How do I create and use a flight plan in X-Plane 12?

In X-Plane 12, create a flight plan by entering airports, waypoints and procedures in the aircraft’s GPS or FMS, or load a compatible .fms file from X-Plane 12/Output/FMS plans/. Activate the intended leg, select GPS/FMS guidance, then arm NAV or LNAV so the autopilot can follow the route.

Which flight-planning method should I use?

Enter short routes directly into the aircraft’s avionics, but load an .fms file when the route is long, complex or likely to be reused.

The Location controls on X-Plane 12’s Flight Configuration screen place the aircraft at an airport, runway or stand; they do not build the full route. Flight-plan entry happens in the cockpit GPS/FMS or through a compatible route file.

How do I build and load an X-Plane 12 flight plan?

Build the route in flying order: departure airport, en-route fixes or airways, destination, then the appropriate departure, arrival and approach procedures.

1. Choose the route. For a simple VFR flight, the origin, destination and a few visual or GPS waypoints may be enough. An IFR plan normally includes published fixes, airways, a planned cruising altitude and procedures appropriate to the expected runways.
2. Open the aircraft’s flight-plan page. On Garmin-equipped aircraft, use the FPL page and its cursor, knobs or keypad to enter identifiers. An airliner-style CDU normally uses route and departure/arrival pages. Exact controls vary because many add-on aircraft replace X-Plane’s standard avionics with their own systems.
3. Enter the origin and destination first. Add en-route waypoints and airways between them, checking each identifier before accepting it. A similarly named fix in another region can produce a convincing but completely wrong route.
4. Add procedures with the avionics procedure function. Select the runway, transition, SID, STAR and approach rather than typing every procedure fix manually. Our guide to loading SIDs, STARs and approaches explains this part in more detail.
5. Load a saved route if required. Put a compatible .fms file in X-Plane 12/Output/FMS plans/, then select it through the GPS or FMS flight-plan catalogue or load command. Some third-party aircraft use a separate folder or proprietary import process, so follow that aircraft’s documentation rather than assuming the standard folder will work.
6. Inspect and activate the plan. Check the waypoint order, runway, transitions and first active leg. Resolve genuine route discontinuities, but do not delete a vector leg blindly: it may represent a section that should be flown on an assigned heading before the next leg is activated.

On units that distinguish between Load Approach and Activate Approach, loading normally keeps the existing en-route leg active. Activating may jump directly to the approach segment, so leave activation until the aircraft is ready to join it.

How do I make the autopilot follow the flight plan?

Select GPS or FMS as the lateral navigation source, make the correct leg active, and then engage or arm the aircraft’s route-following mode.

1. Confirm the active leg. The desired course should appear as the active, usually magenta, route segment. If the GPS points behind the aircraft, activate the next suitable leg or use direct-to for the waypoint you intend to join.
2. Select the correct navigation source. Garmin displays should show GPS with magenta course guidance. A green VLOC indication means the CDI is using a VOR or localiser instead and will not follow the GPS route.
3. Intercept the route. Use heading mode or hand-fly towards the active course, then arm NAV. Airliner-style systems normally use LNAV after the route has been executed in the CDU.
4. Manage altitude separately. A loaded flight plan does not guarantee automatic climbs or descents. Use the altitude selector with vertical speed, flight-level change or the aircraft’s supported VNAV system. Published altitude constraints can appear in the plan without being flown automatically.
5. Configure the approach mode. RNAV approaches generally retain GPS guidance, while an ILS requires the correct localiser frequency, course, navigation source and approach mode. Verify these rather than assuming that loading the approach configured everything.

You can also hand-fly the plan by following the CDI and active-leg guidance; an autopilot is not required. If a Garmin-equipped aircraft displays the route but refuses to turn onto it, work through our G1000 route-tracking checks.

Why will an imported flight plan not load or work?

Most imported-plan failures come from the wrong folder, an unsupported file format, mismatched navigation data or a route that has not been activated.

• The file does not appear: confirm that it is in Output/FMS plans and really ends in .fms, not a hidden double extension such as .fms.txt.
• A waypoint is missing: the plan and aircraft may use different navigation-data cycles, or the identifier may have changed. Replace the rejected fix with one present in the installed database.
• The custom aircraft cannot see it: its FMS may require another route format or import location even though X-Plane’s standard Garmin accepts native .fms files.
• The map shows a route but the aircraft flies straight: check the active leg, GPS/FMS source, flight director, autopilot and NAV or LNAV annunciation. An armed mode may still be waiting to intercept the course.
• The route changes after selecting a runway: choosing a different SID, STAR or approach can replace part of the plan. Recheck every transition and discontinuity after a runway change.
• The aircraft will not descend: lateral route following and vertical guidance are separate capabilities. Use the aircraft’s supported vertical modes and observe altitude restrictions manually where necessary.

Does X-Plane ATC use the same flight plan?

No—filing a route with X-Plane 12 ATC and loading it into the aircraft’s GPS or FMS are separate actions.

An avionics flight plan gives the aircraft navigation guidance, while an ATC flight plan tells the simulator’s controller where you intend to fly. Loading one does not reliably populate the other, so enter or file both and keep the route, destination and cruising altitude consistent. See our explanation of filing and flying with X-Plane 12 ATC for the controller-side procedure.