I followed a YouTube video which took me to several CSV files each with a large list of Helipads. The list was compiled using data from Open Street Maps and one other source I can't quite remember. I downloaded the CSV file, installed it into Little Navmap, and they all became visible on the map.

However, most of them cannot be specified as a departure or a destination. Is there some trick to this. Only some of them are at airports. A large number of them, worldwide, however, are not near airports.

Any tricks for getting the helipads to allow departure and destination settings? Am I missing something?

Thanks.

The userpoints are a special thing. LNM does not "know" if such a point is an airport or not.

But you can add arbitrary points to a flight plan anyway. You can right-click on a userpoint and select "Add/Append position to flight plan". LNM will create a user defined waypoint in the plan taking the user point name. You will even get an elevation profile if you have the GLOBE data installed.

You can click anywhere on the map and add the position to the plan. Below is a "plan" from a userpoint "Helipad" to a point on the map.

Alex

 

 

8 hours ago, albar965 said:

The userpoints are a special thing. LNM does not "know" if such a point is an airport or not.

But you can add arbitrary points to a flight plan anyway. You can right-click on a userpoint and select "Add/Append position to flight plan". LNM will create a user defined waypoint in the plan taking the user point name. You will even get an elevation profile if you have the GLOBE data installed.

You can click anywhere on the map and add the position to the plan. Below is a "plan" from a userpoint "Helipad" to a point on the map.

Alex

 

 

However, when I go to save it in MSFS 2024 format, it says something about departure and destination having to be airports. How do I get around that? I am trying to create MSFS 2024 flight plans for helicopters.

16 minutes ago, Rob G said:

However, when I go to save it in MSFS 2024 format, it says something about departure and destination having to be airports. How do I get around that? I am trying to create MSFS 2024 flight plans for helicopters.

That's the limitation I forgot to mention. While LNM can deal with such plans most simulators and add-ons can not.

You need an airport add-on to start from there.

Alex

50 minutes ago, albar965 said:

That's the limitation I forgot to mention. While LNM can deal with such plans most simulators and add-ons can not.

You need an airport add-on to start from there.

Alex

So, in other words, all those helipads I installed with CSV files are basically useless, unless they are specifically associated with an airport? Are you saying there is some simple way to turn a userpoint helipad into an airport? If so, can you please point me to the directions for that? Will an artifically created airport in LNM be accepted by MSFS 2024? Thanks.

Edited March 24Mar 24 by Rob G
typo

6 minutes ago, Rob G said:

So, in other words, all those helipads I installed with CSV files are basically useless, unless they are specifically associated with an airport? Are you saying there is some siomple way to turn a userpoint helipad into an airport? If so, can you please point me to the directions for that? Will an artifically created airport in LNM be accepted by MSFS 2024? Thanks.

The csv files may be useful, but you need to do a bit of work. Some RL helipads have an ICAO code, others don't. However, in MSFS 2024, I believe all helipads have a code, partly just made up. If you identified helipads for departure and destination, you can enter the corresponding codes manually into your flight plan.

But that's not all. Unfortunately, many helipads in MSFS 2024 are not corrected for altitude. I have started flights at helipads with a code and was deployed in the middle of a steep hill. In RL there is a flattened part there, but not in MSFS. So, if you want to make sure you will have an enjoyable flight, visit helipads first, especially those out in the country.

Peter

14 hours ago, Rob G said:

Are you saying there is some simple way to turn a userpoint helipad into an airport?

No. Either there is already a stock airport/helipad or an add-on providing one. I cannot change the limitation which is entirely simulator based. Most simulators cannot place you at an arbitrary coordinate.

You can move your aircraft to the position in the sim (dragging on the simulator map?) and still use LNM for flight following.

Alex