Set or release the FS2004 parking brake by keyboard, cockpit lever or controller, and fix stuck brakes, key conflicts and pushback problems.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (FS9), press Ctrl + . (full stop/period) once to toggle the parking brake on or off. The . key alone operates the normal wheel brakes only while held. You can also click the aircraft’s parking-brake handle or assign the toggle command to a controller button.
How do I set the parking brake with the keyboard?
Stop the aircraft with the normal wheel brakes, then send the parking-brake command once.
- Close the throttle and hold the
.key, or use your toe brakes, until the aircraft has stopped. - Set the parking brake by pressing
Ctrl + .once. Tap the combination rather than holding it, because this is a toggle command. - Release the normal brakes. The aircraft should remain stationary, and the cockpit parking-brake control or brake indication should show that the brake is set.
- Release the parking brake by pressing
Ctrl + .again before taxiing.
Do not confuse Ctrl + . with the full stop key by itself: the former toggles the parking brake, while the latter applies the wheel brakes only for as long as it is held. Our complete list of default FS2004 control shortcuts covers the other commonly confused key assignments.
Can I use the cockpit lever or a controller button?
You can operate the parking brake from a clickable cockpit control or assign its toggle command to a joystick or yoke button.
The handle’s position and click area depend on the aircraft and panel. Some add-on aircraft also use custom brake logic, so their documentation or panel control may take precedence over the default FS2004 command.
For hardware, assign a momentary button to the parking-brake toggle. Avoid a repeating macro or continuously transmitted command, which can toggle the brake more than once and leave its final state unclear.
Why won’t the FS2004 parking brake release?
If the cockpit handle does not move, the command probably is not reaching FS2004; if it moves to the released position but the aircraft remains stationary, another braking source is active.
- Use the correct key: try the main keyboard full stop key. On some layouts, the numeric keypad decimal key is treated as a different input.
- Give FS2004 keyboard focus: close any open text field or dialogue and select the simulator window before trying the shortcut again.
- Check the assignment: open the simulator’s control assignments and confirm that
Ctrl + .is still bound to the parking-brake command. - Inspect toe-brake input: poorly calibrated pedals can apply wheel braking even after the parking brake is released. Press and release both pedals, recalibrate them, add a small null zone if needed, or disconnect the controller briefly as a test.
- Remove add-on wheel chocks: some aircraft provide chocks or a ground-service panel that holds the aircraft independently of FS2004’s parking brake.
Does the parking brake prevent pushback?
An engaged parking brake can prevent FS2004 pushback or an add-on tug from moving the aircraft. Release it with Ctrl + ., remove any add-on wheel chocks, then start pushback; if nothing happens, follow our checks for an FS2004 pushback that will not start.