# Flight Plan Route Decoded

**URL:** <https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/flight-plan-route-decoded/10989>\
**Category:** General Aviation\
**Created:** [November 21, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/flight-plan-route-decoded/10989 "2010-11-21T00:35:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BeeZee](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/beezee/32/127073_2.png) [@BeeZee](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/BeeZee)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/flight-plan-route-decoded/10989/1 "2010-11-21T00:35:33Z")

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First of all, I am not a pilot, so forgive me for this dumb question.

Below is a picture of a flight plan route. I understand the origin and destination codes (KARB & KMKE). The navaid is a radio beacon that the pilot flies toward. The reporting point is where the pilot reports his position, which I can tell by the Lat/Lon. But what is DUNKS, LESSY, SARAN, etc., etc… Are these the name of the person that the pilot talked to?

Thank You, Bernie.

[](https://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll140/berzem/websites/flightplan.jpg)

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**Author:** ![FlyNYC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FlyNYC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/FlyNYC)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/flight-plan-route-decoded/10989/2 "2010-11-21T01:19:37Z")

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DUNKS, LESSY, SARAN, etc are actually intersections, the point where radials from two VORs cross each other. The “V2” and “V170” designations are airways defined by the VORs and intersections.

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**Author:** ![BeeZee](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/beezee/32/127073_2.png) [@BeeZee](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/BeeZee)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/flight-plan-route-decoded/10989/3 "2010-11-21T03:09:23Z")

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Thanks FlyNYC for the explanation.

I looked at a chart (SkyVector) and I did see V2 and V170. I also found DUNKS, LESSY, SARAN, and the other ones.

Once again, Thank You.

Bernie

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**Author:** ![FlyNYC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FlyNYC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/FlyNYC)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/flight-plan-route-decoded/10989/4 "2010-11-21T18:36:23Z")

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😉

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**Author:** ![lieberma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/58f4c7/32.png) [@lieberma](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/lieberma)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/flight-plan-route-decoded/10989/5 "2010-11-21T19:22:30Z")

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> [@BeeZee](#):
>
> Are these the name of the person that the pilot talked to?

One thing for sure, not a dumb question as I got the very same question from my passengers asking if ATC was calling me when they heard ATC tell another plane, direct ALLEN as they approach Jackson MS 😆

Even spelled the same way as my first name.

Much to my chagrin, that point of airspace was not named after me!

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**Author:** ![JHEM](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussions.flightaware.com/jhem/32/9683_2.png) [@JHEM](https://discussions.flightaware.com/u/JHEM)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://discussions.flightaware.com/t/flight-plan-route-decoded/10989/6 "2010-11-21T19:57:32Z")

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> [@lieberma](#):
>
> Much to my chagrin, that point of airspace was not named after me!

Just make sure you don’t get any ground indentations named after you before your time! 😉