How do I use latitude and longitude in a flight simulator?

For Aviation & Real-World Flying, use latitude and longitude in a flight simulator by converting the coordinates into the format its GPS or FMS accepts, creating a user waypoint, checking its position, then selecting Direct-To or adding it to the route. Without GPS, plot the point and fly heading and distance.

A coordinate identifies one horizontal position. By itself, it provides no altitude, arrival direction or safe clearance from terrain and airspace.

Which latitude and longitude format should I use?

Use exactly the coordinate format shown by the avionics input field, because decimal degrees, degrees and decimal minutes, and degrees-minutes-seconds are not interchangeable.

To convert decimal degrees to DMM, retain the whole degrees and calculate minutes = decimal part × 60. For DMS, multiply the remaining decimal minutes by 60 again. To convert back, use degrees + minutes ÷ 60 + seconds ÷ 3600.

North and east are positive in signed decimal notation; south and west are negative. If the input has separate hemisphere fields, enter the positive value and select N, S, E or W rather than combining a minus sign with a hemisphere. Aviation normally lists latitude before longitude, but some data formats reverse that order.

As a rough position check, one degree of latitude is about 60 nautical miles. Three decimal places in decimal degrees locate latitude to roughly 0.06 NM, or 110 metres; longitude spacing becomes smaller towards the poles.

How do I enter coordinates into a GPS or FMS?

Enter the latitude and longitude as a pilot-defined or user waypoint, then activate that waypoint directly or insert it into the active route.

1. Confirm what the coordinate represents. An airport reference point, runway threshold, parking position and visual landmark can all have different coordinates.
2. Match the required format. Convert DD, DMM or DMS before typing anything. Preserve leading zeroes where the unit requires them, especially the three-digit longitude field.
3. Create a user waypoint. Open the avionics waypoint or pilot-defined waypoint function, enter the coordinate and assign a short, recognisable identifier if the unit permits one.
4. Check the plotted position. Inspect the map, hemisphere, bearing and distance before activating it. A point appearing on another continent usually indicates reversed coordinate order or the wrong hemisphere.
5. Add it to the flight plan. Select Direct-To for a simple present-position-to-waypoint leg, or place the waypoint between the appropriate route fixes when its inbound and outbound tracks matter.
6. Activate the correct leg. Confirm that the coordinate waypoint is the active destination rather than merely stored in the waypoint list.

GPS units commonly store a named user waypoint, while an airliner FMS may accept a latitude/longitude fix directly on the route or require its pilot-defined waypoint page. Syntax varies between avionics packages, so do not copy a compact coordinate string from another aircraft without checking the displayed format. Our complete FMS route-entry workflow covers route activation, discontinuities and waypoint sequencing.

Some simplified simulator GPS units support database fixes but not coordinate-defined waypoints. In that case, create a custom point in the simulator's flight planner if available, or plot it manually. Do not enter a destination coordinate into an IRS or FMS position-initialisation field: that field defines where the aircraft is now, not where it should fly.

How do I make the autopilot follow the coordinate?

Activate the coordinate leg, select GPS or FMS as the navigation source, and engage the aircraft's NAV or LNAV mode once it can capture the commanded track.

A mistake we see constantly is leaving the CDI or navigation source on VLOC, NAV1 or NAV2. The moving map may show a magenta GPS line while the autopilot follows a radio receiver instead. Confirm the active source, waypoint, leg and lateral mode on the flight display.

Direct-To creates a new course from the aircraft's present position. It will reach the coordinate, but it may not cross it on a required inbound track. For that, define a preceding route waypoint or use a course-to-fix function if the avionics supports one. The wider relationship between position, route guidance and autopilot commands is explained in our guide to how aircraft navigation systems produce guidance.

Why is the waypoint misplaced or not being followed?

A coordinate waypoint is usually misplaced because of a format, hemisphere or ordering error; failure to follow it normally means the wrong leg or navigation source is active.

• Minutes entered as decimals: 51° 28.3′ is not 51.283°. The latter converts to 51° 16.98′.
• East/west sign error: A negative longitude usually means west, but a hemisphere-based input expects W instead of a minus sign.
• Latitude and longitude reversed: Aviation normally uses latitude first; mapping software and data files do not always do so.
• Missing leading zeroes: Some avionics require longitude to be entered as three degree digits, such as W005 rather than W5.
• Stored but inactive waypoint: Creating a point does not necessarily activate the route leg leading to it.
• Route discontinuity: An FMS may stop sequencing where a coordinate waypoint has been inserted beside an unresolved discontinuity.
• Different physical reference: Published coordinates may describe the airport reference point rather than the runway threshold or scenery object you expected.

Modern GPS aviation data normally uses the WGS 84 datum, and mainstream simulators broadly align with it. Older sources, converted files and custom scenery can still produce a visible offset. Extra coordinate precision cannot correct an inaccurately placed scenery object.

Can I navigate to coordinates without GPS?

Yes. Plot the coordinate on a suitable chart, draw a course from a known position, measure the true track and distance, then account for magnetic variation and wind before flying by heading, time and visual or radio fixes.

Our guide to reading coordinates and courses from aviation charts explains the chart information involved. For older simulators or locations absent from the navigation database, the FS2004 waypoint, bearing and distance plotting method remains useful beyond FS2004.

On a long direct leg, the initial bearing is not necessarily the heading to hold all the way. GPS equipment continuously calculates the route over the Earth's surface, while manual navigation requires position checks and revised wind corrections along the leg.