Before taxiing, what must pilots do regarding the flight plan?

Pilots must obtain the squawk code and activate the flight plan before taxiing to ensure proper communication and coordination with air traffic control (ATC). The squawk code, which is assigned by ATC, is crucial for identifying the aircraft on radar and maintaining situational awareness. Activating the flight plan not only informs ATC that the flight is ready to proceed but also ensures that any changes to the route or timing are communicated, helping to avoid potential conflicts with other aircraft. This process is integral to maintaining safety and efficiency in the airspace system.

Options that suggest deactivating or filing a new flight plan do not align with standard operating procedures prior to taxiing. Reviewing previous flight plans, although useful in understanding routing and operational history, is not a required step immediately before taxiing. Therefore, the correct procedure is to obtain the squawk code and activate the flight plan.