Editing Routes on the Map: Adding and Removing Waypoints
NG ROUTE calculates an optimal path through the airway network, but you may want to deviate — avoid weather, intercept a familiar fix, or mimic an ATC vector. The map editor lets you add and remove waypoints after planning without returning to manual ICAO entry. Changes happen in your browser session and update the nav log, distance, and export files instantly.
How to remove a waypoint
After a plan is displayed, blue square markers show each fix along the route. Click a waypoint that is not the departure or destination airport. A popup offers ✕ Remove waypoint.
Departure and arrival airports cannot be removed — they anchor the plan. Removing a middle fix deletes it from the path and reconnects the surrounding legs. Adjacent segments may switch to DCT (direct) in the updated ICAO route string.
The summary DIST, ETA, nav log, and terrain chart recalculate immediately.
How to add a waypoint
Enable the Waypoints layer from the map layers control (☰) if fixes are not visible. Zoom to at least medium scale — fixes appear when zoomed in enough to avoid clutter.
Click a fix triangle (intersection), orange circle (VOR), or pink circle (NDB). The popup shows the identifier and + Add to route when a plan is active.
NG ROUTE inserts the fix at the geometrically cheapest point along your current path — minimum extra distance between the previous and next leg. The inserted segment and the following leg typically become DCT until the path rejoins a named airway.
Reading the updated ICAO string
Each edit rebuilds the route line under the summary card. More DCT tokens after editing are normal. Compare the nav log before and after if you are filing online — controllers care about the fix sequence, not whether every leg rides a named airway.
Important cautions
The user guide warns against large gaps without intermediate waypoints, especially over mountains. Flight simulator autopilots may not maintain terrain clearance across long direct segments. If you remove several fixes in rugged areas, add replacements from the waypoint layer to keep reasonable coverage.
Route edits are client-side only. Refreshing the browser page restores the original server-calculated route. Export your edited plan before leaving the tab if you want to keep changes.
Practical editing scenarios
Weather deviation practice: Insert a fix north of your track to simulate avoiding convection shown in SIGMET shading.
Simplify a busy nav log: Remove cosmetic waypoints you do not intend to load in a simple GA GPS.
Join a preferred airway: Add a fix where you want to intercept a parallel airway the auto-router skipped.
VATSIM mimic: Remove a fix ATC cleared you direct around, then export the shortened route for your next session replay.
Interaction with export
X-Plane .fms, MSFS .pln, and Aerofly .tmc exports all use the current edited path at export time. Edit first, then click the download button. Re-export after further changes — previous downloads are not updated automatically.
Map layers reminder
- Airports — click to set dep/arr or open airport pages
- Waypoints — fixes available for insertion
- Weather radar — overlay precipitation while deciding deviations
Workflow summary
- Create base plan with CREATE FLIGHT PLAN
- Review auto route on map and nav log
- Click unwanted fixes → Remove
- Click nearby fixes → Add to route
- Confirm DIST/ETA and terrain profile
- Export to simulator
Map editing gives you dispatcher-level control without spreadsheet work. Start from NG ROUTE's airway-optimal path, then tailor the last mile to your session goals.
Edited routes are for simulation. Verify terrain, airspace, and procedure constraints with official charts for real-world flights.