How to export flight plan to VATSIM?

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to export a flight plan to VATSIM network using XPFlightPlanner. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and efficient flight planning process.

Step 1: Generate the flight plan

  1. Set departure and destination airports: Add London Gatwick (EGKK) as your departure airport and Glasgow Prestwick (EGPK) as your destination airport. You can do this either from the right-click menu on the map, or from the “Points“ side panel, or directly in the “Route Generator”.
  2. Choose your aircraft: Select the Boeing 737-800 Max as your aircraft for this route.
  3. Generate the route: Open the “Route Generator” dialog by clicking the button at the bottom left of the flight plan table or by navigating to the “Route” menu and selecting “Generator.” The generator dialog will preset the departure and arrival airports. Ensure you have selected the best SID and STAR procedures to shorten the flight distance.
  4. Adjust flight parameters: Set the cruise altitude and speed preferences for your route. For example, you might choose a cruise level of FL350 and a speed of 0.79M.
  5. Generate and review: Click “Generate” to start the route finder for an optimized flight plan. The generated flight plan might look like this: EGKK – SID – Waypoints – STAR – EGPK.

Step 2: Pre-fill the flight plan into VATSIM

  1. Open the export menu: Navigate to the “File“ menu and select “Export flight plan to network”
  2. Select VATSIM format: From the export options, choose “VATSIM”.
  3. Automatic upload: The flight plan will be uploaded automatically to VATSIM and open a browser window at https://my.vatsim.net/

Step 3: Verify and adjust

  1. Review your flight plan: Before starting your flight, review the prefilled flight plan in VATSIM to ensure all details are correct.
  2. Make adjustments if necessary: If needed, make any last-minute adjustments to your flight plan directly in VATSIM.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to generate an optimized flight plan using XPFlightPlanner and export it seamlessly to VATSIM. Happy flying!