Learn to use aviation navigation charts in a flight simulator: read symbols, brief procedures, set avionics and fix common data mismatches.
Use aviation navigation charts in a flight simulator by matching the chart to the airport and navigation-data cycle, briefing the route or procedure, then transferring its frequencies, courses, fixes, altitude limits and minima into the aircraft. Fly the chart while cross-checking position, instruments and missed-approach instructions rather than following the magenta line alone.
The method is broadly the same in general-purpose simulators such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, Prepar3D and FlightGear. The menus and avionics differ, but the chart-reading skills do not.
Which aviation chart do I need?
Choose the chart for the phase of flight; no single chart contains everything required from parking stand to landing.
| Chart type | What it shows | How to use it in the simulator |
|---|---|---|
| VFR chart | Airspace, terrain, obstacles, airports, navaids and visual features | Plan a route, avoid restricted or controlled airspace, select visual checkpoints and assess terrain clearance |
| IFR en-route chart | Airways, fixes, VORs, route bearings and published minimum altitudes | Build and monitor an airway route, checking each leg against the FMS or navigation instruments |
| SID or STAR | Published departure or arrival routing, altitude constraints, speeds and transitions | Load the named procedure, select the correct transition and verify every leg before departure or descent |
| Approach chart | Initial approach fixes, courses, altitudes, final approach guidance, minima and missed approach | Brief and configure the approach, then monitor lateral and vertical guidance against the published profile |
| Airport diagram | Runways, taxiways, stands, holding points and hot spots | Taxi without relying solely on floating assistance arrows or the external camera |
Where can I get flight simulator charts?
Obtain charts from a recognised aeronautical publication or a chart service integrated with your simulator or aircraft. Check the effective date, airport identifier, runway designation and chart revision before using one.
Microsoft Flight Simulator users can follow our guidance on getting and displaying charts in Microsoft Flight Simulator. For a separate planning and moving-map tool, see how to use Little Navmap for route planning and flight tracking.
A simulator's world map is useful for selecting a flight, but it is not a replacement for a chart. It may omit minimum altitudes, missed-approach instructions, airspace detail, chart notes and equipment requirements.
How do I read and fly a navigation chart?
Work from the chart into the cockpit in a fixed sequence so that no frequency, constraint or procedure leg is missed.
- Select the exact chart. Match the airport, runway, procedure name and revision. Airports with similar identifiers and approaches with several transitions are common sources of mistakes.
- Match the navigation data. Compare the chart with the procedure stored in the GPS or FMS. AIRAC is the scheduled update cycle used for navigation databases; mismatched cycles can produce missing fixes, renamed procedures or a different route.
- Read the legend and notes. Symbols, altitude formats and airspace conventions vary between chart systems. Do not assume that a line colour or altitude notation means the same thing on every chart.
- Trace the route leg by leg. Note each fix, airway, course, distance and altitude. Published instrument courses are normally magnetic, but some regions and high-latitude procedures use true references; the chart will identify this. Never mix true and magnetic headings silently.
- Configure the avionics. Enter the route or load the named procedure, then compare the resulting sequence with the chart. For conventional navigation, tune the VOR, ILS or ADF frequency, identify the station where the simulation supports it, and set the published course. Our guide to turning VOR radials and NDB bearings into cockpit navigation covers the raw-data technique.
- Brief restrictions and contingencies. Set useful heading, altitude, speed and minimum-altitude bugs. Identify terrain concerns, expected airspace, the next frequency and what you will do if guidance fails.
- Fly while cross-checking. Compare the aircraft's position, track, altitude and next waypoint with the chart. Autopilot and FMS guidance reduce workload, but they can follow an incorrectly loaded procedure perfectly.
For departures, airways, arrivals and approaches as one connected process, use our complete IFR flight workflow for simulators.
What should I brief on an approach chart?
Brief the approach from its title through to the missed approach before beginning the final descent.
- Procedure and runway: confirm the airport, approach type, runway and chart revision.
- Transition and initial fix: choose the transition that matches your direction of arrival or clearance.
- Navigation source: establish whether the approach uses ILS, localiser, VOR, NDB, RNAV or visual references, and select the correct CDI source.
- Frequencies and course: tune and identify required aids, then set the published inbound course where applicable.
- Vertical profile: note crossing altitudes, step-down fixes, glideslope or path intercept altitude and any speed restrictions.
- Minima: use the row matching the simulated aircraft's approach category and available equipment. Category is tied to approach speed criteria, not simply aircraft size.
- Missed approach: identify the missed-approach point, first heading or track, climb altitude and holding fix before reaching final approach.
A minimum sector altitude is not automatically a cleared descent altitude or an FMS constraint. Likewise, decision altitude and minimum descent altitude are not interchangeable: at a decision altitude you decide and continue or go around, while a non-precision approach may require level flight at the minimum descent altitude until the missed-approach point.
Why does the chart disagree with the simulator?
Most chart discrepancies come from navigation data, scenery and charts representing different dates.
- The procedure is missing from the FMS: its navigation database probably uses another AIRAC cycle. Use a procedure present in both datasets or align the database and chart; do not assume a manually drawn direct-to route preserves an RNP procedure.
- The runway number is different: runway designations can change as magnetic variation shifts, while older scenery retains the former number. Confirm the physical runway and scenery age rather than selecting a similarly named procedure blindly.
- An ILS frequency or course differs: the simulator's navaid database or airport scenery may be older than the chart. Decide whether you are recreating the older virtual airport or practising the newer real-world procedure, then use one coherent dataset.
- The aircraft turns towards the wrong fix: check the selected transition, duplicate waypoint names, route discontinuities, active leg, CDI source and OBS mode.
- No vertical guidance appears: not every approach supplies it, and the aircraft may lack the required capability. For an ILS, intercept the glideslope from below; for RNAV, confirm that the avionics support the published level of guidance.
- The altitude profile looks wrong: check the altimeter setting, pressure units, transition altitude, feet-versus-metres notation and whether a height is above mean sea level or above the aerodrome.
For present-day procedure practice, prioritise matching charts and navigation data, then use compatible scenery. For a historical aircraft or airport add-on, period charts may fit the simulation better, but that setup should be treated strictly as a historical simulation.
Do I need charts for VFR flying?
You do not need a chart for a short familiarisation flight, but realistic VFR cross-country flying requires a VFR chart and usually an airport diagram.
Plot the intended track, estimate distance and wind-corrected heading, identify checkpoints, examine terrain and obstacles, and note controlled or restricted airspace. In flight, compare outside features and instrument indications with the chart rather than treating the moving aircraft symbol as the sole source of position.
Can simulator charts be used for real flying?
No. Simulator charts, navigation databases, scenery and weather can be incomplete or out of date and must not be treated as approved operational information. Real aviation requires authorised, effective charts and procedures obtained through approved channels.