Hi all,Here's a flightplan that I saw the other day. I was wondering if someone could help me with a question I had about it.Type: CRJ1Time Enroute: 00:58:00Plan Alt.: 220Speed: 0417Route: BHM..NO9..VUZ030025..CCT..ABB.MOSEY5.CVG/0101 My question pertains to the first part of the flight plan:BMH..NO9..VUZ...Means to me: Birmingham (direct) "NO9" (direct) Vulcan (VOR) VUZ030025.I'm not sure what NO9 is... I don't believe that it's a DP and I couldn't find it as a navaid. Anyone know? Also, what is meant by "VUZ030025" I know it's something to do with a fix, but how does one decode this?Thanks for the help!Trevor V1VrV2

Hi Trevor,The route you are mentioning appears to be the COMAIR route between KBHM and KCVG.The VUZ030025 is an intersection on the 030 degree radial 025 nm from the Vulcan VORTAC (N34:02:03, W86:39:25).As for the NO9, I'm still checking that one out. I thought it might be an airfield used as a fix but there is no NO9 (N-Oh-nine) registered. There is a N09 (N-zero-nine), but it is the Northfield Heliport in Thomaston, CT.No fix published as of 20-Jan-2005 is designated NO9.For now, I'm exploring if NO9 indicates a 9nm generic range north of KBHM before proceeding to the VUZ030025 fix. I'll get back to you as soon as I follow a few more leads. Excellent question you've posted!Bruce

Thanks for the info Bruce. I had suspected that VUZ030025 corresponded to the radial and distance from Vulcan, but I'm glad you were able to help out. As far as the NO9 part goes, I noticed this on several other BHM flight plans:BHM..EA9..VUZ100050..ATL..AHN.J208.HPW.J191.PXT.KORRY3.LGA/0157BHM..SW9..VUZ225040..MEI.RYTHM3.MSY/0046BHM..NW9..VUZ333025..HAB..HLI.HLI1.MEM/0045BHM..WE9..VUZ261025..IGB..LIT/0110So, apparently EA9, NO9, NW9, WE9, etc are part of a departure procedure that I had no idea about (nor any charts depicting). However, its use does not appear to be mandatory. Strange...Thanks again for your help!TrevorV1VrV2

Very good Trevor!This is similar to the depature at Atlanta Hartsfield. KATL has 8 departure intersections (NOONE, NOTWO, EAONE, EATWO, SOONE, SOTWO, WEONE, WETWO). You can see how the first 2 letters correspond to the direction and then either ONE or TWO.I'm wondering why the BHM3 departure doesn't indicate the NO, NW, etc., points on the plan. I'm still sticking with my original guess that it has to do with a general departure direction 9nm from the airport.I've asked a pilot that flies a CRJ in and out of KBHM to research those intersections. I'll report back.Bruce