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GUIDE / HELP
HOW TO CREATE A FLIGHT PLAN
Creating a flight plan with NG ROUTE is simple and straightforward. Follow these steps to generate your IFR route:
1
Enter Departure Airport
Type the 4-letter ICAO code for your departure airport (e.g., LGAV for Athens, EGLL for London Heathrow).
2
Enter Destination Airport
Type the 4-letter ICAO code for your destination airport.
3
Select Airway Level
Choose between:
LOW (V/B/L) — Victor, Blue and Low airways, used below FL245 (24,500 feet). Ideal for smaller aircraft or regional flights.
HIGH (J/Q/M/N/T/U) — Jet and Upper airways, used at FL245 and above. Best for airliners at cruise altitude.
4
Select Aircraft Type
Choose your aircraft from the dropdown menu. This affects fuel calculations, cruise altitude recommendations, and performance data.
5
Click "CREATE FLIGHT PLAN"
The system will calculate the optimal route using real airway data and display all flight information.
TIP: You can also use the "RANDOM" buttons to generate random routes for practice or exploration. Check the "Random departure airport inside the viewable map area" option to limit random airports to the current map view.
ALTERNATIVE METHOD: You can also create a flight plan by clicking directly on airports on the map. Click on an airport and select "Set as departure" or "Set as destination" from the popup menu. This is a quick way to plan routes while exploring the map.
UNDERSTANDING THE FLIGHT PLAN
SUMMARY CARD
After creating a flight plan, you'll see a summary card with the following information:
| FIELD | MEANING |
|---|
| DIST | Total flight distance in nautical miles (NM). This is the actual route distance following airways, not the straight-line distance. |
| ETA | Estimated Time of Arrival / flight duration. Calculated based on your aircraft's cruise speed and wind conditions aloft. |
| CRUISE | Recommended cruise flight level (e.g., FL350 = 35,000 feet). Based on aircraft performance and flight distance. |
| FIXES | The number of waypoints (navigation fixes) in your route. |
| AIRWAYS | The airways used in your route (e.g., J65, T22, L620). |
Below the summary, you'll see the ICAO Route String — the complete route in standard aviation format, showing all waypoints and airways. For example:
LGAV DCT ABLON J65 KOPAV T22 DETRA L888 LFPG
NAV LOG (NAVIGATION LOG)
The nav log displays each waypoint in sequence:
| COLUMN | MEANING |
|---|
| # | Sequence number (01, 02, 03...) |
| FIX | Waypoint identifier — can be an airport (LGAV), VOR/NDB navaid, or intersection/fix name |
| VIA | How to reach this fix: airway name (J65, T22) or "DCT" for Direct |
| LEG | Distance in nautical miles from the previous waypoint to this one |
What does DCT mean? DCT stands for "Direct" — a straight-line connection between two waypoints that doesn't follow a published airway. This is used when no suitable airway exists between two points, or for the initial connection from the airport to the first airway fix.
RUNWAY AND WEATHER DATA
NG ROUTE fetches real METAR weather data and suggests appropriate runways for both departure and arrival:
| FIELD | MEANING |
|---|
| RWY | Suggested runway based on current wind direction (e.g., 21R, 09L) |
| WIND | Wind direction and speed in knots (e.g., 210/15 = wind from 210 degrees at 15 knots) |
| HEADWIND | Headwind component on the selected runway in knots |
| CROSSWIND | Crosswind component in knots |
| QNH | Altimeter setting in hectopascals (hPa) |
| TEMP / DP | Temperature and dew point in Celsius |
| CATEGORY | Flight category based on visibility and ceiling: VFR, MVFR, IFR, or LIFR |
| ILS CAT | ILS approach category (if available): CAT I, CAT II, CAT IIIa/b/c |
| DA/DH | Decision Altitude/Height for precision approaches |
| MDA | Minimum Descent Altitude for non-precision approaches |
Weather Source: The "METAR" badge indicates data from official aviation weather services. "FCST" indicates forecast data from Open-Meteo when METAR is unavailable.
USING WEATHER DATA IN FLIGHT SIMULATORS
IMPORTANT — LIVE WEATHER: The weather information displayed in NG ROUTE comes from live METAR reports from real-world airports. If you're using Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane with live weather enabled, these conditions will closely match what you see in the simulator.
