OnCourse Software

Hi.
So basically I can't use PF3 until 5 whenever that is.

Not at all... if you request clearance from FSS at say 14:10 you will hear 'we'll open your flight plan 1t 10' (meaning 10 past the current hour)

Hello David,
I would like to revisit this topic again. While your answer makes sense, (though technically if I file at 14:10 and ATC responds "We will open your flight plan at 1t 10" then the flight plan should be opened immediately, right?. In any case, as the log should indicate the actually message I received was "We will open you flight plan at 5". What does that mean? 5 o'clock? In 5 minutes? If I request it a second time ATC responds with a different and higher single digit number, for example 7. Totally confused octogenerien here.
This happened on my last flght also so I am attaching the log. It happens on my first communication with ATC it should be easy to spot. Thank you.
pck42

Let's use a real-life example I've done many times in the past. When you're departing from a smaller airfield that lacks the normal clearance, ground, tower, etc services you will contact the Flight Service Station (FSS) via radio or telephone to get a weather briefing and file your flight plan. They'll pass on the appropriate details for your flight - departure frequency, weather, changes to route of flight, etc...when that is done and everything is sitting good they'll give you a clearance void time...ie - be off before that time or your clearance is void. In PF3 they use the phrase "we'll open your flight plan at 10" - i just treat that as a clearance void time and it gives me about 10 minutes to get off the ground and contact departure/center/whomever.

In flight sim "reality" contacting FSS serves the same purpose but there is not really a clearance void time or anything like that - it's just words. If you take 30 minutes or 3 minutes - it's all the same. PF3 has your flight plan active.

Fly safe.

In real life it means number of minutes from full hour when flight plan was "marked" as valid/approved by local ATC.