How do I change a flight plan during a simulator flight?

To change a flight plan during a flight in most simulators, stabilise the aircraft, edit the active route in the cockpit GPS or FMS, activate the intended next leg, then verify the navigation source and autopilot mode. Use Direct-To for one waypoint; amend the full route for lasting changes.

The broad method is the same in Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, Prepar3D and FSX. The precise controls depend more on the aircraft's avionics than on the host simulator: a Garmin-style GPS, glass cockpit and airliner FMS each handle route edits differently.

How do I edit the active route while airborne?

The safest method is to hold a predictable heading while making the change, then inspect the revised route before allowing the autopilot to follow it.

1. Stabilise the aircraft. Use heading hold, hand-fly on a steady heading or pause the simulator. Do not begin editing while the autopilot is already turning towards an unwanted waypoint.
2. Identify the intended next fix. Note the active waypoint, your present position and where the revised route should rejoin. This prevents an accidental turn back towards a waypoint now behind the aircraft.
3. Choose the type of change. Use Direct-To for a single waypoint or diversion. Edit the active flight plan when inserting several fixes, removing a leg, changing an airway or replacing a procedure.
4. Edit the cockpit flight plan. Garmin-style units normally place the route under a FPL page, while airliner systems commonly use LEGS or F-PLN. Insert or remove the required fixes, taking care not to delete the active leg unintentionally.
5. Activate the revision. Some GPS units apply an edit immediately; many airliner FMS units require an EXEC or INSERT action. Activate the leg leading from a sensible point near the aircraft to the intended next fix.
6. Inspect the resulting route. Check the highlighted active leg, desired track, waypoint sequence and map display. Look for route loops, duplicate fixes and discontinuities before resuming navigation.
7. Reconnect the autopilot. If necessary, use heading mode to establish an intercept angle, select GPS or FMS as the navigation source, then arm or engage NAV/LNAV.
8. Handle ATC separately. Editing the cockpit route does not guarantee that built-in or human ATC has accepted the same change.

For platform-specific details, our MSFS route-planning and airborne-edit workflow explains how planner and cockpit changes relate. In X-Plane 12, follow the GPS and FMS route-revision procedure for activating a replacement leg correctly.

Should I use Direct-To or edit the whole flight plan?

Choose Direct-To for one immediate target; edit the complete route when later waypoints, procedures or constraints must remain organised.

After using Direct-To, inspect what comes after the selected waypoint. Some units resume the remaining flight plan automatically, while others leave a stand-alone Direct-To active until another leg is selected.

How do I change the destination or approach in flight?

Replace or select the destination first, then load the appropriate arrival, approach and transition without activating them until they are needed.

Loading an approach usually adds it to the flight plan while preserving the present en-route leg. Activating it may command an immediate turn towards an initial approach fix. If ATC is vectoring the aircraft, remain in heading mode and avoid activating a transition that sends the aircraft back across the route.

A route discontinuity is not automatically an error. It may represent an expected radar vector between an arrival and an approach. Clear it only when the two surrounding legs should genuinely connect; otherwise, use heading mode until established on the cleared approach segment.

If the requested procedure or waypoint is missing, the imported plan and aircraft may be using different navigation databases. Choose a fix recognised by the installed avionics or fly an assigned heading rather than repeatedly trying to insert an unavailable procedure.

Why won't the autopilot follow the changed flight plan?

The autopilot will not follow a revised route unless the correct leg is active, the navigation source is GPS/FMS and NAV or LNAV has captured the course.

• The modification is temporary. An airliner FMS may still be waiting for EXEC or INSERT.
• The wrong leg is active. Activate the intended leg rather than merely highlighting its waypoint.
• The navigation source is wrong. Change from VOR/LOC to GPS or FMS navigation where the aircraft requires it.
• The aircraft is too far off course. Use heading mode to intercept the active leg at a reasonable angle, then arm NAV/LNAV.
• Waypoint sequencing is suspended. Check for SUSP, OBS mode or an unresolved route discontinuity.
• The selected fix is behind the aircraft. Direct-To may command a large turn or fail to capture the route expected by the pilot.

A lateral route change also does not guarantee vertical guidance. Revised altitude constraints require a suitable VNAV-capable system, valid performance data and the correct vertical mode; otherwise, manage altitude and descent separately.

Does changing the GPS route update simulator ATC?

Not necessarily: many simulators keep the filed ATC plan separate from the route stored in the aircraft's GPS or FMS.

Use the ATC interface to request or file an amended route when that facility is available. Otherwise, built-in ATC may continue issuing instructions for the original plan even while the autopilot follows the revision. Human-controlled ATC should receive an amended clearance before the turn unless the deviation is immediately necessary.

FSX users can review the FSX plan-loading, GPS and ATC workflow, where this separation between the filed plan and cockpit navigation is especially relevant.