diff --git a/game/ato/flightstate/inflight.py b/game/ato/flightstate/inflight.py
index c3724e10..40987246 100644
--- a/game/ato/flightstate/inflight.py
+++ b/game/ato/flightstate/inflight.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ from game.ato.flightwaypoint import FlightWaypoint
 from game.ato.flightwaypointtype import FlightWaypointType
 from game.ato.starttype import StartType
 from game.utils import Distance, LBS_TO_KG, Speed, pairwise
-from gen.flights.flightplan import LoiterFlightPlan
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from game.ato.flight import Flight
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@ class InFlight(FlightState, ABC):
             # at a loiter point but still a regular InFlight (Loiter overrides this
             # method) that means we're traveling from the loiter point but no longer
             # loitering.
-            assert isinstance(self.flight.flight_plan, LoiterFlightPlan)
+            assert self.flight.flight_plan.is_loiter(self.flight.flight_plan)
             travel_time -= self.flight.flight_plan.hold_duration
         return travel_time
 
diff --git a/game/ato/flightstate/loiter.py b/game/ato/flightstate/loiter.py
index 63ecea53..c23129c2 100644
--- a/game/ato/flightstate/loiter.py
+++ b/game/ato/flightstate/loiter.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ from dcs import Point
 from game.ato.flightstate import FlightState, InFlight
 from game.ato.flightstate.navigating import Navigating
 from game.utils import Distance, Speed
-from gen.flights.flightplan import LoiterFlightPlan
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from game.ato.flight import Flight
@@ -17,7 +16,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 
 class Loiter(InFlight):
     def __init__(self, flight: Flight, settings: Settings, waypoint_index: int) -> None:
-        assert isinstance(flight.flight_plan, LoiterFlightPlan)
+        assert flight.flight_plan.is_loiter(flight.flight_plan)
         self.hold_duration = flight.flight_plan.hold_duration
         super().__init__(flight, settings, waypoint_index)
 
diff --git a/game/ato/flightstate/racetrack.py b/game/ato/flightstate/racetrack.py
index 327152fb..14bcd86c 100644
--- a/game/ato/flightstate/racetrack.py
+++ b/game/ato/flightstate/racetrack.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ from game.ato import FlightType
 from game.ato.flightstate import InFlight
 from game.threatzones import ThreatPoly
 from game.utils import Distance, Speed, dcs_to_shapely_point
-from gen.flights.flightplan import PatrollingFlightPlan
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from game.ato.flight import Flight
@@ -19,7 +18,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 
 class RaceTrack(InFlight):
     def __init__(self, flight: Flight, settings: Settings, waypoint_index: int) -> None:
-        assert isinstance(flight.flight_plan, PatrollingFlightPlan)
+        assert flight.flight_plan.is_patrol(flight.flight_plan)
         self.patrol_duration = flight.flight_plan.patrol_duration
         super().__init__(flight, settings, waypoint_index)
         self.commit_region = LineString(
diff --git a/game/typeguard.py b/game/typeguard.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eac463ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game/typeguard.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Callable, TypeGuard, TypeVar
+
+SelfT = TypeVar("SelfT")
+BaseT = TypeVar("BaseT")
+GuardT = TypeVar("GuardT")
+
+
+def self_type_guard(
+    f: Callable[[SelfT, BaseT], TypeGuard[GuardT]]
+) -> Callable[[SelfT, BaseT], TypeGuard[GuardT]]:
+    def decorator(s: SelfT, arg: BaseT) -> TypeGuard[GuardT]:
+        if id(s) != id(arg):
+            raise ValueError(
+                "self type guards must be called with self as the argument"
+            )
+        return f(s, arg)
+
+    return decorator
diff --git a/gen/flights/flightplan.py b/gen/flights/flightplan.py
index 9d8d2caf..224440c7 100644
--- a/gen/flights/flightplan.py
+++ b/gen/flights/flightplan.py
@@ -13,7 +13,15 @@ import random
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from datetime import timedelta
 from functools import cached_property
-from typing import Iterator, List, Optional, Set, TYPE_CHECKING, Tuple
+from typing import (
+    Iterator,
+    List,
+    Optional,
+    Set,
+    TYPE_CHECKING,
+    Tuple,
+    TypeGuard,
+)
 
 from dcs.mapping import Point
 from dcs.unit import Unit
@@ -42,6 +50,7 @@ from game.theater.theatergroundobject import (
     EwrGroundObject,
     NavalGroundObject,
 )
+from game.typeguard import self_type_guard
 from game.utils import Distance, Heading, Speed, feet, knots, meters, nautical_miles
 from .closestairfields import ObjectiveDistanceCache
 from .traveltime import GroundSpeed, TravelTime
@@ -320,6 +329,18 @@ class FlightPlan:
         """The time that the mission is complete and the flight RTBs."""
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    @self_type_guard
+    def is_loiter(self, flight_plan: FlightPlan) -> TypeGuard[LoiterFlightPlan]:
+        return False
+
+    @self_type_guard
+    def is_patrol(self, flight_plan: FlightPlan) -> TypeGuard[PatrollingFlightPlan]:
+        return False
+
+    @self_type_guard
+    def is_formation(self, flight_plan: FlightPlan) -> TypeGuard[FormationFlightPlan]:
+        return False
+
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class LoiterFlightPlan(FlightPlan):
@@ -357,6 +378,10 @@ class LoiterFlightPlan(FlightPlan):
     def mission_departure_time(self) -> timedelta:
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    @self_type_guard
+    def is_loiter(self, flight_plan: FlightPlan) -> TypeGuard[LoiterFlightPlan]:
+        return True
+
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class FormationFlightPlan(LoiterFlightPlan):
@@ -442,6 +467,10 @@ class FormationFlightPlan(LoiterFlightPlan):
     def mission_departure_time(self) -> timedelta:
         return self.split_time
 
+    @self_type_guard
+    def is_formation(self, flight_plan: FlightPlan) -> TypeGuard[FormationFlightPlan]:
+        return True
+
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class PatrollingFlightPlan(FlightPlan):
@@ -498,6 +527,10 @@ class PatrollingFlightPlan(FlightPlan):
     def mission_departure_time(self) -> timedelta:
         return self.patrol_end_time
 
+    @self_type_guard
+    def is_patrol(self, flight_plan: FlightPlan) -> TypeGuard[PatrollingFlightPlan]:
+        return True
+
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class BarCapFlightPlan(PatrollingFlightPlan):