Flight Planning Process

I just recently had someone who was about to get their biennial flight review (BFR) ask me how I typically go about planning a flight. Here's what I wrote which is pretty typical of the method and resources I use. Open to suggestions!

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Planning

To loosely figure out where I want to go, airports, distance, route (VORs, airways, direct, etc), and airspace I should be aware of, I use RunwayFinder:

http://www.runwayfinder.com (edit - 12/17/2010 - as of this edit RunwayFinder is shutdown due to a lawsuit from FlightPrep, SkyVector has paid the ransom and is still available)

Once I know the destination and alternates, I look at Airnav and AOPA's Airport Directory. I'll usually print out the kneeboard version of AOPAs directory listing for that airport:

http://www.airnav.com

http://www.aopa.org/airports/

Then, I’ll use FltPlan.com or FlightAware to figure out typical routes used (if going IFR):

http://flightaware.com

http://www.fltplan.com

Finally, I’ll use AOPA’s flight planner to print a Navigation Log and to file my flight plan via DUAT:

http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/

Weather

For weather, I usually use the following in roughly this order

Big picture weather:

http://www.weather.com (Video with the talking head is actually helpful to watch)

http://aviationweather.gov/products/afd/ (I love the individual "free-form" forecasts)

http://adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov

http://www.aopa.org/wx/

Route weather (TAFs, etc):

http://www.navmonster.com

Official briefing weather:

https://www.duat.com

Lastly, right before flight I’ll usually called 1800WXBRIEF for an abbreviated briefing where I will ask them for any TFRs that may exist along my route.