Short Flight - This IFR rating involves a flight from KSNA to KCRQ, using a predescribed route and altitude. The pilot will be vectored to the final approach course for the ILS approach at KCRQ.

File 'V23 OCN' for your route, with an enroute altitude of 5000.  This is the published preferred route for slow and fast piston aircraft from SNA to CRQ.  In later ratings, we'll learn more about where to find these routes, but for now, that's the route to fly.

What is V23?

Our filed route reads 'V23 OCN'. V23 is a Victor (low altititude airway) running from the Seal Beach (SLI) VOR to the Oceanside (OCN) VOR. In the real world, you would be required to have current low-enroute charts to fly IFR. These charts depict the airways, intersections, published holds, minimum enroute altitudes, and other information needed to safely fly IFR.

Obviously, it's not convenient for all VATSIM pilots to obtain these charts, so there are other substitutes including online navigation tools and flight planners.  If you don't have access to charts or a flight planning tool, then avoid filing routes involving airways.  Simply file a VOR-to-VOR route instead, such as 'SLI OCN', or just 'OCN'.