Where are FSX flight plans stored and how do I use them?

FSX and FSX: Steam Edition normally store flight plans as .PLN files in %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Flight Simulator X Files. Copy a compatible plan there, then open FSX’s Flight Planner and choose Load. Select the plan, confirm it, and decide whether FSX should move the aircraft to the departure airport.

Where is the FSX flight plan folder?

For a standard Windows installation, the full location is usually:

C:\Users\<your Windows name>\Documents\Flight Simulator X Files

FSX: Steam Edition normally uses the same Documents folder; its flight plans are not stored inside the Steam installation directory. The folder also contains other user-created FSX files, so do not assume every file there is a flight plan.

If Windows backs up or redirects Documents through OneDrive, look instead under:

C:\Users\<your Windows name>\OneDrive\Documents\Flight Simulator X Files

A manually relocated Documents library will place the folder on the chosen drive. The quickest check is to open Documents in File Explorer and look for Flight Simulator X Files. FSX may also load a plan from another folder if you browse to it manually.

The route files use the .PLN extension. They are separate from aircraft, scenery and the main FSX configuration files. Our guide to safeguarding FSX plans and other user files explains what should be copied before a reinstall or Windows change.

How do I load a .PLN flight plan in FSX?

1. Extract the download first: if the plan arrived inside a ZIP archive, extract the actual .PLN file. FSX cannot load the archive itself.
2. Copy the plan: place the .PLN file in Documents\Flight Simulator X Files. This is convenient rather than compulsory, because the Load dialogue can browse elsewhere.
3. Open Flight Planner: select Flight Planner from the Free Flight screen. It can also be opened from the simulator’s top menu while a flight is running.
4. Select Load: choose the required .PLN file and open it. Browse to its actual folder if it is not shown automatically.
5. Check the route: verify the departure airport, destination, flight rules and route before accepting it. An old plan may reference navigation points that are absent from FSX’s database.
6. Choose whether to reposition: when FSX asks whether it should move the aircraft to the departure airport, choose Yes for a fresh flight or No if the aircraft is already positioned correctly.

For creating or changing a route rather than importing one, follow our steps for building and saving routes with the FSX Flight Planner.

What does a loaded flight plan actually do?

Loading a plan places the route in FSX’s navigation system and, where fitted, the default GPS. It does not make the aircraft fly the route automatically.

In a typical GPS-equipped default aircraft, display the GPS and confirm that its active flight plan contains the expected waypoints. To make a compatible autopilot follow the GPS course, select GPS rather than NAV on the panel’s NAV/GPS selector, intercept the route and engage the appropriate navigation mode. Panel layouts and procedures differ between aircraft.

An IFR plan can also be used with FSX ATC to obtain an IFR clearance. A VFR plan supplies navigation information but does not create an IFR clearance or guarantee ATC guidance along every leg.

Why does an FSX flight plan not appear or load?

Most missing-plan problems come from the file type or folder rather than FSX itself. Check these common causes:

• The file is still compressed: extract it from its ZIP or other archive before loading.
• The extension is wrong: a file named route.pln.txt is a text file, even if Windows hides the final extension. Enable file-name extensions in File Explorer and confirm that the name ends in .PLN.
• It is in another Documents folder: check OneDrive, a redirected Documents library and other Windows user profiles.
• The format belongs to another simulator or add-on: sharing a similar filename does not guarantee FSX compatibility. Use an FSX-format .PLN file.
• The route references unavailable data: airports, intersections or navigation aids created for different scenery or navigation data may be rejected or omitted.
• The file was edited incorrectly: .PLN files contain structured route data. A damaged tag or an incomplete conversion can prevent FSX from reading the plan.

Can an add-on FMC use the same FSX flight plan?

Not necessarily. Many add-on airliners use their own company-route format and folder, so a plan that loads correctly in the FSX Flight Planner may not appear in the aircraft’s FMC.

Check the aircraft documentation for its supported route format and import location rather than copying files at random. If the simulator plan works but the aircraft rejects it, use our FMC flight-plan import troubleshooting to separate format, filename and folder problems.