Find free flight plans for MSFS, FSX, Prepar3D and X-Plane, with the right file formats plus fixes for navdata and import errors.
Free flight plans for general flight simulators are available as downloadable route packs, or you can generate them at no cost with Little Navmap and SimBrief. Match the file to MSFS, FSX, Prepar3D or X-Plane, then verify every airway and waypoint against the navdata installed in your simulator.
Best sources for free flight plans
The best source depends on whether you want a ready-made recreational route or an airline-style operational plan.
| Source | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Downloadable route packs | Flying a prepared IFR, VFR or sightseeing route immediately | Older routes may contain retired airways, renamed fixes or obsolete airport identifiers |
| Little Navmap | Custom IFR and VFR planning across several simulators | Its navigation database should match the simulator or aircraft database |
| SimBrief | Airline dispatch planning, fuel figures and operational flight plans | The available AIRAC cycle may differ from the one installed in the aircraft |
| Simulator flight planner | Simple routes without downloading or converting files | Route validation and export options vary by simulator |
For ready-made regional flying, our 77-route North Central US collection and 196-route Southeastern US collection include IFR, VFR and slow-speed plans for FSX. Many can also work with compatible Prepar3D installations, although every route should be checked before departure.
When you need a route between specific airports, use our Little Navmap planning and export instructions. It is the better choice for visual routes, general aviation and users who want to inspect airspace or terrain. For scheduled airline flying, our SimBrief operational flight-plan guide covers route generation and simulator-compatible exports.
Do not confuse cockpit flight plans with AI traffic schedules. An AI plan normally specifies an aircraft, airport pair, departure time and repeat interval; it may not contain a flyable airway route that your FMS can import.
Which flight plan format does my simulator use?
A free plan must use a format recognised by both the simulator and, where applicable, the aircraft's own FMS.
| Simulator | Common format | Where or how it is loaded |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024 | .pln | Import through the supported pre-flight planning interface on PC; a route file does not belong in the Community folder |
| Flight Simulator X | .pln | Usually from Documents/Flight Simulator X Files or through Flight Planner |
| Prepar3D | .pln | Usually from the version-specific Prepar3D folder under Documents |
| X-Plane | .fms | Normally from Output/FMS plans, then selected through compatible avionics |
Matching the extension is not always enough. Different generations of .pln and .fms files can use different internal structures, while complex add-on aircraft may require a separate company-route format. Loading a route into the simulator's map also does not guarantee that an independent aircraft FMS will receive it.
How do I install a downloaded flight plan?
A downloaded plan should be extracted, placed in the correct location and checked in the aircraft before departure.
- Extract the archive. A simulator cannot load a
.zipfile as a route. Open it and locate the actual.pln,.fmsor aircraft-specific file. - Read the included notes. Route packs may specify the intended simulator, aircraft category, cruise altitude or required scenery.
- Copy or import the route. Use the simulator-specific folder or its load command. Do not rename an incompatible file extension and expect it to convert.
- Load the route before engine start. Confirm that the departure, destination and waypoint count match the description. If the aircraft uses an independent FMS, import or enter the route there as well.
- Inspect the route line. Look for sharp detours, disconnected legs, duplicate fixes and a first waypoint hundreds of miles from the airport.
Console editions of MSFS do not expose Windows flight-plan folders. Use the planning and aircraft integrations available inside that edition rather than instructions that require copying files through File Explorer.
Why does a free flight plan fail to load?
Most import failures come from the wrong format, an unextracted archive or a mismatch between the route and installed navigation data.
- The file does not appear: confirm that it is outside the archive, has the expected extension and is in the simulator's active plan folder rather than an older installation's folder.
- A waypoint is missing: the route and simulator probably use different AIRAC cycles. Rebuild the affected leg using waypoints available in the installed database.
- The map shows a route but the FMS is empty: the aircraft does not automatically synchronise with the simulator plan. Use its supported import method or enter the route manually.
- The route contains extreme zigzags: a duplicate waypoint identifier may have resolved to the wrong location. Compare waypoint coordinates or replace the ambiguous fix.
- The SID or STAR is rejected: procedures depend on runway and navdata cycle. Remove the procedure, load the en-route portion and select a valid procedure inside the aircraft.
How should I check an old or shared route?
Treat every shared flight plan as a starting point rather than proof that the route is still valid.
Check the airport identifiers, runway numbering, one-way airways, minimum usable altitudes, aircraft range and cruise level. Departure and arrival procedures are often deliberately omitted because they change with runway use; select them for the conditions at departure time. For online ATC, be prepared to amend or replace any route that no longer matches the network's clearance.