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

In X-Plane Mobile, create a flight plan either in the app’s map or route interface or directly in the aircraft’s GPS/FMS. Enter the departure, destination and waypoints in sequence, activate the route, select GPS/FMS as the navigation source, then use NAV or LNAV after positioning the aircraft to intercept the active leg.

X-Plane Mobile does not present one identical flight planner in every aircraft, app build or screen layout. The editable app map, an instrument-panel moving map and an airliner’s FMC are different tools, so first identify which route-entry method your aircraft provides.

Which X-Plane flight planner should I use?

Choose the app planner for a basic route when editing controls are visible; use the cockpit GPS or FMC when they are not, or when flying an airliner with its own route-management system.

Method 1: how to create the route in the mobile map or planner

Use this method only when your installed X-Plane Mobile interface exposes an editable map, route or flight-plan screen.

1. Start Free Flight: Select the aircraft and departure location. Choosing a runway may position the aeroplane there, but it does not necessarily create a route or load a departure procedure.
2. Open the editable planner: Look in the pre-flight or in-flight app controls for a map, route or flight-plan function. Icons and labels vary, so we cannot give one screen corner that applies to every phone and build.
3. Set the origin: Search by ICAO identifier, such as EGLL, and confirm that the airport is actually added to the plan. Merely centring it on the map is not enough.
4. Add the destination: Assign the destination as the final route point and check that you have selected the correct airport rather than a similarly named location.
5. Insert intermediate fixes in order: Add recognised waypoints, VORs or airports in the sequence you intend to fly. If the planner does not accept an airway name, enter its relevant fixes individually or use the aircraft’s FMS.
6. Add procedures when offered: Select a departure, arrival or approach only if the planner or aircraft navigator supports it. A route that ends at an airport does not automatically contain an instrument approach.
7. Apply and verify the plan: Use Load, Activate or the equivalent control if one appears. Some interfaces apply edits when the planner closes, so verify the result by checking for an active next waypoint, bearing, distance and highlighted route leg.

A mistake we see constantly is adding the right fixes in the wrong order. Confirm each identifier as well: duplicated waypoint names can place a leg hundreds of miles away from the intended route.

There is no map or no such button on my phone

If there is no editable map on your phone, stop following instructions that depend on it and enter the route through the aircraft’s GPS or FMC instead.

The same diagnosis applies to reports such as там нет такой кнопки (“there is no such button”), 沒看到 (“I don’t see it”) or так нельзя (“the app will not allow that”). These usually indicate that the instructions describe a different aircraft, screen layout, app context or desktop X-Plane rather than the controls in front of you.

• If the app’s overlay controls have hidden themselves, tap away from cockpit switches to reveal them and inspect both the pre-flight setup and in-flight menus.
• Do not confuse a cockpit MFD with the app’s route editor. An MFD may display a route without allowing you to create one.
• If a map opens but offers no Add, Edit or route controls, treat it as display-only and use Method 2.
• If the tutorial mentions desktop menus, plugins or flight-plan folders, it is for another X-Plane product and cannot be followed literally on a phone.

If the Free Flight screens themselves are unfamiliar, our guide to setting up a first flight in X-Plane Mobile explains the surrounding mobile interface.

Method 2: enter the route in the aircraft’s GPS or FMC

Use the panel navigator when no editable app planner exists or when the aircraft expects its own avionics to hold the active route.

In a general-aviation aircraft, create a flight plan in the GPS, enter the origin and destination, insert intermediate fixes, load any supported procedure and activate the intended leg. The exact knobs and touchscreen actions depend on the installed unit; our GPS and FMS route-entry sequence covers the common workflow without assuming a particular panel.

When X-Plane Mobile is being used as an airline simulator, the FMC/CDU is normally the authoritative route source and the lateral mode is usually LNAV rather than the general-aviation panel’s NAV mode. Use the dedicated instructions for building and activating a route through the mobile FMC, then confirm that the executed route appears on the aircraft’s navigation display.

How do you make the aircraft follow the flight plan?

The route must be active, the correct navigation source must be selected and the aircraft must be positioned to capture the active leg.

1. Check the active leg: Confirm that the navigator shows the intended next waypoint with a sensible bearing and distance.
2. Select the route source: In a G1000-style panel, set the CDI source to GPS rather than VLOC. Other panels may label the source GPS, FMS or NAV source.
3. Intercept the course: Use heading mode or hand-fly towards the active leg at a shallow angle. NAV may remain armed if the leg is behind the aircraft or too far away to capture.
4. Engage the lateral mode: Use NAV for a GPS-equipped general-aviation aircraft or LNAV where the airliner models that mode. The autopilot master or appropriate flight-guidance system must also be active.
5. Watch the annunciation: The mode display is more reliable than the button light. Confirm that NAV or LNAV changes from armed to captured and that the aircraft begins correcting towards the course.

An autopilot is not required to use the plan. You can hand-fly it by turning onto each active course and keeping the course-deviation indication centred.

Why does nothing happen when I press NAV?

If a tutorial says the aircraft will turn and that doesn’t happen, the usual cause is an incorrect source, an inactive leg or NAV that is armed but has not captured.

Direct-To is useful for recovering a broken route, but it normally bypasses earlier waypoints. After using it, verify the new active fix rather than assuming the original sequence is still being followed.

Does the flight plan control altitude and the approach?

An X-Plane Mobile flight plan primarily defines the lateral route; it does not automatically control every altitude, speed, descent or landing task.

Set climb, cruise and descent targets through the aircraft’s supported autopilot modes and manage power separately. VNAV can use programmed constraints only when that aircraft, procedure and avionics implementation support it.

For an ILS, the GPS route can take you towards the final approach area, but the aircraft must then use the localiser source. Tune and identify the frequency where required, select VLOC or LOC, establish a valid intercept and arm the approach mode. For an RNAV approach, remain on GPS and activate the loaded approach; vertical guidance appears only when the navigator and procedure provide it.

Is the X-Plane flight planner the same on mobile and desktop?

X-Plane Mobile and desktop X-Plane use different interfaces and file access, so desktop menu paths, plugins and folder instructions should not be applied to the phone app.

Use an import or sharing function only if your installed mobile interface explicitly provides one. If it does not, enter the plan through the mobile planner or cockpit navigator and verify it again after starting a new session. Desktop users should follow the separate X-Plane 12 flight-planning and loading workflow.