Find DCS World airport charts, load them into the kneeboard, and avoid mismatched runways, frequencies, navigation aids and unsupported PDFs.
You can find DCS World airport charts in the in-game kneeboard, terrain documentation where supplied, and mission briefing material. For extra diagrams or approach plates, add compatible chart images to your Saved Games kneeboard. Always compare external charts with the simulated airfield because runways, frequencies and navigation aids may differ.
Where are DCS World airport charts located?
DCS does not provide one universal chart library covering every airfield and terrain.
- Built-in kneeboard: Terrain and mission pages may include airfield diagrams, route maps and aerodrome information. Our guide explains how to open and page through the DCS kneeboard.
- Terrain documentation: Check the installed terrain module's documentation. The material varies by map; some products provide detailed charts, while others rely more heavily on kneeboard and map data.
- Mission briefing: Mission designers can supply diagrams and procedural information for a particular sortie. Treat these as mission-specific rather than universal charts.
- External airport charts: Real-world diagrams and approach plates can provide extra procedural detail. Our searchable US airport plates and diagrams are useful for applicable US locations, but they must still be checked against the DCS terrain.
A chart PDF supplied with a terrain can be viewed on another screen or converted into kneeboard images. Do not assume that a live real-world procedure is reproduced exactly in DCS.
How do I put an airport chart in the DCS kneeboard?
- Confirm the airfield. Match its name, identifier, terrain and runway layout. Airports with similar names—or different military and civil sections—are easy to confuse.
- Prepare an image. Save each required page as a clear PNG or JPG. A PDF copied directly into a kneeboard folder will not normally appear as an in-cockpit page; convert it into one image per page first.
- Use the Saved Games folder. A typical global location is
Saved Games\DCS\Kneeboard, although older or separate installations may use another DCS-named Saved Games folder. Aircraft-specific pages go in the appropriate module subfolder. Follow our folder and image instructions for custom kneeboard pages if the chart does not appear. - Load the mission and open the kneeboard. Page through until the chart appears. Numbering image filenames can help keep multi-page procedures in a sensible sequence.
- Cross-check the simulation. Compare the diagram with the airfield shown on the map. The DCS F10 map tools for airfields, bearings and distances are useful here, although a mission or multiplayer server may restrict the information displayed.
For cockpit readability, crop large white margins and avoid squeezing an entire dense procedure onto one image. Splitting an airport diagram and approach plate into separate pages is usually easier to read.
Which airport chart should I trust in DCS?
For something that must work inside the simulation, prioritise DCS and mission data over a live real-world chart.
| Chart source | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| DCS terrain or kneeboard chart | Runway layout, simulated navigation and normal mission planning | Coverage and detail vary between terrains |
| Mission briefing chart | The assigned route, parking area or scenario-specific procedure | It may be edited, simplified or contain an author error |
| Real-world chart | Taxi orientation, instrument-procedure practice and supplementary detail | It may represent a different date, runway designation or navigation infrastructure |
If a briefing chart conflicts with the implemented airport, the values recognised by DCS determine what works. Confirm frequencies, navigation aids and runway geometry in the simulation rather than forcing the aircraft to follow an incompatible external plate.
What causes airport chart problems in DCS?
Why does the chart not match the runway or radio?
A mismatch usually means the chart and DCS terrain represent different versions of the airport.
- Runway renumbering: Real runways can be redesignated as magnetic headings change, while the DCS map may retain an earlier number.
- Different airport era: Taxiways, aprons and instrument procedures may have changed since the terrain's represented layout.
- Radio configuration: Check the frequency, band, modulation, radio mode and preset selection. A valid chart frequency will not help if that service is not implemented at the DCS airfield.
- Missing navigation aids: An external ILS, VOR, NDB or procedure waypoint may be absent, placed differently or unavailable for the runway being used.
- Active-runway differences: Wind and DCS ATC logic can produce a runway assignment different from the one expected from the chart.
Why does a custom airport chart not appear?
Missing custom charts are usually caused by the wrong Saved Games folder, an unsupported file or an incorrect aircraft subfolder.
- Make sure the page is a PNG or JPG rather than a PDF or web page.
- Check which DCS-named folder the running installation actually uses under Saved Games.
- If using an aircraft-specific folder, verify the module's internal folder name; its marketing name may not match.
- Reload the mission after adding pages, or restart DCS if the kneeboard was already generated.
- Keep personal pages out of the core DCS installation, where an update or repair can replace them.