Save and load a flight setup in Microsoft Flight Simulator, choose .FLT or .PLN correctly, resume mid-flight, and fix incomplete restores.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, start the configured flight, open the pause menu, select Load/Save, and save a .FLT file. To resume, use Load/Save on the World Map and open that file. A .PLN saves only the route, so it will not restore the full aircraft situation.
This file-based workflow is most dependable on PC. Console editions do not expose a normal desktop file picker, while activities and structured modes may manage progress through their own checkpoints.
How to save a complete flight setup in MSFS 2020
For a reusable situation rather than a route alone, launch the configured flight and create a .FLT save from the pause menu.
- Prepare the flight. Select the aircraft, departure position, destination, route, flight rules, fuel and other required options. Our guide to building and checking a route with the MSFS flight planner covers the planning stage.
- Start the flight. Allow the cockpit and scenery to finish loading. Saving from the World Map may produce a flight-plan file rather than a complete aircraft situation.
- Open the pause menu. Press Esc on PC or use the assigned menu control.
- Select Load/Save and save the flight. Keep the
.FLTextension when the file-type choice is shown. On PC, choose a stable, memorable folder rather than the Community folder or a temporary download location. - Keep more than one checkpoint. On a long flight, use rotating names instead of repeatedly overwriting the only working save.
How do I load the saved flight?
Load the .FLT file through the World Map’s Load/Save control rather than importing it as a flight plan.
- Return to the World Map. Do this from the simulator’s main menu.
- Open Load/Save. Choose the load option and browse to the folder containing the saved file.
- Select the
.FLTfile. If the World Map appears after loading, review the displayed aircraft and route before selecting Fly. - Check the cockpit before continuing. Confirm the aircraft position, fuel, avionics, autopilot modes and active route. Do not assume every switch or live service has been restored.
If the file is missing, appears under the wrong filter or restores only the route, see our detailed advice on finding and opening MSFS 2020 saved-flight files.
Should I save a .FLT or .PLN file?
Choose .FLT to resume a particular flight and .PLN to reuse only its route.
| Format | What it preserves | Best use |
|---|---|---|
.FLT | The MSFS 2020 flight situation, including the selected aircraft, position and route references; exact cockpit-state restoration varies | Pausing and resuming a flight or saving a prepared departure |
.PLN | Waypoints, airports and procedures in the flight plan | Reusing a route with a different aircraft, weather setting or starting position |
| MSFS 2024 EFB plan | The planned route and associated planning data, not a complete live cockpit snapshot | Preparing or transferring a route in MSFS 2024 |
An externally generated route has the same limitation: importing it does not restore an aircraft state. We explain the complete route workflow in our guide to creating and importing a SimBrief flight plan.
Can I save an MSFS flight in progress?
Yes, MSFS 2020 can save an airborne flight as a .FLT file from the pause menu.
Make the save while the aircraft is stable, especially when using a complex add-on. A checkpoint made during take-off, landing or an autopilot mode change can be difficult to recover if the add-on does not restore its custom systems correctly. For aircraft with their own panel-state feature, save that state as well.
Why does the loaded flight not match the saved one?
A saved flight is not a perfect snapshot of every simulator, aircraft and online service state.
- Complex aircraft systems: custom avionics, failures, electrical logic and flight-management data may be stored outside the standard
.FLTformat. - Live services: live weather, traffic, multiplayer sessions and ATC clearances are rebuilt when the flight loads rather than frozen inside the file.
- Route changes: the World Map or aircraft avionics may recalculate procedures and waypoint sequencing.
- Changed content: a save may fail when its aircraft, livery, airport or another required package has been removed or updated.
- Global settings: controller profiles, assistance options and graphics settings are not part of the individual flight file.
If loading hangs, crashes or returns to the menu, test the save with the required aircraft installed and temporarily disable newly installed add-ons. Our flight-loading troubleshooting steps cover the broader causes.
What changes in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, use the EFB for reusable routes, but do not mistake an EFB plan for a complete mid-flight save.
Saving and resuming can depend on the selected Free Flight, Career or activity mode and on the platform. For a repeatable departure setup, save or export the route where the mode permits, then verify the aircraft, parking stand, fuel, payload, weather and time before launching. Do not rely on an MSFS 2020 .FLT file as a cross-version aircraft-state template.