Since I haven't been able to use MSFS 2024 I've been able to tinker with the new online flight planner. It seems pretty robust but has some definite quirks.

For instance, if you use the option to create a flight plan or use Auto-Route it works fine. However, if you then select a sid or star weird stuff happens. I would expect it to delete part of the current plan and connect to the star, but it kept the route in and had me double back several hundred miles to pick up where the star began. 

This happened attempting to create a plan from EDDM to EDDF. Now, if you select the sid and star first it seems to work fine.

What has been your experiences toying around with it?

Flight Planner

There's also a bug where it might select the wrong navpoint if more than one with the same name exists.

Edited November 20, 20241 yr by Tuskin38

They really need a manual for this. Just to explain all its functions. Some are self explanatory while others are a bit convoluted. 

I also fooled around with it and it's indeed a bit confusing. I have the same problems with adding SID and STAR: it just doesn't work as it should. I get all kinds of weird stuff in my plan. The Automatic button also doesn't seem to do anything. Quite confusing. I was hoping there would be a one click create plan button that also included procedures. Adding them manually is cumbersome and problematic.

I don't know if a manual would help: I can figure out how things are supposed to work but 1. they don't work as expected and 2. some options simply are missing. This obviously and clearly isn't yet a SimBrief replacement.

I also got a change to fool around with the planner in MSFS2024 itself (didn't manage to actually fly still) and there I noticed weird stuff when trying to set the load: you can set it for the plane but this isn't transfered to the EFB... All in all quite confusing. MSFS2024 seems to have a steep learning curve.

7 hours ago, Tuskin38 said:

There's also a bug where it might select the wrong navpoint if more than one with the same name exists.

Bear in mind that In the RW day job where I use the professional grade jeppesen flight deck pro and  the built in 787 EFB you can also see this exact same thing happen.

It’s just a case of checking the route over for errors, it’s a real world problem too, so you could say it’s a simulated feature 🙂

Wow!

Wasn't even aware of this feature being a separate "app"... Thought the access to the flight planner was only from within the sim?

No its web based, I was playing with it on my ipad

13 minutes ago, jon b said:

No its web based, I was playing with it on my ipad

Please report back your findings!

It doesn't include a performance calculator - at least for a fast test with a flightplan from LPPT to EGLL, while I could ask for random payload, fuel totals weren't automatically calculated.

Not sure how it connects to the sim though: anyone been able to see if the online planner has an automatic effect (syncing) with the ingame planner? Or do you have to save the plan in the online planner and then load it in the sim (from the cloud)?

I am sure someone will come up with a tutorial once things have settles down. I have a few problems with the planner so far:

- it wants me to 'build' an equipment list (it doesn't seem to load that stuff when you load a plane) which seems way too complicated to me. According to the planner my Vision Jet doesn't even have a transponder. Not sure how all of that has an effect in flight (because I am still not able to start a flight)

- it doesn't seem to load the payload from the plane (as selected in the sim) into the planner... perhaps you have to set the load manually each time in the planner and then transfer it to the sim... Can't test that right now because, as I said, I am still not able to start a flight

- it doesn't seem to calculate the payload or anything

- it doesn't calculate cruise level or anything

Edited November 20, 20241 yr by mistolip

I probably will stick with Simbrief.

I have a LOT of experience with the NG app and making routes. I don't use SB as I like making my own routes from scratch and programming them into planes myself.

The autoroute option works best with well used commercial routes well served by airways. In more remote areas or with a route crossing an unpopulated area it falls apart either giving you 300 mile legs or long winded routes just so it can use airways.

I find it works best if you pick your own STAR/SID with a transition waypoint ON AN AIRWAY. If you can do this for both SID and STAR you will get better results with Autoroute.

For absolute best results pick STARS/SIDS with multiple runway compatibility and best of all with the SAME transition. Then you can just bolt on the appropriate approach when given by ATC (or wind behaviour).

I export each route to a  flight plan to load into sim or weather engine and also a clipboard export to save each route into a text file for each region so I can reuse them in future (barring major AIRAC updates).

Here's my US short hop text file for example. It is REALLY worth learning/understanding to do this manually as it makes automation easier later too. I print out this file and use it to quickly enter data into the sim cdu/gps.

I.M.O. :D

Example US route plans including runways (full routes)

