How do I create and use a flight plan in MSFS 2024?

To create and use a flight plan in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, choose the aircraft, departure and destination in the EFB Flight Planner, select VFR or IFR, add the route and procedures, then transfer it to the aircraft. In the cockpit, verify the legs, activate the route and select GPS/FMS navigation guidance.

Which flight-planning method should I use?

The built-in EFB is the simplest choice for most MSFS 2024 flights, but airliner operations and unsupported add-on aircraft may need a different workflow.

Our field-by-field built-in planner walkthrough covers the planner controls in more depth. For airline operations, follow the separate process for building and transferring an operational plan with SimBrief.

How do I create a route in the MSFS 2024 EFB?

Create the route before starting the flight, then review it again after it reaches the aircraft.

1. Choose the aircraft first. Available procedures, cruising performance and avionics support depend on the selected aircraft.
2. Set the departure and starting position. Select the departure airport, then choose a parking stand for a cold-and-dark start or a runway for a ready-to-fly start. Confirm the spawn point separately rather than assuming the route origin has set it correctly.
3. Add the destination. Enter the arrival airport and, if required, an alternate suitable for the aircraft and expected conditions.
4. Choose VFR or IFR. Use VFR for visual navigation and informal GPS routes. Choose IFR when you want an instrument clearance, airway routing or published departure, arrival and approach procedures.
5. Select the route type. A direct route suits short VFR flights. Low-level airways normally suit lower-flying IFR aircraft, while high-level routes are generally appropriate for jet operations. Use the aircraft, terrain and applicable airspace to decide rather than selecting high airways solely because the aircraft is fast.
6. Add runways and procedures. Choose the departure runway, SID, STAR, approach and transitions where applicable. Do not add procedures merely to create extra waypoints; they must match the runway and intended operation.
7. Set a sensible cruise altitude. Check terrain clearance, aircraft performance and any airway restrictions. The planner's suggested altitude still needs checking.
8. Calculate and inspect the route. Look for loops, doubled waypoints, implausible detours and procedures connected through the wrong transition.
9. Transfer and file separately. Send the route to the aircraft avionics, then file it with the simulator's ATC if you want ATC services. These are separate actions; doing one does not guarantee the other has happened.

Button wording can vary with simulator updates and aircraft integration. Our guide to the EFB route, calculation and transfer controls explains the tablet workflow without assuming that every cockpit accepts routes in the same way.

How do I make the aircraft follow the flight plan?

A loaded flight plan provides navigation data; it does not automatically fly the aircraft or configure its performance.

1. Inspect the cockpit route. Open the FMS, GPS or navigation display and confirm that the origin, destination, procedures and intermediate waypoints are present.
2. Check the active leg. The first active leg should lead from the aircraft's position towards the next intended waypoint. If it points behind the aircraft, activate the correct leg rather than deleting the entire route.
3. Complete aircraft-specific setup. Enter any required weights, fuel, cruise altitude, cost index, take-off data and performance information. Route transfer does not normally complete these fields.
4. Select the correct navigation source. Garmin-equipped aircraft generally need GPS rather than VOR/LOC as the CDI source. Airliners normally use their FMS route through LNAV or managed navigation.
5. Intercept and arm lateral guidance. Use heading mode or hand-fly towards the active leg, then arm NAV, LNAV or the aircraft's equivalent route-following mode. A route some distance away or behind the aircraft may not capture.
6. Control altitude separately. Set the desired altitude and use the appropriate climb, descent or VNAV mode. Basic NAV mode follows the lateral line only.
7. Load the approach at the right time. Confirm the landing runway before activating the approach. For an ILS, verify the frequency and course if the aircraft does not manage them automatically.

For Garmin aircraft, our G1000 route activation and leg-management instructions cover the cockpit controls that commonly cause confusion.

Why is my MSFS 2024 flight plan missing or not working?

Most failed flight plans result from an incomplete transfer, an unsupported custom avionics system or the wrong active leg.

• The cockpit route is empty: send the route to avionics again and confirm that the selected aircraft supports EFB transfer. Some add-on aircraft require their own import function or manual FMS entry.
• ATC does not recognise the plan: file it with ATC after making the final route changes. Sending it to the aircraft alone is not enough.
• The route is only a straight line: recalculate it after selecting the flight rules, airway type and procedures. Entering only two airports often produces a direct route.
• The aircraft turns back after take-off: a waypoint behind the aircraft is probably active. Activate the intended next leg; using direct-to-destination will bypass every remaining intermediate waypoint.
• NAV mode will not capture: check the GPS/FMS navigation source, flight director, active leg and intercept angle. Use heading mode to approach the route if necessary.
• A waypoint or airway is rejected: the route may use navigation data not recognised by the aircraft or simulator. Replace the missing fix or choose another airway, especially after importing an externally generated plan.
• The FMS shows a discontinuity: inspect both sides before clearing it. Join unintended breaks, but retain deliberate vector legs when the procedure expects ATC guidance.

Handling an ATC runway change

If ATC assigns a different runway, replace the approach in the aircraft's FMS or GPS, select the correct transition and inspect the new active leg. The built-in ATC system does not reliably rewrite every avionics route, so never assume the cockpit plan changed with the clearance.

A runway change rarely requires rebuilding the entire flight plan. Keep the en-route portion, revise the arrival and approach, then recheck for duplicate waypoints, discontinuities and an old approach that remains active.