When flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), what is required regarding flight plans?

When flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), filing a flight plan is optional. While it is always a good practice to file a flight plan for safety reasons—such as providing search and rescue organizations with information on your route and intentions—it is not a legal requirement for VFR flights. Pilots may choose to fly without a flight plan if they are operating within certain airspace and within visual meteorological conditions, making it possible to navigate without the additional step of filing a plan.

Filing a flight plan can help in enhancing situational awareness and ensuring that others are aware of your intended flight path, but whether to file ultimately depends on the preferences of the pilot and the specific flight circumstances. It's important to understand that while filing is not mandatory for VFR operations, it is generally encouraged for the safety and security of the flight.