Despite many delays and broken release promises, despite difficult downloads and activation problems and despite a freeware utility producing OFPs, PFPX worth the pain and suffering many Flight Sim users have been through.

 

Professional Flight Planner X is the latest release from TOPCAT developers, FlightSimSoft, and is by far the most in-depth flight planner ever created. Despite only being released a few hours ago, I've spent all that time since tinkering, playing, testing and exploring the vast amount of options available to build and refine your perfect flight plan. This little write-up should hold you over whilst you're downloading and waiting for the activation of the product.

 

The Starters

 

Installation is easy. Run the .exe and away it goes. Once you've put in your unique serial number and have had it validated, the initial set-up is started and you are already looking at a clean, crisp and user-friendly menu. As already shown by FlightSimSoft, inputting your personal preferences is dead easy and before you know it, you'll be eager to prep your first 'plan. Be aware, it's probably a good idea at this point to make sure the Nav Data base is up to date.

 

You can set up whether you want to have AS2012, REX or PFPXs weather running through PFPX - everything is simple and there's hints placed all over the user interface to make it as easy as possible. Anyone concerned about the server subscription shouldn't panic either as each copy comes with 365 days worth (which is going to be extended due to the server problems today - confirmed Christian). If not, you can put in your own weather / wind profiles.

 

Once everything's initially set up, this is where the "fun" begins.

 

Planning

 

If you've read the manual and watched the tutorial videos, you should already have a good idea that using PFPX is really easy and you can go from having no flight plan to a fully detailed and accurate flight plan within MINUTES. You type in the basic information - airline, departure, arrival and the aircraft you're using on the flight (more on that in a moment) and most of the information is already filled out for you!

 

So, departure and destination airports selected – check. Aircraft type, cost index and equipment – check. Now all you need to decide is the route you’ll be taking. This of course, is where PFPX really shines.

The shortcut bottons at the top of the screen allow you to let the software pick out a route the close matches the great circle distance. This is great 70% of the time on shorter flights, but what you really need, is routes that are best suited to weather, ATC and other variations – all of which PFPX can work out for you through the advanced flight planner.

One of my favourite features of PFPX is the ability to make multiple flight plans and display them side-by-side for a comparison on fuel amounts and also flight time. Some routes may be better for wind, but some routes may take longer due to great circle, but either way, PFPX will find them, show you and you can make your own choices.

I also played around with wind data. I made a few plans for flights tomorrow afternoon to give me the best performance. I’ve saved them and compared them to today’s and they are drastically different. Whether that route will stay the same and be the most fuel efficient is yet to be seen, but I’ll update you if it changes.

Another great feature is the use of ETOPS within the software. You get some great visual aids when planning ETOPS for those longer flights. The search feature for plotting said airports is really easy to use and very quick. It takes just seconds for the route to be plotted if you change something.

 

Aircraft

There’s a MASSIVE selection of aircraft already available with PFPX and the best part is that anyone can edit and make their own. I imagine Avsim will soon be full of different aircraft profiles for everyone to use.

Adding and editing aircraft is, like everything, easy. You open it up in the software, make the changes and you can either save them as an aircraft, or a template to use on another aircraft at a later date.

 

 

This was a meant to be a very quick look at PFPX and I’ve barely covered everything I’ve played with today.

 

However, I’m off to work now, which for me, is cabin crew.

I’m operating EGGD – LEBL at 1750 (zulu) and decided to create myself two flight plans for the same aircraft, routes, time, etc to see how closely it matches the real ones our flight deck will be using. I’ll report later on my findings.

 

Good luck to all those downloading!

Great post, have an up vote.

 

Tell me, what is this server aspect you speak of?

Thank you Calum, look forward to the comparison to the real flight.

I'm absolutely loving this program, everything you need plus the VATSIM traffic and ATC map.

I'm absolutely loving this program, everything you need plus the VATSIM traffic and ATC map.

 

Have you purchased it? Is it worth it? (I'm kinda thinking about it)

Have you purchased it? Is it worth it? (I'm kinda thinking about it)

Of course I've purchased it, I did my first flight with it. AAL 1283 KMIA TJSJ in the NGX. I'm loving the amount of information given for the flight. Accurate wind and fuel planning when tracking your progress, big selection of options for aircraft and in-dept advanced planning.

Lucky guys...I'm dealing with the disaster of being unable to download (7 hours of trying) and now unable to activate.

Are the flight plans created for Europe by this product validated by Eurocontrol?

Bought it half an hour ago. Downloaded without any issue and within 1 minute (189MB). Activation failed on first attempt, second attemp activation passed.

Had my first flight (EHAM-LGIR) made within less than 10 minutes and I spend most of those 10 minutes exploring the first possibilities I encountered.

First conclusion: ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!! BEST FS PURCHASE EVER!!!

I really don't know how I can express myself to a level this program deserves. 

I know a lot of you are frustrated by the looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong wait for this program to get released, but trust me; once you start it up for the first time, you'll forget all those frustrations. Yes, it's THAT GOOD!

 

Off I go again, further exploring this seemingly limitless tool!

Are the flight plans created for Europe by this product validated by Eurocontrol?

+1 please

 

I read users saying that it creates bad FPs

 

 

Enviado desde mi iPhone 5 con Tapatalk 2

+1 please

 

I read users saying that it creates bad FPs

 

 

Enviado desde mi iPhone 5 con Tapatalk 2

 

 

Are the flight plans created for Europe by this product validated by Eurocontrol?

 

Made 2 OFP's now and they both seem to be flawless. Where to check with Eurocontrol?

 

 

BEST FS PURCHASE EVER!!!

 

So better than the plane you fly...? :rolleyes:

So better than the plane you fly...? :rolleyes:

No need to be sarcastic.

But since you ask; yes, it's a better purchase than any addon aircraft I bought. It will become as standard as the weather generating tool. Heck, it will be as standard as FSX self :-)

I also bought it and is so far very happy with the product. Makes flight planning a breeze so that I can spend most of the time in the air! 

 

Enter departure and destination, a few more clicks then the plan is ready, then export route to PMDG format, then save pdf version of flight plan documents to my Dropbox account to view on my Ipad. Ready for take off! Magnificent!

 

 

then save pdf version of flight plan documents

 

Thomas,

                How did you save it to PDF. My only option is a txt file.