ACA794-LAX//LAS J146 HBU HBU056101 SNY091141 FOD214048 ALO BAE J16 YXU YWT WTRLO2 Vs.AAL456-KLAX //LAS J146 LNK J146 GIJ J554 CRL J586 YXU YWT WTRLO2 Anyone have any info on rules/regulations regarding filing FRD (fix-radial-distance) waypoints? Anyone with access to actual F/P info on the web may notice that the majority of American carriers file conventional HL routes, while ACA for example tends to file the FRD points on transcon routes. I'm not getting at something such as there must be one FRD point every 10 degrees lat or long, but rather how/why can ACA get away with filing a route with them, or why dont more airlines do it? (and Im not talking about /S acft here).

Chris,You may also notice LH (Lufthansa) uses FRD waypoints quite often. AC uses LH flight planning software. If I remember correctly AC has a restriction of 320 nm between each waypoint. This is programmed into their flight planning software. FRD waypoints allow them to plot a more effecient route while still following the 320 nm restriction. I've also observed AC use FRD waypoints while avoiding significant weather. Best Regards,

Hi,If you have a copy of the Canada Flight Supplement read the planning section on the National Route Program. This will give both NC and FAA rules regarding NRP and the use of FRD routes. This link has roughly the same information as the CFS but I'm not sure of the currency:http://www1.faa.gov/atpubs/FAC/Ch17/s1717.htmlScroll to user requirements.Regards,Graham

Thanks for the link, I was looking for something like that.Still, even with efficiency in mind I cant imagine controllers like seeing the strings of FRD points, especially since most carriers do not use them currently. The format does not lend itself to route visualization. Example, if you file GRB then dct MCW, you can visualize a track easily with or without a radar display. But can you visualize the track between SNY320/196 and MLD064/110 accurately? I cant. If the controllers in the US have a function which can display the track of an aitcrafts filed route, I can see them not having an issue with the routes. If not, I guess they have committed the FRDs wpts in their areas to memory.