How do I use the GPS in FS2004?

In FS2004 (FS9), open the GPS with Shift+3 in most default aircraft, then load a route through Flight Planner or press D→ for one waypoint. To make the autopilot fly the magenta route, set the panel’s NAV/GPS switch to GPS, intercept the course and engage NAV mode.

How do I open the GPS in FS2004?

Most default FS2004 aircraft display the GPS as a movable pop-up window.

1. Enter the cockpit. The aircraft must have a GPS window defined in its panel configuration.
2. Press Shift+3. Pressing the shortcut again normally closes the window.
3. Try the menu if the shortcut fails. Press Alt to reveal the menu bar, then use Views > Instrument Panel > GPS.

Panel-window numbers belong to the individual aircraft. A downloaded or modified panel may assign Shift+3 to another instrument, use a different shortcut or omit the GPS completely. In that case, follow our panel-editing instructions for adding the stock GPS to an FS2004 aircraft.

Δεν το βλέπω — why can’t I see the GPS?

If the GPS does not appear, first determine whether the window is missing or merely unpowered.

• Nothing opens: check the Instrument Panel menu. If GPS is not listed, that aircraft probably has no GPS pop-up defined.
• A different panel opens: the aircraft uses a custom panel-window assignment, so Shift+3 is not its GPS key.
• The window opens but is black: turn on the battery, avionics master and any required generator or electrical supply.
• The GPS seems to open off-screen: this can follow a monitor or resolution change. Switch temporarily to windowed mode and check the desktop edges for the movable panel window.

What do NAV, FPL, PROC and the GPS controls mean?

The FS2004 GPS separates live navigation, route management and procedure selection into different pages and buttons.

What is the difference between NAV, FPL and the flight-plan briefing?

NAV is the live guidance you fly, FPL is the waypoint sequence, and the Flight Planner’s NavLog or briefing is a planning summary. Opening the briefing does not activate a GPS leg or arm the autopilot.

A mistake we see constantly is treating the line in the Flight Planner as proof that the GPS is actively steering. Check the GPS NAV or FPL page: the active leg should be identified and shown in magenta.

How do I enter a Direct-To waypoint?

The D→ function is the quickest way to use the FS2004 GPS for a single destination.

1. Press D→. The waypoint identifier field should appear.
2. Activate the cursor if required. Press the centre of the right-hand knob.
3. Enter the identifier. Use the small knob to change a character and the large knob to move to the next position.
4. Verify the result. Similar or duplicate identifiers can select the wrong airport or navaid, so check the displayed facility name and location.
5. Activate the course. Press ENT to accept the waypoint, then press it again when activation is offered.

The GPS will draw a magenta course and calculate information such as desired track and distance. It will not turn, climb or descend the aircraft by itself.

How do I load an FS2004 Flight Planner route into the GPS?

A route accepted in FS2004 Flight Planner is loaded into the stock GPS automatically.

1. Open Flights > Flight Planner.
2. Choose the departure and destination airports.
3. Select VFR or IFR. IFR affects FS2004 ATC handling; it does not give the GPS automatic altitude or throttle control.
4. Choose the route type. Direct GPS suits a simple point-to-point route, VOR-to-VOR builds a conventional radio-navigation route, and low- or high-altitude airways suit an appropriate IFR flight.
5. Generate and inspect the route. Check for unwanted detours or waypoints before accepting it.
6. Open the GPS and press FPL. Confirm that the expected waypoint sequence is present and that the correct first leg is active.

If you need the complete planning and take-off sequence, see our worked FS2004 Flight Planner and GPS route-following procedure. Saved or downloaded PLN routes must be loaded through Flight Planner before they appear in the GPS.

How do I return to the flight plan after using Direct-To?

Using Direct-To can bypass planned legs or leave a different waypoint active, so inspect the FPL page before assuming normal sequencing has resumed.

1. Press FPL and activate the cursor.
2. Highlight a sensible leg ahead of the aircraft. Do not select a leg ending behind you unless you genuinely intend to turn back.
3. Open the page menu and choose the command to activate that leg.
4. Confirm the new magenta course on the NAV map before coupling the autopilot.

What does PROC, sometimes mistaken for PRO, do?

PROC opens the stock GPS approach functions for the destination airport.

1. Press PROC and choose the option to select an approach.
2. Select the runway approach and transition available in the FS2004 navigation database.
3. Choose Load or Activate. Load adds the procedure without immediately changing the active leg; Activate starts guidance towards it.
4. Check the first approach waypoint. Activating too early may send the aircraft back towards an initial approach fix behind or well away from your position.

FS2004 uses navigation data from its own era. Runway numbers, fixes and procedures may disagree with newer charts or add-on scenery, and changing airport scenery does not necessarily update the stock GPS database.

How do I fly the magenta GPS route with the autopilot?

The default FS2004 autopilot can follow the active GPS leg laterally when the correct navigation source and mode are selected.

1. Confirm that a leg is active. The NAV map should show the intended leg in magenta.
2. Set the panel’s NAV/GPS selector to GPS. This is a cockpit switch, not a setting inside the GPS window. Some add-on aircraft call it a CDI or navigation-source selector.
3. Approach the course at a manageable angle. Hand-fly or use HDG mode to establish an intercept instead of expecting NAV mode to recover from a sharp angle.
4. Engage the autopilot and NAV mode. Watch the initial turn rather than assuming capture has occurred.
5. Monitor the tracking. The cross-track error should reduce and the aircraft should settle on the magenta leg.

When hand-flying GPS guidance, turn towards the displayed desired track and correct until the course-deviation indication is centred. GPS guidance remains lateral only: altitude, descent, airspeed and throttle need separate control.

Does the course knob change the GPS route?

The panel’s course knob normally does not change a flight-plan or Direct-To leg; the two waypoints define that course.

If the GPS stops advancing at a waypoint, check whether OBS was pressed accidentally. Return to normal sequencing unless you deliberately need an OBS course.

Can the GPS fly an ILS approach or land the aircraft?

The stock GPS can help position the aircraft for an ILS, but it does not replace the tuned localiser and glideslope receivers.

Before localiser capture, tune and identify the ILS, set the published inbound course for the display, move the NAV/GPS source back to NAV, and use APP mode from a suitable intercept. The GPS does not provide modern WAAS or LPV-style vertical guidance. Our explanation of ILS capture and FS2004 autopilot landing limits covers the remaining approach sequence.

Why is the FS2004 GPS not following the route?

The usual causes are the wrong navigation source, no active magenta leg, accidental OBS mode or an aircraft panel that is not coupled to the stock GPS.

• The autopilot follows a VOR instead: set the cockpit NAV/GPS selector to GPS.
• The route is listed but not active: use Direct-To or activate the correct FPL leg.
• NAV mode will not capture: reduce the intercept angle and confirm that both the autopilot master and NAV mode are engaged.
• The GPS remains fixed on one waypoint: switch off OBS mode to restore automatic sequencing.
• The aircraft turns towards an old waypoint: a previous Direct-To course or flight-plan leg is still active.
• The route points to the wrong facility: verify the identifier, facility name and location rather than relying on the identifier alone.
• An airport or approach is missing: it may not exist in FS2004’s original navigation database, even if newer scenery depicts it.
• The stock GPS works but cannot steer this aircraft: a custom autopilot or panel may not implement the normal FS2004 GPS coupling.

The default GPS does not require FSUIPC or another third-party module. If a downloaded panel refers to GPS Mega or another product name, that is an add-on rather than a stock FS2004 mode; its window assignment and autopilot interface may differ. For persistent blank displays, missing routes or steering faults, use our focused FS2004 GPS fault checklist.