Change the date and time in FS2004 using Time and Season, with fixes for resets, GMT offsets, mismatched seasons and AI traffic changes.
In FS2004 (FS9), press Alt if the menu bar is hidden, then choose World > Time and Season. Set the required date and local or GMT time, select the matching season, and confirm with OK. You can make the same change before loading from the Create a Flight screen.
Change the date and time during an FS2004 flight
The in-flight Time and Season dialogue applies the new clock and calendar immediately.
- Show the menu bar: Press
Altif it is not already visible. - Open the time controls: Select World > Time and Season.
- Set the date: Choose the required day, month and year using the date controls.
- Set the clock: Enter the local time you want, or use GMT when working in Zulu time.
- Check the season: Select the season that should accompany the date. FS2004 allows the calendar date and season to be set independently.
- Apply the change: Select OK and allow FS2004 to update the lighting and scenery.
A large clock change can cause nearby AI aircraft to disappear or repopulate because their schedules depend on simulator time. If AI traffic matters to the flight, set the date and time before departure rather than changing it while taxiing or approaching an airport.
How do I set the time before starting a flight?
The Create a Flight screen includes a time-and-season control that lets you configure the flight before it loads.
Locate the selected time and season area, use its change control, then enter the date, clock time and season. This is the better method when you want the correct daylight, AI schedule and seasonal textures from the moment the airport appears.
Should I use local time or GMT in FS2004?
Use local time for a particular airport experience and GMT for flight plans, Zulu-time operations or an unambiguous reference across time zones.
| Time setting | Best used for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Local time | Choosing a desired departure time, such as sunrise or an evening arrival | The displayed local time changes with the aircraft's location and time zone |
| GMT | UTC/Zulu schedules and flights crossing several time zones | The corresponding local date may be one day ahead or behind near midnight |
If you change the departure airport after setting local time, reopen Time and Season and verify it. The new airport may be in a different time zone even though the underlying GMT time has not changed.
Why does the new date or time reset?
FS2004 stores date, time and season with saved flights, so loading another saved flight can overwrite the values you just selected.
- Make the change after loading the flight you intend to use.
- Save that flight again if you want the altered date and time preserved.
- Check the startup flight if FS2004 repeatedly opens with an unwanted time or season.
Changing the Create a Flight settings does not rewrite every existing saved flight; each saved situation can retain its own values.
Why do the weather and scenery not match the date?
Date, season and weather are separate settings in FS2004, even though all three affect how the flight looks.
A summer calendar date can still be paired with winter seasonal textures if winter remains selected. Set both fields deliberately. The weather package with FS9 season notes provides additional context on how the selected season affects the environment.
Changing the date or clock alters daylight, sunrise, sunset and celestial conditions, but it does not automatically replace the active weather theme. Weather must be configured separately. No add-on is required, although an optional FS2004 environment texture upgrade can make dawn, dusk, night and seasonal changes more pronounced.
Does changing the clock fast-forward the flight?
No. Setting a later time jumps the simulator clock directly; it does not fly the aircraft forward or accelerate elapsed simulation.
To make an FS2004 flight progress faster while keeping time, aircraft movement and systems advancing together, use the appropriate FS2004 time-compression controls instead.