Set up GSX with the FlyByWire A380X in MSFS, sync boarding and fuel, choose the right profile, use A380 doors, and fix common service errors.
To use GSX with the FlyByWire A380X in Microsoft Flight Simulator, run both add-ons on PC, load the aircraft at an A380-capable gate, select compatible aircraft and stand profiles, set payload and fuel targets in the flyPad, then request GSX boarding, refuelling and pushback in sequence.
What must be installed before using GSX?
The A380X, GSX Pro and its Couatl background component must all be installed for the same MSFS edition. If you have both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024, check that neither installer has been pointed at the other simulator’s Community folder.
- Confirm that the aircraft loads without GSX first. Our A380X installation and package checks cover the correct setup.
- Start Couatl and confirm that the GSX toolbar menu opens before configuring the aircraft.
- Use a heavy-aircraft stand with enough room for the A380’s wingspan and service vehicles.
- Update or remove obsolete user profiles if they override a newer aircraft configuration.
This combination is PC only. GSX depends on external PC software, while the FlyByWire A380X is also distributed outside the console add-on system, so the setup cannot be used on Xbox or PlayStation.
How to set up GSX for the FlyByWire A380X
- Load at a parking stand. Select an A380-capable gate rather than a runway start. Set the parking brake, switch off all engines and allow the aircraft systems and Couatl to finish loading.
- Check the stopping position. The nose-wheel position determines whether jetways, loaders and catering trucks can reach their assigned points. Use the GSX reposition function if the aircraft spawned too far forward or aft.
- Verify the aircraft configuration. Open the GSX aircraft customisation page and check that passenger, catering and cargo doors are mapped to the A380X rather than a generic four-engine aircraft.
- Set the planned load in the flyPad. Enter the required passengers, cargo and block fuel before requesting services. Check the resulting zero-fuel weight and centre of gravity using our A380X ZFW and ZFWCG procedure.
- Enable GSX synchronisation. If your A380X build presents GSX payload or fuel integration options, enable the functions you want GSX to control. The precise wording can change between aircraft builds.
- Request services in order. Call catering and refuelling as required, followed by boarding. Follow GSX door prompts rather than opening every A380 door manually. A full A380 load takes much longer than an A320 load unless faster boarding is selected.
- Complete the pushback. Wait for boarding, cargo loading and refuelling to finish. Close the doors, retract the jetways, request pushback and release the parking brake only when the tug crew instructs you.
If GSX itself is unfamiliar, our standard GSX turnaround workflow explains its toolbar menu, boarding, refuelling and pushback sequence.
Which GSX profile does the FlyByWire A380X need?
Use an aircraft configuration made specifically for the FlyByWire A380X package, plus an airport profile for the stand when one is available. These profiles do different jobs and cannot replace each other.
| Profile type | What it controls | When it is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft configuration | Passenger doors, cargo doors and vehicle service points | When GSX does not recognise the A380X correctly or vehicles stop in the wrong places |
| Airport or stand profile | Stopping position, permitted services, pushback route and stand-specific jetway behaviour | When the aircraft parks incorrectly or the selected gate has unsuitable service placement |
Try the configuration supplied or detected by GSX before adding another one. A mistake we see constantly is an old user profile overriding newer A380X data. An A32NX aircraft profile is also unsuitable: our A32NX integration notes explain the same FlyByWire synchronisation principle, but its door and vehicle positions must not be copied to the A380X.
How do I sync GSX boarding and refuelling?
Choose one source of truth for the aircraft’s mass, then let the integration change the load progressively. The cleanest method is to set passengers, cargo and target fuel in the A380X flyPad before calling the corresponding GSX service.
Do not use the MSFS Weight and Balance screen, the flyPad’s instant-load function and GSX loading at the same time. Competing load commands commonly produce a completed GSX animation while the EFB passenger count, fuel quantity or calculated ZFW shows something different.
If your installed combination has no GSX synchronisation control, use the A380X EFB to control the actual aircraft mass and treat GSX as the visual ground-service layer. Match the figures manually rather than asking both systems to alter the load.
Can GSX connect multiple A380 jetways?
GSX can use multiple jetways only when the airport scenery provides compatible animated bridges and the stand is configured for the relevant A380 doors. An aircraft profile maps the doors; it cannot create extra jetways or turn static scenery into working bridges.
Park precisely at the stand’s stopping point. If one bridge connects while another misses the upper deck, check the stand profile and aircraft position before changing door coordinates. At a gate containing only one functional bridge, use that bridge and let stairs or buses serve any doors permitted by the profile.
Why are GSX services not working with the A380X?
| Symptom | Likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| Vehicles stop inside the fuselage or miss doors | The wrong or an obsolete aircraft profile is active. Remove the user override, reload GSX and verify the A380X door mapping. |
| Boarding runs but the flyPad count does not change | Payload synchronisation is disabled or another loading method has already set the aircraft instantly. Set the target first and use only one loading process. |
| The fuel truck arrives but no fuel is added | The target may equal or fall below the fuel already aboard, or fuel synchronisation is inactive. Set a higher block-fuel target before requesting the truck. |
| Jetways do not reach the aircraft | The stand is unsuitable, the stopping position is wrong or the scenery’s bridges are static. Reposition the aircraft and confirm that the gate supports an A380. |
| Boarding or pushback is unavailable | GSX may still consider another service active, a door open or a jetway attached. Finish or cancel the active service, secure the aircraft and request pushback again. |
| The GSX menu is missing | Couatl has not started or has stopped. Use GSX’s restart command; if that fails, close the flight, verify the GSX installation and reload MSFS. |