Identify the standard information presented in OPARS CFPs.

Identify the 11 OPARS CFP formats and identify which formats contain flight level winds and temperatures.

Interpret the information presented in the flight identification data.

Interpret the aircraft fuel/time/weight summary data.

Aerographers Mates at our Naval Oceano-graphy Command (NOC) Detachments and Facilities normally receive OPARS CFP requests from pilots, and format these requests in a computer-acceptable manner on their micro-computers (Z-120, Z-248, or Whisperwriter). The formatted requests are transmitted to FNOC via telephone modem. The completed CFP is transmitted back to the microcomputer terminal in the same manner, and passed to the pilot. Some aviation units operate their own terminals and send their requests directly to FNOC. OPARS CFPs may also be requested by Automated Defense Information Network (AUTODIN) message, with the completed CFP transmitted to the user and/or requester by message. This last method must be used when classified CFPs are required, since the telephone-modem method is not secure.

OPARS is an acronym for the Navys Optimum Path Aircraft Routing System program, operated by the Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center (FNOC), Monterey, California. The primary purpose of the program is to increase air-craft flying safety. Computer-calculated flight plans provide the pilot with detailed fuel usage information, based on the specific aircrafts design, cargo weight, and destination, as well as the forecast atmospheric winds, temperatures, and air densities. These computer flight plans (CFPs) inform the pilot of the proper amount of fuel required to reach his destination safely. The secondary purpose of the program is to conserve fuel. Based on the forecast meteorological conditions, the flight planning computer normally will select the best routing and flight altitudes for an aircraft to use to reach the intended destination using the least amount of fuel. This option is defeated when the mission requires that a specific, detailed route and flight level be followed. As a briefer you will be required to brief many flights for which OPARS CFPs have been requested. In addition to briefing the pilot about the information in the CFP, you will need to verify that the meteorological data in the CFP is correct by comparing it to available charts. In order to do both tasks properly, you must be able to interpret the information on the OPARS CFPs. Detailed information on encoding OPARS CFP requests and decoding OPARS CFPs is available in the OPARS Users Manual, FLENUMOCEANCENINST 3710.1. Additional information about the 9KB format is available in Optimum Path Air-craft Routing System (OPARS) C9B Aircraft Overwater Procedures, FLENUMOCEANCEN-INST 3710.3. These manuals are provided to all authorized users of OPARS, along with the passwords and identification codes necessary to gain access to the system. In this lesson, you will learn how to interpret the information presented in the 11 different OPARS CFP formats.

To help you identify and interpret informa-tion in the CFPs we have grouped different types of information together and "named" these groups of information. It is important that you keep in mind that although we are naming certain groups of information, these names are just a tool to help you identify different types of information. After you are able to interpret the information presented in the Flight Plans, you should remember these names only as a general classification of the type of data presented, and not as a specific name of a line or section of the OPARS CFPs.

Learning Objective: Identify the standard information presented in most of the OPARS CFP formats.

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