I have been out of commission for a while and have a couple of questions. With the new fs 2020, does pta load the flight plan into the plane as was done with fsx after receiving clearence.

Also the are a couple of requests that I have not seen before. "open flight plan" and " close flight plan". When and how are these used?

Thanks

No, you have to load the flight plan.  On the Flight Plan page of MSFS, before you fly, there is a Load button at the bottom where you can load a .pln plan.

Open and Close flight plan are for use in VFR Flights to open/close a plan with FSS.  Once you open a plan, there is no further interaction with ATC.  You are just telling FSS that you are on your way and if you don't arrive by the ETA, send out a search party...which P2A does not do.

If you File a VFR Plan and call for VFR clearance, you will get VFR Flight Following and ATC will hand you off from one controller to the next. 

Dave

Thanx