25); 

(b) 

The nationality or common mark and registration of the aircraft (for example, EIAKO, 4XBCD, 

N2567GA), when: 

(1) 

In radiotelephony, the call sign to be used by the aircraft will consist of this identification alone 

(for example, CGAJS) or preceded by the ICAO telephony designator for the aircraft operating agency (for 

example, BLIZZARD CGAJS); or 

(2) 

The aircraft is not equipped with radio. 

NOTE

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1. 

Standards for nationality, common and registration marks to be used are contained in Annex 7, Chapter 2. 

2. 

Provisions for using radiotelephony call signs are contained in Annex 10, Volume II, Chapter 5. ICAO designators and 

telephony designators for aircraft operating agencies are contained in Doc 8585—Designators for Aircraft Operating 
Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services. 

NOTE

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Some countries’ aircraft identifications begin with a number, which cannot be processed by U.S. ATC automation. The 

FAA will add a leading letter temporarily to gain automation acceptance for aircraft identifications that begin with a 

numeral.  For flight

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processing systems (e.g., ERAM or STARS) which will not accept a call sign that begins with a 

number, if the call sign is 6 characters or less, add a Q at the beginning of the call sign. If the call sign is 7 charac-

ters, delete the first character and replace it with a Q. Put the original call sign in the remarks section of the flight 

plan. 

EXAMPLE

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9HRA becomes Q9HRA 

5744233 becomes Q744233 

2. 

Flight Rules (Item 8a) 

(a) 

Flight rules are always required. 

Appendix 4

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2 

FAA Form 7233

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4 

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 International Flight Plan