FPL Types of flight

The following types of flight may be used in Item 8b for a flight plan:
•S - if scheduled air service
•N - if non-scheduled air transport operation (commercial)
•G - if general aviation
•M - if military (in addition to military operations, operators of customs or police aircraft shall insert the letter "M" in Item 8b). State aircraft (aircraft used in
military, customs and police service) intending to conduct flights within RVSM airspace shall indicate the type of flight (Item 8b) with the letter "M".
•X - if other than any of the defined categories above. When using the letter “X”, supplementary information concerning the intention of the flight shall be
given in the Item 18 of the flight plan preceded by the identification group “STS/” or "RMK/".

STS/ Special Handling Reasons

Only the next indicators can be used with STS/:

ALTRV: for a flight operated in accordance with an altitude reservation;
ATFMX: for a flight approved for exemption from ATFM measures by the appropriate ATS authority;
FFR: fire-fighting;
FLTCK: flight check for calibration of nav aids;
HAZMAT: for a flight carrying hazardous material;
HEAD: a flight with Head of State status;
HOSP: for a medical flight declared by medical authorities;
HUM: for a flight operating on a humanitarian mission;
MARSA: for a flight for which a military entity assumes responsibility for separation of military aircraft;
MEDEVAC: for a life critical medical emergency evacuation;
NONRVSM: for a non-RVSM capable flight intending to operate in RVSM airspace;
SAR: for a flight engaged in a search and rescue mission; and
STATE: for a flight engaged in military, customs or police services

Flights with the SAR, HEAD, ATFMX, MEDEVAC, FFR indicators shall be given an automatic exemption from ATFCM measures by the CFMU.
Flights with status STS/STATE or HEAD shall clearly indicate in Item 18 (RMK/) if additional separation is required.

Other reasons for special handling by ATS shall be denoted under the designator “RMK/”

N – is used for commercial non-scheduled operations, including for positioning flights which is operates for a subsequent live commercial sector.
X – could be used in different cases:
- for special flights with the identification STS/… in the item 18 of FPL,
- for non-commercial flights, such as positioning of aircraft to maintenance, training flights, technical flights,
- for any other flight with the identification RMK/… in the item 18 of FPL,
- if it is mandatory by state requirements for certain flight types

In some countries may exist strict rules for indicating type of flight. This information is published in the AIP.
Type of flight may also affect FTL (In some countries, crew duty time may not be taken into account if they were positioned by ferry flight) and airport /
enroute charges.
Most countries have EXEMPTIONS for charges for some types of flight, example:

Information from AIP MOLDOVA:

AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES CHARGES

GEN 4.2 ARTICLE 4
The following flights shall be exempt from the payment of charges:
a. Flights performed by aircraft of which the maximum take-off weight authorized is less than two (2) metric tons;
b. Flights performed exclusively for the transport, on official mission, of the reigning Monarch and his/her immediate family, Heads of State, Heads of
Government, Government Ministers. In all cases, this must be substantiated by the appropriate status indicator or remark on the flight plan;
c. Search and rescue flights authorized by a competent body;
d. Military flights performed by military aircraft of the Republic of Moldova within Moldova;
e. Training flights performed by national users exclusively for the purpose of obtaining a license, or a rating in the case of cockpit flight crew, and where this
is substantiated by an appropriate remark on the flight plan. Flights must be performed solely within this charging zone. Flights must not serve for the
transport of passengers and/or cargo, not for positioning or ferrying of the aircraft;
f. Flights performed by national users exclusively for the purpose of checking or testing aircraft equipment. Flights performed for the purpose of checking or
testing equipment used or intended to be used as ground aids to air navigation, excluding positioning flights by the aircraft concerned;
g. Flights terminating at the aerodrome of departure and during which no intermediate landing has been made, for technical reasons, due to adverse
weather conditions or other force majeure;
h. Humanitarian flights authorized by the appropriate competent body.

AERODROME CHARGES
GEN 4.1.6 EXEMPTIONS/REDUCTIONS
The aircraft listed hereunder are exempted from the landing charges:
a. Moldovan state aircraft;
b. civil aircraft carrying out search and rescue flights or transporting personnel and materials necessary for such actions;
c. aircraft carrying out humanitarian flights in cases provided by law;
d. aircraft forced to land due to the technical reasons, unfavorable weather conditions or other force majeure reasons;
e. test and training flights of national air operators.

Information from AIP GERMANY

Training Approaches
When utilizing Air Navigation Services for flights intending to practice approaches, the following shall be entered to distinguish between „touch-and-go“ (TG)
subject to charges and „low approach“ (LA) not subject to charges when filing the flight plan:
1. In field type 8 type of flight = X
2. In field type 18 under Identification Group RMK/ = RMK/LIC TG or RMK/LIC LA
3. as well as any additional explanatory data regarding the training approach.
Explanation of terms used:
TG = Touch-and-Go
LA = Low Approach (approach alongside or parallel to a RWY).