I use Flight Planner to create an IFR Flight Plan from Manchester to Newcastle and load it into the GPS.Once in the air ATC offers me the choice of: 1. Create or open an IFR Flight Plan2. Cancel flight followingWhen I choose the first option I'm taken back to the Flight Planner.Why? The Plan is already operative and I'm following the flight path in the GPS.Cliff

Hi,If you want to use MSFS's ATC then the "SAME" flight plan you loaded into the FMC must also be loaded into MSFS. MSFS needs to "know" your route.If you want to fly the route without MSFS ATC the you do not have to load it.If using a program like Radar Contact you do not have to load the plan into MSFS but you would have to also load the plan into Radar Contact.Everyone needs to know where you want to go today.Same in real life.Filing a flight plan with the Flight Service Station will not load it into your FMC. You have to do both yourself.Are you using default MSFS or Addon aircraft?I am using FSfuild to do the flight plan.Start MSFS, select aircraft (Baron) , load the plan from MSFS and the (IFR) flight plan automatically loads into the Baron's FMC.Also worth mentioning. Your flight plan can always be changed (like enroute) so the MSFS menu item is there for you do the change for your new destionation while enroute.When I fly the Level-D (payware) I have to load the flight plan into the FMC as well as MSFS (or Radar Contact) if that is what I am using for ATC.

Hi Vaugham...I'm using the Boeing 737 in FSX and the GPS rather than the FMC I'm used to in FS9 aircraft such as in the PMDG stable.My Flight plan is certainly loaded into the GPS and I use it to navigate to my destination.However soon after take off ATC gives the choice of: 1. Creating or opening an IFR Flight Plan or2. Cancelling flight following.My query is why is it necessary to create a Flight plan for the second time when it's already loaded and operating in the GPS? If I do create the Plan again I'm asked if I want to be returned to the start of the flight. So I must be doing something incorrectly as from then on there appears to be no way of continuing under ATC instructions.Cliff

Hi,Is your flight plan IFR?Do you start a new flight in MFFX and load a flight plan or a SAVED flight with a flight plan?Before departure do you get ATIS, contact CLEARANCE DELIVERY, get the clearance, contact GROUND, get taxi instructions, TAXI, and get cleared for takeoff?At what stage in all this do you see the create/cancel choices?

I think you may have to start your IFR flight on the ground, and go through all IFR procedures and clerances for the game to recognise it.Creating a totally new IFR flight plan in the sky (not altering an active one) has not worked for me. I canceled an IFR flight plan and created a new one, choosed NO when asked to relocate to the starting airfield.I did not get any messages about IFR being active and when arriving at Kastrup, the ATC said "Negative, airfield is currently IFR" so it wasnt active.

Hi,I have created a new IFR flight plan while enroure. Like when flying VFR and the weather starts getting bad and I want to continue the flight to original destination IFR.While enroute create an IFR plan just like you normally would.DEP/ARR airports, IFR, save it.When asked if MSFS should reposition your aircraft say NO.Now the IFR plan will be from your current position and you will continue your flight IFR to destination talking to ATC all the way.Works great but you have to try it a few time to get it right.The only time I get the message asking if I want to "create a plan" is after departure without a flight plan already loaded into MSFS.You might want to start from the beginning again to get it working with MSFS ATC.

This simple answer is that "1. Create or open an IFR Flight Plan" is offering you the chance to change the existing flight plan to a newly created one or to a previously saved one.

He was asking "why" was this message being displayed by MSFS.

Hi Vonmar...1. I use a saved flight with the Flight Plan already loaded.2. Affirmative to ATIS, contact CLEARANCE DELIVERY, get the clearance, contact GROUND, get taxi instructions, TAXI, and clearance for takeoff3. That message appears several times, apparently at random, after take off.Cliff

Thanks. That sounds as if it's the answer.May I put a non related question to you?How do I find the ATC menu allowing me to request a change of flight level?Cliff

There is an icon on the main cockpit panel for ATCIt is near the Radio Stack iconIf you click on it once it will bring up the ATC memuIf you click it a second thime the menu will go awayAfter IFR departure while climbing click on itAltitude change requests will be on the menu for you

He was asking why he was taken back to flight planner: not why the message was displayed.He's taken back to flight planner so that the flight plan can be changed en-route.