Use Jeppesen charts for flight simulation, avoid navdata mismatches, and compare AIP, Navigraph, Little Navmap and built-in alternatives.
Yes. You can use Jeppesen charts in any flight simulator, provided you have authorised access and the chart matches the airport, procedure and navigation-data cycle being simulated. They are not required, though: official AIP charts, Navigraph, Little Navmap and built-in simulator planners can cover most needs.
When can I use Jeppesen charts in a flight simulator?
Jeppesen charts are suitable for general flight simulation whenever you want standardised airport, SID, STAR, approach or en-route information. They work with Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, Prepar3D, FSX and other simulators because the chart is a reference document rather than simulator-specific data.
You normally display the chart on another monitor, tablet or printed page while flying. A simulator or aircraft EFB can show it internally only when that product supports an authorised chart service; possessing a chart does not automatically make it appear in the cockpit.
Use charts obtained through a valid subscription, licence or other authorised source. A personal chart licence does not normally grant permission to redistribute scans or downloaded chart collections. Older simmers may remember Jeppesen SIMCharts, but our archive covering the SIMCharts 3.0 system is historical context, not a recommendation to rely on its old data.
What are the alternatives to Jeppesen charts?
The best alternative depends on whether you need an authentic instrument plate, simulator integration or simply enough information to plan and monitor a route.
| Option | Best used for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Official AIP charts | Authoritative aerodrome and procedure publications, often available without a commercial chart subscription | Presentation, access and update systems vary by country |
| Navigraph Charts | Integrated IFR planning, moving maps and chart display across supported simulators and aircraft | It is a paid service and uses Jeppesen charts, so it is an alternative method of access rather than a non-Jeppesen chart source |
| Little Navmap | Free route planning, airport information, procedure previews and moving-map use | Its map and procedure display do not replace a complete plate when you need every note, minimum and briefing item |
| Built-in planner or EFB | Quick route selection and casual flying | May omit chart notes, minima, taxi detail, transitions or the full missed-approach procedure |
For airport diagrams and procedure plates, use our guide to legitimate airport-chart sources. For a free planning workflow, our practical Little Navmap walkthrough explains its route, airport and procedure tools. We also compare these choices in our simulator flight-planning tools overview.
How do I prevent chart and navdata mismatches?
Matching the chart to the simulator data matters more than the chart brand. The simulator scenery, aircraft FMS and external planner can each use a different database or revision.
- Check the chart date. Note its effective or revision date, then compare it with the navigation-data cycle shown by the aircraft or planning tool. A plate revision does not always display the same cycle notation as an FMS database, so compare the procedure itself as well.
- Confirm the airport layout. Compare runway numbers, lengths and taxiways with the installed scenery. An older airport may retain a previous runway designation or terminal layout even when the chart is new.
- Select the exact procedure. Match the runway, procedure suffix and transition. ILS Y and ILS Z procedures, for example, are not interchangeable merely because they serve the same runway.
- Compare critical details. Check the fix sequence, altitude and speed constraints, radio frequencies, final approach course, minima and missed-approach instructions. A small course difference can arise from magnetic-variation modelling, but a different frequency or fix sequence usually signals a genuine mismatch.
- Correct the mismatched component. Update or replace the relevant chart, aircraft navdata or airport scenery. Do not assume that updating the simulator's global data also updates a complex add-on aircraft with its own database.
Why does the FMS not show the procedure on my chart?
A chart does not install navigation data into the simulator or aircraft. If a procedure is absent, the FMS database may be older, the aircraft may not support that procedure type, or the procedure may be filed under a different runway, suffix or transition.
A mistake we see constantly is loading the right approach name but the wrong transition, then assuming the database is defective because the first few fixes differ. Compare the legs from the selected transition onwards before changing any data.
Why does the airport scenery disagree with the chart?
Airport scenery can represent an earlier layout even when the chart and FMS are up to date. Runway renumbering, relocated thresholds, new taxiways and renamed stands are common sources of disagreement.
For the simulated flight, use instructions that are physically possible in the installed scenery while recognising that they may not match the real airport. If accurate ground operations matter, install scenery representing the same airport era as the chart.
Can I use old or downloaded Jeppesen charts?
Old Jeppesen charts can be used for recreational or historical simulation if you deliberately match them with period scenery and navdata. They are a poor choice for practising a present-day procedure because frequencies, fixes, restrictions, minima and missed approaches can change.
Downloaded charts are acceptable only when your access and use comply with the applicable licence. Avoid unofficial chart packs and shared scans; technical usability does not make an unauthorised copy legitimate. Never use an outdated or simulation-only chart for real-world flight planning.
Which chart option should I choose?
Choose the format that matches the kind of flying and level of procedural accuracy you want.
- Airline-style IFR: use authorised, up-to-date Jeppesen access or an integrated service carrying Jeppesen charts, ideally aligned with the aircraft's navdata cycle.
- Accurate procedures without a chart subscription: use the relevant official AIP publication and learn its country-specific format.
- VFR, route planning and moving-map use: use Little Navmap, adding official aerodrome charts where detailed circuit, airspace or ground information is needed.
- Casual simulator flying: the built-in planner may be enough, but verify frequencies and procedure details before attempting a full instrument approach.
- Historical simulation: use period charts only when the aircraft, scenery and navigation database represent the same era.
For most IFR simmers, the practical choice is either an integrated Jeppesen-based service for consistent worldwide presentation or official AIP charts for lower-cost access. In both cases, data alignment—not the logo on the chart—is what determines whether the procedure will work correctly in the simulator.