North Atlantic Airspace Boundaries [from North Atlantic MNPS Airspace Operations Manual]
2023 note: In the next few months, we should be scheduling our AIFP course for later 2023.
Our 2-day Advanced International Flight Planning (AIFP) course begins on the weekend immediately following the Aircraft Dispatcher Course, providing valuable information for those individuals who may become dispatchers for an airline conducting international operations. Sheffield School of Aeronautics was the first school to conduct a formal international flight planning course. Sign-up includes FREE unlimited Refresher Training!
Curriculum
Our advanced course goes well beyond the requirements and scope of our comprehensive FAA-approved Aircraft Dispatcher course and includes such topics as:
- Introduction, general information, ICAO, international references, publications and articles
- International definitions & abbreviations
- Q-NOTAM and SNOWTAM and ASHTAM codes
- International differences on Jeppesen airport charts, approach plates, and en route/flight planning/special charts
- North Atlantic Track planning including North American Routes (NARs), North Atlantic High Level Airspace (NAT HLA) – formerly known as Minimum Navigation Performance Specifications Airspace (MNPSA) – basic & advanced planning with special routing applications (more below)
Additional Training
- Computer flight planning using Navtech-loaded aircraft and track messages and weather using JetPlan.
- World Geography
- Meteorology, focusing on International-based weather services with regional and terminal Climatology
- Equal Time Point computation and application
- ICAO Annex’ 3 and 6 discussion and application
- Long range communications and surveillance methods, including CPDLC and ADS-C
- Redispatching using long range aircraft including optimization of redispatch points
- Regional considerations, including operations within Europe, Central and South America and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
- Atlantic, Pacific, and Polar flight planning including oceanic track structures (Organized, Fixed and Flex-Tracks), oceanic procedures, route and altitude planning, en route procedures/communications, diversion procedures, emergency procedures, and terminal procedures
You may sign up for this course with or without ETOPS any time. However, it is recommended to attend both courses to facilitate the transition from general international concepts (AIFP) to a specialized international flight planning concept (ETOPS).
Course Fees
Course Fees Tuition $600.00 [$900 for non-Sheffield graduates] – check for discounts.
Sorry, there are no courses scheduled at this time.
October 6, 2017
Very thorough. Great jokes!
September 28, 2017
“Brilliant instructors, first class education.”
S.
February 14, 2014
“The AIFP, ETOPS, & EWINS courses provided additional information and understanding on the topics that I did not have (earlier). The courses were worth attending and I would recommend that others attend.”
D. Brogan
February 14, 2014
“Excellent complement after completing the (certification) course!”
A.
February 14, 2014
“Thanks for everything. I learned so much and can’t wait to go back to work & apply all the information I got at this school! Thanks!”
C.S. (Germany)
July 9, 2013
“Super courses!! Finally I made my 1st ETOP plan!!
Keep up!!
Matteo Roder
June 10, 2013
“I am deeply impressed about the knowledge transfer in the workshops. This really helps me to make decisions independently within the working dispatch environment. Also, our instructor showed at all times a very high standard of performance. He was just great! Thank you! R.P.
March 25, 2000
Hi. You would not believe it but I am working for Polar Air Cargo dispatching 747s internationally. I just completed basic indoc with the new hire captains and will start dispatch class next week. Good I took your international dispatch class. I think that got me hired. Everyone here are almost all Sheffield graduates. Thanks and tell Brett hello and the news.
Dave Albright
AIFP (Advanced International Flight Planning) Course
- Is it mandatory to enroll in this class?
No. A graduate of the 5-week or an accelerated course may enroll at any time.
- Does any other school teach an international flight planning course with a separate ETOPs course?
To the best of our knowledge, no.
There are those who claim to “teach” the same course “for free” in a half day. They have titled the course: “ETOPs”, then “International”, then “ETOPs/International planning”, then simply abandoned the course, etc.. They will list subjects that Sheffield covers during the regular 5-week course. We also have a separate ETOPs course due to the volume of material covered.
You can sample a morsel, or purchase the 5-course meal. I know one course operator who will tell the students what the letters E-T-O-P-S stands for….and that’s about it.
- By taking this course, will I enhance my job opportunities?
Perhaps. Many hiring managers realize that what we teach is a great introduction to international planning and have hired many Sheffield graduates ahead of others based on their motivation to learn more.
Other hiring managers may be indifferent due to their domestic type of operation or their own personal experiences. If you plan to work an international desk one day, this course is an excellent introduction to basic principles combined with advanced concepts.
- When is this course taught?
Following the 5-week course. See Calendar.
- What percentage of your graduates enroll in this class?
It has ranged from 20-90%, with a median of approximately 30-40%.
- What is the AIFP course?
Advanced International Flight Planning. It is a 2-day workshop that begins 2 days after the regular certification course ends.