Setting the correct QNH (altimeter setting): Before starting your approach, you must set the destination airport's QNH (atmospheric pressure) from the METAR data. This is critical for accurate altitude readings:
- On the FCU/autopilot panel: Turn the QNH/BARO knob to match the destination METAR pressure
- In the MCDU (Airbus) / FMC (Boeing): Enter the QNH in the approach (APPR) phase page
Why this matters: Just like in real aviation, if you don't set the correct QNH, your altimeter will display an incorrect altitude. This means your aircraft won't follow the correct glide slope during approach — whether you're flying an autoland (ILS CAT III) or a manual landing. The result can be touching down too early or too late on the runway, or not intercepting the ILS glideslope at the correct altitude.
Aerofly FS users: Aerofly FS does not currently support live weather conditions. Since the simulator uses standard atmospheric conditions, you should set your altimeter to the standard pressure of 1013 hPa (or 29.92 inHg) for all flights.
FUEL ESTIMATES
Fuel calculations follow standard aviation practices:
| FUEL TYPE | PURPOSE |
|---|
| TRIP FUEL | Fuel required for the actual flight from takeoff to landing |
| CONTINGENCY +5% | Extra fuel for unexpected situations (weather deviations, delays) |
| ALTERNATE 200 NM | Fuel to fly to an alternate airport (calculated for 200 NM diversion) |
| FINAL RESERVE | Minimum fuel that must remain after landing (45 minutes for jets) |
| TAXI | Fuel for ground operations (startup, taxi, takeoff roll) |
| TOTAL FUEL | Sum of all fuel requirements — this is what you should load |
TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE (V-SPEEDS)
For applicable aircraft, NG ROUTE calculates takeoff V-speeds:
| SPEED | MEANING |
|---|
| V1 | Decision Speed — The maximum speed at which you can still abort the takeoff safely. Above V1, you must continue. |
| VR | Rotation Speed — The speed at which you pull back on the stick/yoke to lift the nose. |
| V2 | Takeoff Safety Speed — The minimum safe flying speed if an engine fails. Maintain this speed until reaching a safe altitude. |
| FLAPS | Recommended flap setting for takeoff |
| PITCH TRIM | Recommended pitch trim setting |
| Est. TOW | Estimated Takeoff Weight |
TERRAIN AND WIND CHARTS
TERRAIN PROFILE
Below the map, you'll see a terrain elevation chart showing the ground elevation along your route. This helps visualize:
- Maximum terrain elevation along the route
- Terrain clearance — the difference between your cruise altitude and the highest point
- Mountain ranges and other obstacles
Hover over the chart to see precise elevation at any point along the route.
WINDS ALOFT
The wind chart shows headwind/tailwind components at your cruise altitude:
- Green bars = Tailwind (favorable, reduces flight time)
- Orange bars = Headwind (unfavorable, increases flight time)
The chart also displays average and maximum wind values. Strong headwinds will increase your ETA, while tailwinds will decrease it.
MAP FEATURES
MAP MARKERS
| MARKER | MEANING |
|---|
| T/C | Top of Climb — The point where your aircraft reaches cruise altitude after takeoff |
| T/D | Top of Descent — The point where you should begin your descent to the destination |
| Blue circles | Airports (departure and destination) |
| Blue squares | Waypoints/fixes along the route |
| Orange arrows | Runway heading indicators at departure and arrival airports |
NOTE: Depending on the SID (departure procedure) and STAR (arrival procedure) you select in your aircraft's FMS, the total flight distance may vary slightly from the calculated route. This means the actual T/C and T/D points during your flight may differ somewhat from the positions shown on the map. This is normal and should not cause concern.
MAP LAYERS
Use the layers control (☰) in the bottom-right corner to toggle:
- Airports — Show all airports on the map (clickable to set as departure/destination)
- Waypoints — Show navigation fixes (visible at higher zoom levels)
- Weather Radar — Live precipitation radar overlay
ROUTE EDITING
After creating a flight plan, you can edit the route by clicking on waypoints displayed on the map. Click a waypoint to add it to your route, or click an existing route waypoint to remove it.
CAUTION: Avoid leaving large gaps without waypoints in your route. Flight simulator aircraft may not correctly calculate terrain clearance altitudes over long direct segments, potentially leading to dangerous proximity to mountains and peaks. Always ensure adequate waypoint coverage, especially when flying over mountainous terrain.
