Definition
The flight plan, including any changes brought about by subsequent clearances, that is in force at any given moment during a flight.
Plain English
It is the up-to-date version of your flight plan as it stands right now, after any changes from ATC or the pilot have been applied.
Context Anchor
Seen in air traffic control and flight planning discussions when comparing the originally filed plan with the plan currently in effect.
Derivation
‘Current’ comes from the Latin currere, meaning ‘to run.’ A current flight plan is the one ‘running’ at this moment — the live version, not the original filed version or any earlier amended version.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures the pilot and ATC share identical route and altitude data, avoiding deviations, airspace incursions, or loss of separation.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “current” means only the flight plan that was filed most recently. Here it means the flight plan presently in effect, including later approved changes.
Example Sentence 1
After accepting the reroute from Center, the pilot's current flight plan reflected the new airway and revised arrival.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot asked ATC to confirm that the current flight plan included the requested altitude change.