VFR vs IFR explained: what each means, what simulators change, when to choose each, what VFR direct means and how IFR circuits work.
VFR (Visual Flight Rules) means flying mainly by outside visual reference in weather that meets the applicable visibility and cloud-clearance limits. IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) means flying by instruments under defined routes and procedures, with an ATC clearance where required. IFR can be flown in clear weather; VFR can use GPS and instruments.
This is a general answer for civilian flight simulators, including Microsoft Flight Simulator, FSX, X-Plane and Prepar3D. Individual simulators may simplify the rules, and exact weather minima, equipment requirements and ATC services vary by country and airspace.
What do VFR and IFR mean?
VFR and IFR are operating rule sets: VFR depends on sufficient visual reference, while IFR uses instrument procedures and clearances where applicable.
| Area | VFR | IFR |
|---|---|---|
| Full term | Visual Flight Rules | Instrument Flight Rules |
| Primary reference | Outside visual references, supported by instruments | Flight instruments and suitable navigation sources |
| Weather | Requires the applicable visual meteorological conditions | Can be flown in visual or instrument meteorological conditions |
| Navigation | Pilotage, landmarks, dead reckoning, VOR or GPS | Cleared routes, direct legs, airways, waypoints and published procedures |
| ATC | Clearances depend on the airspace; traffic advisories or flight following do not make the flight IFR | Normally requires an IFR clearance in controlled airspace, with assigned routes, levels or approaches |
| Arrival | Usually a visual circuit or straight-in visual arrival | An instrument approach or a visual approach while remaining under IFR |
VMC and IMC describe meteorological conditions; VFR and IFR describe the rules under which the flight operates. The VFR, MVFR, IFR and LIFR labels found on many simulator and US-style weather displays describe ceiling and visibility bands. They do not tell you which flight rules have been filed or cleared.
What changes on a VFR vs IFR flight in a simulator?
Choosing VFR or IFR in a simulator usually changes the flight plan and available ATC interactions, not the aircraft's handling, weather or automatic configuration.
An IFR plan may provide clearance delivery, assigned altitudes, airway routing, vectors and instrument approaches. A VFR plan may produce visual departure and arrival instructions, a more flexible route or traffic advisories. The quality and completeness of built-in ATC vary considerably, so selecting IFR does not guarantee realistic clearances.
The selection also does not tune every radio, choose the correct CDI source, brief the approach or ensure that the aircraft is equipped for the route. Microsoft pilots can compare the platform-specific VFR and IFR behaviour in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
What does VFR direct mean?
VFR direct means the flight is operating under Visual Flight Rules and is planned broadly along a direct route rather than along airways or from one radio beacon to another.
It does not mean the aircraft must follow a perfectly straight line, nor does it make GPS compulsory. Terrain, controlled or restricted airspace, weather and suitable diversion points can all require changes. A line drawn by the planner is a route suggestion, not automatic terrain or airspace clearance.
Flight rules and route types are separate settings. A direct route can be VFR or IFR, and VOR navigation can also be used under either set of rules. Older Microsoft simulator users can see how those choices are separated in our explanation of flight rules and route types in the FSX Flight Planner.
What do VFR and IFR mean in PTFS?
In Pilot Training Flight Simulator (PTFS), VFR and IFR retain the same aviation meanings: visual flying in suitable conditions versus flight conducted using instruments and instrument procedures.
They are not aircraft categories or difficulty levels. PTFS and individual role-play servers may not enforce every real-world weather minimum, clearance or procedure, so the player or acting controller must agree how realistically the terms are being used.
Can you use GPS or VOR under VFR, or fly IFR in clear weather?
Yes: using instruments does not automatically make a flight IFR, and operating under IFR does not require cloud or poor visibility.
A VFR pilot may use GPS, a moving map, VORs, an attitude indicator and other cockpit instruments while continuing to maintain outside visual reference and comply with VFR weather and airspace rules. For the practical differences between these methods, see our guide to using charts, VORs and dead reckoning in a flight simulator.
IFR is routinely practised in clear weather because it lets the simmer learn clearances, avionics and approaches without simultaneously dealing with poor visibility. An IFR aircraft in visual conditions must still follow its clearance until the flight lands or IFR is cancelled; simply seeing the runway does not change the flight to VFR.
What are IFR circuits?
An ordinary aerodrome circuit, called a traffic pattern in the US, is normally a visual manoeuvre; an aircraft cannot safely reproduce the same rectangle in cloud and assume that it has obstacle protection.
An IFR aircraft in visual conditions may be cleared for a visual approach and join a circuit while remaining on its IFR clearance. For repeated instrument-approach practice, the correct sequence is normally to fly the published missed approach, receive vectors or enter a published hold, and then obtain another approach clearance. Simulator ATC may not support this sequence cleanly.
A circling approach is not simply an IFR circuit. It is a specific visual manoeuvre conducted after an instrument approach, within a protected area and no lower than the applicable circling minima. If the required visual references are lost, the pilot must execute the prescribed missed-approach procedure rather than continue around an unseen runway.
Which should you choose for a simulator flight?
Choose VFR when the purpose is visual flying and local handling; choose IFR when the purpose is structured instrument navigation, procedural ATC or operation through reduced visibility.
- Choose VFR for sightseeing, visual circuits, basic aircraft handling, bush flying, pilotage and short flights in suitable weather.
- Choose IFR for airline-style operations, airways, instrument departures and arrivals, approach practice or flying in cloud.
- Choose IFR in clear weather when learning avionics and procedures before adding the workload of restricted visibility.
- Start with VFR if maintaining altitude, airspeed, trim and a stable circuit still demands most of your attention.
- Check the aircraft before choosing IFR. The required navigation source and intended approach must be available and understood; the mere presence of a GPS is not enough.
Aircraft type alone does not decide the rules. A VFR simulator flight may use sophisticated avionics, while a small general-aviation aircraft can fly IFR if suitably equipped for the planned route and procedures.
Do IFR flights require an autopilot or ILS?
No, an IFR flight can be hand-flown and does not require an ILS approach.
Depending on the aircraft, airport and simulator data, an IFR arrival may use RNAV or GNSS, VOR, localiser, ILS, NDB or another supported procedure. It may also finish with a visual approach without cancelling IFR.
An autopilot reduces workload but does not understand the clearance by itself. The pilot must select and monitor the correct lateral and vertical modes, particularly during vectors, altitude changes and approach capture. Watch the flight-mode annunciator rather than assuming that pressing an approach button guarantees the expected result.
Common VFR and IFR mistakes in flight simulators
Most VFR-versus-IFR problems come from treating the flight plan, ATC clearance and active avionics route as though they were the same thing.
- Loading a route but never obtaining clearance: a route programmed into the GPS or FMS is not an IFR clearance. Request and read back the clearance when using ATC.
- Following the original magenta line after receiving vectors: fly the assigned heading, then activate or intercept the appropriate leg when cleared.
- Selecting the wrong navigation source: verify whether the CDI is using GPS or a radio receiver before expecting it to capture a VOR, localiser or ILS.
- Assuming the VFR setting creates VFR weather: check visibility, cloud base and the route before departure. The planner's rule selection does not alter the weather preset.
- Departing VFR towards deteriorating weather: plan a turn-back point, diversion or weather change rather than continuing visually into cloud.
- Trusting the autopilot without checking its modes: confirm the armed and active modes after every heading, altitude, navigation-source or approach change.
- Descending below instrument minima: if the required runway references are unavailable at the decision point, fly the missed approach instead of forcing the landing.
For the full sequence from route planning and clearance to approach minima and a missed approach, follow our step-by-step IFR flight-simulator workflow.