AIRWAYS VS DIRECT (DCT) ROUTING
IMPORTANT: Just like real-world flight planning, NG ROUTE prioritizes published airways over direct (DCT) connections. Airways are the "highways" of the sky — established routes with defined waypoints that ensure safe separation from other traffic and terrain.
Because of this airway prioritization, your flight plan route may not always be a straight line between departure and destination. The routing algorithm will:
- First try to connect your departure airport to the nearest airway system
- Route through the airway network using the most efficient path
- Connect from the airways to your destination airport
- Only use DCT (direct) connections when no suitable airway exists
This results in more realistic flight plans that closely match what real-world airlines and pilots use. The route may curve or zigzag to follow published airways, but this is intentional and accurate.
Why airways matter: In real aviation, airways ensure aircraft separation, provide radar coverage, and keep aircraft clear of restricted airspace and terrain. Using airways also makes it easier for air traffic control to manage traffic flow.
ABOUT THE MAP PROJECTION
NOTE ON LONG-DISTANCE FLIGHTS: The map uses a Mercator projection, which is standard for web maps but introduces visual distortion for long-distance routes.
On a Mercator map, straight lines (rhumb lines) appear straight, but the actual shortest path between two points on Earth is a great circle — which appears as a curve on a Mercator map.
For long-haul flights (especially at high latitudes or transatlantic/transpacific routes), you may notice that:
- The route appears to curve northward (in the Northern Hemisphere) or southward (in the Southern Hemisphere)
- This is NOT an error — it represents the actual shortest path over the Earth's curved surface
- A flight from New York to London, for example, curves north over Greenland/Iceland because that IS the shortest route on a globe
This is the same phenomenon you see when looking at transatlantic flight paths on flight tracking websites. The "curved" path is actually more direct than what appears to be a straight line on the map!
Fun fact: Airlines use great circle routes whenever possible to save fuel and time. A flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo doesn't fly "straight" across the Pacific — it curves north toward Alaska because that's actually shorter.
USER ACCOUNT & SAVED FLIGHT PLANS
NG ROUTE allows you to create a free account and save your flight plans for future reference.
SIGNING IN
Click the "Sign in" button in the top-right corner of the page to sign in with your Google account. No separate registration is required — simply use your existing Google account.
SAVING FLIGHT PLANS
Once you're signed in and have created a flight plan, you'll see a new button: "★ Save to my flight plans". Click this button to save the current flight plan to your account.
TIP: If you save the same route (same departure and destination) again, it will update your existing saved plan instead of creating a duplicate.
VIEWING SAVED PLANS
To access your saved flight plans:
- Click on your name in the top-right corner
- Select "My Flight Plans" from the dropdown menu
- You'll see a list of all your saved flight plans with departure/destination airports, distance, and aircraft type
- Click "Open" to load a saved flight plan, or "Delete" to remove it
EXPORTING FLIGHT PLANS
After creating a flight plan, you can export it for use in flight simulators:
| FORMAT | COMPATIBLE WITH |
|---|
| X-PLANE 11/12 | X-Plane 11 and X-Plane 12 (.fms format) |
| MSFS | Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020/2024 (.pln format) |
| AEROFLY FS | Aerofly FS 4 and Aerofly FS Global (.tmc mission format) |
AIRAC Database Compatibility: X-Plane and Aerofly FS may have outdated navigation databases (AIRAC cycles). Some waypoints in your flight plan might show a NOT FOUND IN DATABASE error when loading. You can safely skip these waypoints and enter the next one in the sequence — the aircraft will fly direct between the recognized fixes.
X-Plane: You can update the AIRAC database with a Navigraph subscription.
Aerofly FS: There is currently no way to update the AIRAC database.
Click the "? How to import flight plans" link for detailed instructions on loading the flight plan in each simulator.
TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS
- Use HIGH airways for airline flights at cruise altitude (FL300+)
- Use LOW airways for regional turboprops, GA aircraft, or when flying below FL245
- Select the correct aircraft for accurate fuel and performance calculations
- Check the terrain profile especially when flying in mountainous regions
- Review wind data — strong headwinds may significantly increase flight time
- Verify runway selection matches the current weather conditions in your simulator
DISCLAIMER
Although it includes real-world waypoints, airways, airports, and weather conditions, NG ROUTE is designed for flight simulation purposes only. Do not use this application for real-world flight planning or navigation. Always use certified flight planning tools and official aeronautical charts for actual flights.
While we strive for accuracy, navigation data may not be 100% accurate.