KPSP.13R CATH1 PSP DCT PDZ J50 LANDO J5 SONNY DCT SPOOK DCT KTVL.SWR.X18

KPSP.13R CATH1 PSP DCT YCDIL J50 LANDO J6 ROBIE DCT SILCN DCT KMRY.WIGGL.R28LY

KMRY.28L MRY5 SHOEY DCT WPOUT DCT OSI DCT OAK DCT GRTFL DCT SPAMY DCT RBL DCT KRDD.GARSA.B16

KSBA.25 GAUCH2 MQO V27 PEBBS DCT CAATE DCT SANTY DCT KSQL.SAPID.R30-Z

KEGE.25 EKR4 EKR DCT STRIM V101 ECHOA V421 RLG KEGE.RLG.I25

KSEZ.21 BYTER1 BYTER DCT FLG J10 RSK V95 ZEANS DCT KTEX.27

KBZN.12 BGSKY1 DBS V298 (LAMON) KJAC.RELAE.I19-Y

KJAC.19 TETON3 IDA DCT DBS V520 LKT V231 MSO V2 HILIE KSFF.HILIE.I22R

PAYA.11 FAKES4 FAKES J541 SSR J502 DOOZI PAKT.DOOZI.I11-Y

KMBS.05 DCT WISNR DCT VASAR DCT HEMIS DCT CFSMW Q818 VIEEW Q82 MEMMS Q140 YODAA DCT GON NEWBE3 KACK.I06

PAKT.11 CETK6 ANN J502 YZT J523 CFSKH DCT TOU DCT WAPTO DCT KHQM.24

KTVL.36 RICHY7 GENNE J7 DERBB DCT KSBA.RZS.S25

KHQM.24 DCT HQM DCT HRBAU DCT WAPTO DCT FALDA J70 EPH ZOOMR2 KSFF.D04L

KSFF.22R MNITO1 GEG V2 LVM DCT KBZN.WIKEV.R30-Z

KWYS.01 LOW1 LO DCT PUFFS DCT DBS DCT KIDA.TERRE.S03

KEGE.25 EKR4 EKR V200 BONGO V391 VEL DCT FBR V142 MLD V21 KIDA.PIH.B03

KIDA.03 DCT PULTE DCT RIGBY DCT KRXE DCT KWYS.SABAT.I01

PAKT.29 SKOWL2 DOOZI DCT FIPAM DCT PAWG.LVD.R10

PAWG.28 DCT ZIDRA T266 VULHO DCT PAPG.23

PAPG.05 PTRSG2 ZARUT V317 SSR DCT PAJN.SSR.R08-T

PAJN.08 ASORT2 ASORT J541 YAK J501 KATAT V319 JOH ELLAM5 PANC.ELLAM.I15
    ASORT2 ASORT J541 YAK J501 KATAT V319 JOH WITTI4

PAYA.11 FAKES4 FAKES DCT WOGUS Q902 IGSOM Q811 GKN J167 JOH WITTI5 PANC.I07R

KSFO.10R CIITY3 ORRCA DCT FOLLY DCT COLOM KTVL.SWR.X18

KLAS.01R GIDGT2 VERKN Q88 SINRY DCT KASE.LINDZ.R15-Z

KASE.33 LINDZ1 JNC J15 RSK J44 NABOB J231 COTSA DSERT DCT KSEZ.COTSA.R03

KMCO.18L FSHUN3 PLUMR DCT CURSD DCT SABEE KRAKN1 KEYW.CHETS.R09

 

As a long time Navigraph subscriber - what do you people think about the new flight planner? I was looking at it last night and it does not give me much hope. Some the routes given in there don't even make sense or does not even comply with local regulations. I think I am going to stick to navigraph and Jeppesen for time being. 

It‘s unusable in the current state and even if all options *would* work correctly, there‘s still half of the functionality of Simbrief missing. No way I‘ll ever use that.

The only good thing it the LIDO charts, BUT these are missing all the SIDPT pages for the SIDs, so for example we have no departure route description and no initial climb altitudes.

It‘s basically like anything MSFS has done since 2020: A good-intentioned but half-baked implementation of functionality which in the end makes us have to use 3rd party apps anyway.

Hi all,

A few notes for the launch version of the site:

- Suggested routes and auto-route are programmatically generated shortest routes, favoring airway usage. We do not presently have access to a licensed real world route data source. However, for users who would like a shortest enroute path generated that option is available.

- We have noted a few bugs with the sid/star auto selection options and are working to enhance those. However, as we don't have a licensed real world data source you should still ensure they comply with local rules, if necessary. Changing the sid/star selection will not alter your enroute segment.

- Performance computations are currently simplified. The MSFS 2024 performance data (flight_performance.cfg) ecosystem is brand new and there is not yet a critical mass of developers utilizing this feature to provide planning performance data. Presently you can select a speed and a fuel burn and it will do basic trip calcs like you would find in GA avionics systems. However, once we get more data, we will update the planner with comprehensive performance calculations as you find in other tools.

- Some data (such as equipment for equipment string) is not available in the sim as there is no place to specify it. It's something that has been brought up with the greater sim and SDK teams to see if there can be a solution to that that would be officially supported.

- The web version doesn't communicate directly with the sim (so your payload won't magically show up on the web or anything like that). But, you can save your planned route on the web version, then load it in the sim EFB. You can also share your route with other people, super useful for group flights or bush trips, just by hitting the Copy Link button in Open Flight Plan, which will copy a link to the route to your clipboard. Anyone that opens that link will load that route into their browser, and can save it for themselves if they like.

Right now we think of the tool more as something like LNM (which we all love): something you plan your flight and route in but not something that necessarily plans your route for you. And, of course, above and beyond a tool like that you can view charts, get live and forecast weather layers (up to 18-24 hours), METARs, etc.

But, we're happy to get any and all feedback and we appreciate everyone who has tried the tool out so far!

-Matt

@MattNischan Wow, glad to know stuff will be improved over time. I am sure it will do a good job for us once it matures. All of us moving over to 2024 are going to have to learn things all over again. The way the menus and everything work has been changed. Its kinda like going to a grocery store that has done a reset....you know those word not allowed green beans are somewhere but they moved them! lol