Learn how to change the starting location in X-Plane 12, choose an airport, runway or stand, and set an exact airborne position and altitude.
In X-Plane 12, change the starting airport and stand from Flight Configuration’s Location selector before loading the flight. For an exact airborne position, load the flight, open the map with M, select your aircraft, move it, and set altitude, heading and airspeed. Enter altitude above mean sea level, not above the ground.
Which X-Plane 12 location control should I use?
Use Flight Configuration for normal ground starts, the map for quick repositioning, and the instructor station for repeatable training exercises.
| Required start | Best control | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Airport, runway, gate or ramp | Flight Configuration’s Location selector | Only positions defined by the airport data are listed |
| Custom map position and altitude | In-flight map | Requires the flight to be loaded first |
| Repeatable training scenario | Instructor station | Needs more setup than a quick map reposition |
How do I change the starting airport, runway or gate?
The Location selector determines where X-Plane 12 initially places the aircraft on the ground.
- Open Flight Configuration. Do this from the opening screen or return there from an existing flight.
- Select Location. Search for the airport using its ICAO identifier where possible; this avoids confusion between airports with similar names.
- Choose the required start. Select a runway to begin lined up for departure, or select a ramp, gate, tie-down, helipad or other listed parking position.
- Set the aircraft state separately. Disable Start with engines running when you want a cold-and-dark parking start. Some complex add-on aircraft manage their initial state through their own menus instead.
- Start the flight. Check the wind before choosing a runway because X-Plane will use the runway start you selected, even if another runway is operationally preferable.
An airport start uses the ground elevation automatically. You cannot normally add an arbitrary airborne altitude to a gate or runway position. If an approach start is offered, it provides a preset airborne position rather than a fully custom one.
Changing the location only moves the aircraft; it does not create or update the route. Handle flight-plan creation and loading separately.
Why is my gate or parking position missing?
A parking position appears only when the airport data defines it as a usable ramp start. A painted stand or visible terminal does not guarantee that the position will appear in the Location list.
- Confirm that you searched for the correct ICAO identifier.
- Check all available ramp categories rather than looking only for positions labelled as gates.
- If custom scenery changes the airport, its defined ramp starts may differ from the default airport.
- Choose the nearest listed stand and reposition with the map if the required spot is not defined.
For ground starts, a listed ramp position is safer than dragging the aircraft manually because it should provide a suitable heading and reduce the risk of spawning inside a building or other object.
How do I start in the air at an exact altitude?
The standard map lets you reposition the loaded aircraft and set its airborne state more precisely than the pre-flight Location selector.
- Load a flight near the required area. Starting at a nearby airport makes the correct part of the map easier to find.
- Pause the simulation. This prevents the aircraft from accelerating, stalling or striking terrain while you change its state.
- Open the map. Press
Musing the default controls. If that key has been reassigned, use the map command from X-Plane’s interface or control settings. - Select your aircraft. Click its icon to expose the aircraft controls, then drag the icon to the required position.
- Set the complete airborne state. Enter altitude, heading and an appropriate airspeed rather than changing altitude alone.
- Close the map and resume carefully. Take manual control first and allow the aircraft to stabilise before engaging the autopilot.
Is the altitude MSL or AGL?
Treat the map’s altitude value as altitude above mean sea level and use the units shown by the interface. It is not height above the terrain.
For example, to start 3,000 feet above ground over terrain at 1,500 feet MSL, enter approximately 4,500 feet MSL. Add a safe margin for nearby rising terrain and remember that the cockpit altimeter can show a different value if its pressure setting is incorrect.
Why does the aircraft stall or dive after repositioning?
Repositioning changes coordinates immediately, but the aircraft still needs a sensible speed, configuration, thrust and trim state.
- Set an airspeed safely above the stall for the aircraft’s weight and flap configuration.
- Choose gear and flap positions appropriate to an approach, departure or cruise start.
- Set thrust and trim before releasing the pause.
- Expect the autopilot to be disengaged or unsettled after an abrupt move.
- Allow extra time for complex add-on aircraft whose systems or plug-ins may not respond cleanly to instant repositioning.
How can I repeat the same custom start?
Save the flight as a situation after establishing the position, altitude and aircraft state, or use the instructor station when the exercise must be reset repeatedly. Complex third-party aircraft may not restore every plug-in-controlled system from a saved situation.
Our guide to repositioning with X-Plane’s instructor station explains how to change location, altitude, heading and airspeed during structured training.