How do I set up and use GPS in FlightGear?

In FlightGear, first load an aircraft with a functional cockpit GPS—not merely a drawn screen—and switch on its electrical and avionics power. Route Manager creates the simulator route; the cockpit GPS displays or uses it only if that aircraft supports the link. The map is a separate route-viewing tool, not the aircraft’s GPS.

Which FlightGear GPS method should I use?

FlightGear’s cockpit GPS, Route Manager and map serve different purposes and are not interchangeable.

Route sharing, GPS capability and autopilot coupling are three separate features. The presence of one does not guarantee the others. A route can appear in Route Manager and on the map even when the loaded aircraft has no usable GPS display.

To verify the aircraft, look for a complete instrument with a screen and working controls, then apply electrical and avionics power. A functional unit should illuminate and respond when you change pages, operate its knobs or select a menu. A painted bezel, blank texture or screen that never responds may be decorative or incompletely implemented.

Ver GPS: how do I view the GPS in FlightGear?

FlightGear has no universal pop-up GPS that appears in every aircraft.

1. Inspect the cockpit panel. Look on the radio stack, centre panel, pedestal or glass-cockpit displays. Some aircraft place navigation pages on a multifunction display rather than a separate GPS unit.
2. Turn on electrical power. Depending on the aircraft, this may require the battery, alternator or generators and the correct bus switches.
3. Switch on the avionics. Use the avionics master and any separate GPS, display or radio power control provided by that aircraft.
4. Check brightness and screen mode. A powered display can still look black if its brightness is turned down or another page is selected.
5. Test the controls. Try changing pages or operating the cursor and knobs. If nothing responds, consult the aircraft documentation before assuming it uses the standard FlightGear GPS.

If by “ver GPS” you mean seeing your position and route from above, use the separate map workflow instead. Our FlightGear map and route-display guide explains how to view the aircraft, route, airports and navaids without relying on cockpit avionics.

How do I set up a route with FlightGear Route Manager?

Use FlightGear Route Manager to build and activate an ordered route, then check whether the selected aircraft can display or follow it.

1. Load and verify the aircraft. Confirm that its cockpit GPS, FMS or navigation display is implemented and powered.
2. Open Route Manager. This is part of the simulator interface rather than a button on the cockpit GPS. Its menu location can differ between FlightGear interfaces.
3. Add waypoints in flying order. Enter the departure airport, intermediate fixes or navaids, and destination. Check the waypoint type and location when identifiers are duplicated.
4. Activate the route or intended leg. A list of waypoints is not enough; one leg must be active for useful course guidance.
5. Check the cockpit display. If the route does not appear, the aircraft may use an independent GPS or FMS. Enter the route there using its own controls.
6. Select the correct navigation source. Where provided, choose GPS rather than VLOC, VOR or LOC. The selector may be labelled CDI, NAV/GPS or VLOC/GPS.
7. Verify the active leg. Check the desired track, bearing, distance and next waypoint before following the indication.

For route creation, importing plans and confirming activation, follow our detailed FlightGear flight-planning and Route Manager procedure. Remember that successful activation does not force an aircraft-specific FMS to import the plan.

“No están esas opciones”: why are Route Manager and GPS controls missing?

If those options are absent, you are usually seeing an aircraft-package or interface difference rather than overlooking one universal GPS setting.

• No Route Manager: it is a simulator-interface tool, not a cockpit control. Look in FlightGear’s menus rather than on the instrument panel; the location and presentation can vary between interfaces.
• No GPS/NAV selector: some aircraft select the source through a glass display or custom FMS, some are wired to one source, and others do not implement GPS input to the CDI.
• No Direct-To button: Direct-To is a function of the installed GPS or FMS. A basic navigation display or decorative unit does not acquire it merely because Route Manager contains a route.
• No NAV capture control: the aircraft may lack a coupled autopilot, may use a differently named lateral mode, or may not connect its autopilot to GPS guidance.

Use the documentation supplied with that particular aircraft package to identify its navigation workflow. If it has a custom FMS, enter the route there. If the avionics are incomplete, change to an aircraft with an implemented GPS or fly the Route Manager course manually using headings, bearings and the map. There is no simulator-wide switch that adds missing GPS buttons or autopilot coupling to every aircraft.

Saab 37 Viggen: the CK37 is not a Garmin-style GPS

The Saab 37 Viggen’s original-style CK37 navigation computer is not a Garmin-style GPS and should not be expected to provide Garmin buttons, pages or Direct-To operation.

Loading a route into Route Manager does not automatically make the Viggen’s cockpit avionics GPS-capable. Follow the navigation documentation for the particular Viggen package and its modelled CK37 workflow. If you specifically need conventional GPS route entry and display, choose an aircraft package with implemented GPS avionics.

How do I fly Direct-To a waypoint?

Use Direct-To only when the aircraft’s GPS or FMS implements that function.

1. Open Direct-To. A Garmin-style unit commonly uses a D with an arrow, while custom systems may place the command in a menu or touchscreen page.
2. Enter the identifier. Use the unit’s cursor, knobs or supported keyboard input.
3. Identify the correct waypoint. Check its name, type and location so a duplicate identifier does not send you towards the wrong region.
4. Confirm and activate it. Some units require separate confirmations to accept the identifier and activate the direct course.
5. Check the new active leg. The display should show a bearing, distance and desired track from the aircraft to the selected waypoint.

These are common Garmin-style steps, not a universal FlightGear command sequence. If the unit has no Direct-To control, use its custom flight-plan procedure or activate a suitable leg in Route Manager and fly it manually.

Can the FlightGear autopilot follow GPS?

The autopilot can follow GPS only when that aircraft package connects its GPS or FMS output to a compatible lateral navigation mode.

1. Activate a valid route leg. Confirm that the GPS shows the intended next waypoint and desired track.
2. Select GPS as the source. Check the CDI, PFD or source annunciation rather than relying solely on the route shown on the map.
3. Approach the desired track. Use heading mode or hand-fly an intercept. Some modelled autopilots struggle to capture from a large angle.
4. Engage the autopilot correctly. Stabilise the aircraft and use the aircraft-specific engagement procedure.
5. Select NAV or the modelled lateral-navigation mode. HDG holds the selected heading; it does not follow the GPS route.
6. Monitor capture and sequencing. Check that the CDI moves towards the centre, the aircraft turns onto the route and the active waypoint advances.

Do not assume that NAV mode automatically follows Route Manager. If the annunciation is wrong, the aircraft turns away or NAV never captures, use the checks in our FlightGear autopilot troubleshooting guide.

Will GPS fly an approach or descend automatically?

Ordinary GPS NAV guidance should be treated as lateral guidance unless the aircraft specifically models approach procedures, vertical guidance and compatible autopilot modes.

Altitude hold, vertical speed and descent management remain separate functions. For an ILS, select the appropriate radio-navigation source before localiser capture; leaving the CDI source on GPS can prevent the autopilot from following the localiser. Do not engage approach mode merely because the route ends at an airport.

Why is the FlightGear GPS not working?

Most FlightGear GPS problems come from missing power, an inactive leg, the wrong navigation source or an aircraft whose custom avionics do not share Route Manager data.

If known airports, fixes or procedures are missing, check the data source used by that aircraft and see our instructions for updating FlightGear navigation data. A newer database can correct missing records, but it cannot add GPS functions to an aircraft that does not model them.