Learn how to use Navigraph Charts in a flight simulator: import routes, pin procedures, enable moving maps and fix Simlink or AIRAC mismatches.
To use Navigraph Charts in Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, Prepar3D or another supported simulator, sign in to Charts, create or import a route, pin the airport and procedure charts, then run Simlink for live aircraft position. Use each chart to brief and verify the route, not as an autopilot or a substitute for the FMS.
Full chart access requires a Navigraph plan that includes Charts. You can view it through the desktop application, a browser or mobile device, or an in-simulator panel where one is supported.
How do I set up Navigraph Charts with my simulator?
The reliable setup is to configure Charts and the simulator connection first, then build or import the flight and collect the charts you will need.
- Choose your display. Use the desktop application for route preparation, a tablet or browser as a second screen, or an in-game panel when cockpit access matters more than screen space.
- Install the connection components. Desktop simulators normally use Simlink and a simulator-specific connector or plug-in. For Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, follow our guide to installing Charts, Simlink and the optional in-game panel.
- Start the simulator and Simlink. Once connected, Charts should show an aircraft symbol when position tracking is enabled. Simlink sends position data only; it does not fly the aircraft or programme its avionics.
- Create or import the route. Enter the departure and destination, build the route in Charts, or import a plan from a compatible planner such as SimBrief. Importing into Charts does not automatically load the same route into every aircraft FMS. Our comparison of simulator flight-planning tools explains where Charts fits beside dedicated route planners.
- Select and pin the charts. Collect the departure airport diagram, SID, arrival, approach and destination airport diagram before departure. Pinning them prevents repeated searches during high-workload phases.
- Check the navigation data. The procedure names and transitions in Charts should match the AIRAC cycle used by the simulator or aircraft. If they do not, update the supported navigation database or choose procedures available in both.
On Xbox or PlayStation, a desktop connector cannot be installed directly on the console. Charts still works as a separate reference on a supported device, but live position and in-simulator panel availability depend on the simulator's own integration.
Which Navigraph chart should I use at each stage?
Use the airport diagram for ground movement, SID and STAR charts for terminal routing, en-route charts for the airway segment, and the selected approach chart for landing and missed-approach instructions.
| Flight phase | Chart | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Departure ground operations | Airport diagram | Stand, taxi route, runway intersections, holding points and hotspots |
| Departure | SID | Runway, transition, waypoint sequence, initial climb and altitude or speed restrictions |
| Cruise | En-route chart | Airways, waypoint order, navigation aids and minimum published altitudes |
| Arrival | STAR | Entry transition, constraints, expected runway and connection to the approach |
| Approach | Approach chart | Approach type, initial fix, final course, frequencies, minima and missed approach |
A mistake we see constantly is opening the correct airport but the wrong runway, transition or approach variant. Read the complete chart title and compare its waypoint sequence with the FMS. If the symbols, minima or chart sections are unfamiliar, our guide to reading and applying aviation charts in a simulator covers them in detail.
How should I use Navigraph Charts during the flight?
Brief each chart before the relevant phase, then use it to cross-check the aircraft rather than chasing the moving-map symbol.
- Before taxi, confirm the active runway and trace the expected taxi route on the airport diagram.
- Before departure, compare the SID runway and transition with the FMS, then review the first altitude restriction and initial turn.
- Before descent, pin the STAR, approach and airport diagram, and check that the arrival connects logically to the chosen approach.
- Before the final approach fix, verify the navigation source, final course, altitude constraints, minima and missed-approach procedure.
- If ATC changes the runway or approach, replace the pinned chart and amend the FMS. Do not continue using the old plate because its route still looks plausible.
The own-aircraft symbol is useful for situational awareness, especially while taxiing, but it is not approved lateral or vertical guidance. Fly the FMS, navigation instruments and published procedure. Navigraph Charts is intended for simulation, not real-world navigation.
Do I need Simlink for Navigraph Charts?
No. Route planning and chart viewing work without Simlink; Simlink is the usual connection for displaying live aircraft position from a supported desktop simulator.
If the aircraft icon does not appear, check that Simlink is signed into the intended account, the correct simulator connector is installed, the simulator is running and security software is not blocking the connection. Restart the simulator after installing or repairing a connector. Our Simlink connection troubleshooting steps cover the remaining checks.
Why do Navigraph Charts and the simulator not match?
A mismatch usually comes from different AIRAC cycles, outdated airport scenery or a route that was imported into Charts but not loaded into the aircraft.
- Missing SID, STAR or approach: the FMS and Charts probably use different navigation-data cycles. Match the cycles where the simulator and aircraft support updates.
- Different runway number or layout: the chart may reflect a real airport change that the installed scenery does not contain. Identify the physical runway carefully and update or replace the scenery when possible.
- Different ILS frequency or course: compare the chart with the aircraft's navigation database and the simulator scenery. Mixing old stock data with a newer chart cycle is a common cause.
- FMS route differs from the chart: select the exact SID, STAR, approach and transition in the avionics. Merely displaying or importing a route in Charts does not guarantee that the cockpit has received it.
- Aircraft symbol is offset: verify that the correct airport is open. If the error appears only at one add-on airport, its scenery coordinates or layout may not match the real-world chart.
You can still use Navigraph Charts without a moving map by searching for each airport's ICAO code and stepping through the pinned charts manually. This is often better practice for instrument flying because it encourages position checks from waypoints, bearings, distances and raw navigation indications rather than the own-aircraft icon.