How do I create and fly a flight plan in FS2004?

Open FS2004’s Flight Planner, choose departure and destination airports, select VFR or IFR and a routing method, then generate and save the route. Load it into the flight, use the GPS or radio navigation display to track each leg and, if desired, let the autopilot follow the course.

How do I create a flight plan in FS2004?

FS2004’s built-in Flight Planner creates routes for both GPS navigation and conventional radio navigation.

1. Open Flight Planner: From the cockpit, open the Flights menu and select Flight Planner. Press Alt if the menu bar is hidden.
2. Select both airports: Choose the departure and destination by identifier, airport name or location. Select a parking position rather than an active runway if you want to start on the ground and taxi.
3. Choose VFR or IFR: Use VFR when you intend to navigate without an IFR clearance. Choose IFR if you want FS2004’s ATC to issue a clearance, altitudes and routing instructions.
4. Select a routing method: Pick Direct GPS, VOR to VOR, low-altitude airways or high-altitude airways.
5. Generate and inspect the route: Select Find Route, check the map and navigation log, then enter a sensible cruising altitude. Watch for unnecessary detours or waypoints behind the departure airport.
6. Save and load the plan: Save the route when prompted. FS2004 normally stores flight plans in the Flight Simulator Files folder under Documents or My Documents, depending on Windows.
7. Handle the relocation prompt carefully: Let FS2004 move the aircraft if you have not positioned it yet. Answer no if you are already at the intended stand, otherwise the simulator may move you to a runway or another starting position.

Once accepted, the route should be available to the default GPS and FS2004 ATC. Saving the file alone is not enough if you then cancel the planner without loading the route into the active flight.

Which FS2004 routing method should I choose?

Choose the routing method according to the equipment you plan to use and the altitude at which you will fly.

FS2004’s navigation database reflects the simulator’s era. Modern airport identifiers, frequencies, runways and procedures may therefore differ, especially when newer scenery has been installed. Always inspect the route rather than assuming Find Route has produced a logical result.

For an explanation of legs, waypoints and route selection that applies across different simulators, see our flight-plan setup principles for simulator flying.

How do I fly the loaded route?

A loaded FS2004 flight plan can be flown manually from the GPS, with radio navigation or by using the aircraft’s autopilot.

Flying the route manually with GPS

Open the GPS and confirm that it shows the expected route and an active magenta leg. In many default aircraft, Shift+3 opens the GPS; if that shortcut does not apply, select the GPS through the instrument-panel menu.

Use the displayed desired track and course-deviation indication to steer towards each waypoint. Fly a wind-corrected heading rather than blindly matching the desired track number. The GPS should sequence to the next leg as each waypoint is passed.

Making the autopilot follow the GPS

The default autopilot can follow the route laterally when the aircraft has a working NAV/GPS selector and navigation mode.

1. Climb and stabilise: Hand-fly to a safe altitude, trim the aircraft and establish a suitable speed.
2. Select GPS: Move the panel’s NAV/GPS selector to GPS. Leaving it on NAV is the most common reason the aircraft ignores the magenta route.
3. Intercept the route: Use heading mode to approach the active leg at a moderate angle. Do not expect navigation mode to capture a course far behind the aircraft or at a sharp angle.
4. Engage navigation mode: Turn on the autopilot and select NAV mode once close enough to the course.
5. Manage altitude separately: Set the required altitude and climb or descent controls yourself. The FS2004 flight plan supplies a lateral route; it does not automatically manage the complete vertical profile, speed, take-off or landing.

For VOR-to-VOR flying, leave the selector on NAV, tune and identify each navigation aid, set the correct OBS course and change frequencies as the route progresses. Add-on aircraft may use custom avionics or an FMC and can ignore the default GPS route entirely; in that case, import the plan if the aircraft supports it or enter the route into its own system.

Flying an IFR plan with FS2004 ATC

An IFR plan loaded before departure allows FS2004’s ATC system to offer an IFR clearance and control the flight.

Open the ATC window, request the available clearance and follow the assigned heading, altitude, transponder and frequency instructions. ATC may vector you away from the magenta line, particularly near departure and arrival airports. Use heading mode during vectors, then return to GPS navigation when told to resume your own navigation.

The planned route normally ends at the destination airport rather than completing the landing for you. Expect ATC to assign an approach or vectors, and verify all frequencies against FS2004’s own data. Our practical IFR flying workflow covers clearance, departure, en-route navigation and approach handling in more depth.

Why will FS2004 not follow my flight plan?

Most flight-plan tracking failures come from the wrong navigation source, an unsuitable intercept or a route that was saved but never loaded.

• The autopilot flies towards a VOR instead: Change the NAV/GPS selector from NAV to GPS.
• NAV mode does not capture: Use heading mode to intercept the active leg at a shallow angle, then reselect NAV mode.
• The aircraft turns back after take-off: The GPS may have activated a leg behind the aircraft. Select the appropriate next leg or use direct-to for the next intended waypoint.
• The GPS contains no route: Reopen Flight Planner and load the saved plan into the active flight rather than merely locating its file.
• ATC and the GPS disagree: Fly the assigned vector until ATC clears you back to your route. An add-on airport or changed runway can also disagree with FS2004’s older navigation data.
• Altitude hold works but the aircraft will not climb as planned: Route following and vertical control are separate. Set the target altitude and climb mode manually while monitoring airspeed.
• A complex add-on aircraft ignores everything: Check whether it uses its own FMC, GPS or autopilot logic. The default Flight Planner cannot control every third-party navigation system.

Do I need to save the flight as well as the flight plan?

Save both if you want to resume from the same aircraft position and cockpit state later.

The flight-plan file stores the route, while a saved flight preserves broader session details such as the selected aircraft, location, time and simulator state. A common mistake is to save only the plan and expect FS2004 to restore the aircraft at the gate with the same panel configuration.