Flight information shall be furnished to the appropriate ATC facility at least how many minutes prior to the time return to base will begin?

Flight information must be communicated to the appropriate Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility a minimum of five minutes before the time that the return to base will begin. This standard is crucial for ensuring that ATC has sufficient time to coordinate and prepare for the aircraft's approach and landing, allowing for safe and efficient management of air traffic.

The five-minute notification period helps ATC allocate resources, clear flight paths, and manage any other air traffic in the vicinity, which is essential for maintaining safety in the airspace. It ensures that pilots and ATC are synchronized in their operations, thus preventing potential miscommunications or delays that could arise if notifications were made too close to the actual return time.