Welcome
PlanToSim seamlessly converts Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) flight plans to formats compatible with Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, and popular flight simulation GPS navigators.
📱 Import
ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, FlyQ EFB
🎮 Export
MSFS 2020/2024, X-Plane FMS, TDS GTN Xi, Reality-XP GTN/GNS, FlyThisSim
🔒 Private
All processing on your device
🚀 Fast
Instant conversion and transfer
Get the Free PC Receiver
PlanToSim sends plans over your local network to a small free receiver on your flight-sim PC. Install the one that matches your simulator:
- Flying X-Plane? Install the PlanToSim X-Plane Plugin — receives plans for Reality-XP GTN/GNS, TDS GTN Xi, X-Plane FMS, and FlyThisSim/SimAVIO.
- Flying Microsoft Flight Simulator? Install the PlanToSim MSFS Bridge — receives plans for MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024, and TDS GTN Xi.
Download Plugin & Bridge (GitHub Releases)
Install instructions for both are on the PlanToSim GitHub page.
How to Use PlanToSim
Step 1: Configure Settings
- Open PlanToSim
- Tap the Settings icon (gear) in the top left
- Enter your PC's IP Address (e.g., 192.168.1.100) — the computer running the PlanToSim plugin or bridge
- Toggle on the navigator formats you want to export:
- Reality-XP GTN - For Reality-XP GTN 750/650
- TDS GTN - For TDS GTN Xi
- Reality-XP GNS - For Reality-XP GNS 530/430
- X-Plane FMS - For X-Plane native FMS
- MSFS - For Microsoft Flight Simulator (pick your edition: 2020 or 2024)
- FTS - For FlyThisSim TouchTrainer / SimAVIO
- Choose approach conversion preferences
- Tap Done
Step 2: Import Flight Plan
From ForeFlight:
- Open your flight plan in ForeFlight
- Tap the Share button
- Select PlanToSim from the share sheet
From Garmin Pilot (PDF):
- Export your flight plan as PDF
- Open the PDF in Files app
- Long-press the PDF and select Share → PlanToSim
Step 3: Conversion Happens Automatically
PlanToSim will:
- Process your flight plan using OCR (for PDFs) or direct parsing (for .fpl files)
- Convert to your selected navigator formats
- Transfer files to the PlanToSim plugin or bridge on your PC
- Show "Flight Plan Converted!" when complete — or "Flight Plan Not Sent" within seconds if your PC can't be reached, so you can check the connection and retry
Step 4: Fly!
Your flight plan is now ready in your simulator. MSFS plans appear in the World Map (2020) or EFB flight planning screen (2024) with departures, arrivals, and approaches attached. For FlyThisSim, send the plan before opening the SimAVIO panel — it reads its flight-plan slots when the panel opens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which EFB apps are supported?
A: PlanToSim supports:
- ForeFlight - .fpl XML files
- Garmin Pilot - PDF exports with OCR
- FlyQ EFB - PDF exports with OCR
Q: Which GPS navigator formats can I export?
A: PlanToSim supports:
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 & 2024 - Native flight plans (.pln)
- TDS GTN Xi - Native procedure format (.gfp)
- Reality-XP GTN 750/650 - Fix-to-fix expansion (.gfp)
- Reality-XP GNS 530/430 - XML format (.fpl)
- X-Plane FMS - Native FMS format (.fms)
- FlyThisSim TouchTrainer / SimAVIO - Direct delivery into a flight-plan slot
Q: How do I connect to my simulator?
A:
- Install the free receiver on your simulator PC: the PlanToSim plugin for X-Plane or the PlanToSim bridge for MSFS (downloads)
- Ensure the receiver is running (X-Plane started, or the bridge tray icon visible)
- Ensure your iPad/iPhone and the PC are on the same Wi-Fi network
- Find your PC's IP address:
- Mac: System Preferences → Network
- Windows: Command Prompt →
ipconfig
- Enter this IP address in PlanToSim Settings
- Grant local network permission when iOS asks
Q: What navigation data does PlanToSim use?
A: PlanToSim includes a comprehensive navigation database:
- 77,000+ navigation fixes (waypoints)
- 55,000+ airports with ICAO identifiers
- 1,200+ airways (high and low altitude)
- 460+ SIDs (Standard Instrument Departures)
- 270+ STARs (Standard Terminal Arrival Routes)
- 1,100+ instrument approaches
Data sources: FAA CIFP, FAA NASR, OurAirports
The database updates every 28-day AIRAC cycle — use Settings → Navigation Data → Check for Updates in the app. Tip: X-Plane restores departure/arrival procedures from a loaded plan only when the app's data cycle matches the simulator's, so keep both current.
Important: For simulation use only - not for real-world navigation.
Q: Does PlanToSim collect my data?
A: No! PlanToSim:
- Does not collect any personal information
- Does not track usage or analytics
- Processes everything locally on your device
- Only connects to your simulator PC on the local network (plus GitHub for optional navigation-data updates)
- Has no cloud services or external servers
See our Privacy Policy for complete details.
Q: What if the local network permission doesn't appear?
A: Try these solutions:
- Delete PlanToSim and reinstall from App Store
- Reset permissions: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Reset Location & Privacy
- Ensure you're on iOS 14 or later
Q: Do I need anything on my PC?
A: Yes — one free receiver, matched to your simulator: the PlanToSim X-Plane plugin (X-Plane, Reality-XP GTN/GNS, TDS, FlyThisSim) or the PlanToSim MSFS Bridge (MSFS 2020/2024, TDS). Both are free from the PlanToSim releases page. The app converts flight plans without a receiver, but needs one as the destination to deliver them to your simulator.
Q: What iOS version do I need?
A: PlanToSim requires iOS 17.6 or later.
Troubleshooting
Issue: "Coordinate not found for waypoint"
Solution: This usually means the waypoint isn't in the navigation database. This can happen with:
- Custom user waypoints - ForeFlight custom waypoints are supported
- Very new waypoints not yet in the FAA CIFP data
- International waypoints outside the FAA database
Issue: OCR misreading waypoint names
Solution: PlanToSim includes advanced OCR with 17,000+ aviation terms. If misreading occurs:
- Try exporting from ForeFlight (.fpl) instead of PDF for more accurate results
- Ensure PDF quality is high (not scanned or low resolution)
Issue: "Flight Plan Not Sent" / plan not appearing in the simulator
Solution: Check:
- The receiver is running before sending — X-Plane with the PlanToSim plugin, or the PlanToSim bridge (tray icon) for MSFS
- IP address in Settings is correct
- iPhone/iPad and the simulator PC are on same Wi-Fi network
- Firewall isn't blocking port 5000
- Local network permission was granted to PlanToSim
- Then tap Retry in the app
Issue: App crashes or doesn't respond
Solution:
- Force quit the app (swipe up from app switcher)
- Restart your iPhone/iPad
- Update to the latest version from App Store
- If problem persists, contact support