For flight simulation enthusiasts and aspiring pilots, integrating real-world aeronautical charts into Aerofly FS transforms a casual flight sim into a powerful training platform. Real charts teach you to interpret airspace boundaries, navigate using navaids, and follow published procedures—skills that carry over directly to actual flying. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to sourcing, preparing, and displaying real aeronautical charts within Aerofly FS, covering everything from basic overlays to advanced custom panel creation. Whether you are a student pilot working on cross-country planning or a simulation veteran seeking deeper immersion, these techniques will elevate your experience.

Why Real-World Charts Matter in Aerofly FS

Simulated aircraft handle beautifully, but the real challenge of flight lies in navigation and airspace awareness. Using authentic charts in Aerofly FS bridges the gap between simulation and reality. Student pilots can rehearse VFR sectional interpretation, IFR approach plate procedures, and airport diagram usage without the cost and pressure of a real cockpit. For experienced simmers, charts add a layer of purpose to every flight—you plan actual routes, avoid controlled airspace, and execute real-world arrival procedures. The result is improved situational awareness, better scan discipline, and a deeper understanding of the airspace system you fly through.

Moreover, many flight schools now use Aerofly FS as a procedural trainer. Incorporating the same charts a student uses in their studies (e.g., FAA terminal procedures or ICAO plates) ensures consistency. This practice reinforces real-world decision-making, such as identifying special-use airspace, reading obstruction notes, and calculating performance based on charted density altitude data. The feedback from using live charts also exposes mismatches between simulator terrain and real-world chart features, teaching critical evaluation skills.

Understanding the Types of Aeronautical Charts

Before adding charts to Aerofly FS, you need to know which chart serves each phase of flight. Different chart types provide distinct information, and using the wrong one can lead to confusion or incomplete training.

VFR Sectional Charts

Sectional charts (e.g., US Sectionals) depict terrain, obstructions, airspace classes, radio frequencies, and visual checkpoints. They are essential for learning visual navigation and understanding controlled/uncontrolled airspace boundaries. In Aerofly FS, a sectional overlay lets you fly cross-country while referencing actual visual landmarks and airspace limits.

IFR Enroute Charts

Low and high altitude enroute charts provide airway routes, NAVAID frequencies, and waypoints. They are the core of instrument navigation. Using these in Aerofly FS helps you practice filing and flying IFR flight plans, understand MEA and MOCA values, and interpret intersection names.

Terminal Procedures (STARs, SIDs, and Approach Plates)

Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs), Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs), and instrument approach plates (ILS, VOR, NDB, RNAV) itemize step-by-step altitude and course instructions. Overlaying these in Aerofly FS allows you to fly complete instrument procedures from departure to missed approach, replicating real-world cockpit workflow.

Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) and Diagrams

Airport diagrams show runways, taxiways, parking spots, and hot spots. Having a diagram displayed during ground operations reduces taxi errors and improves airport familiarity, especially for complex airports like KLAX or EGLL.

Sourcing Legitimate, Updated Charts

Using current charts is critical for accurate training. Airspace and frequencies change regularly, so always use official or up-to-date sources.

  • FAA (United States): Download free digital charts from the FAA Aeronautical Navigation Services. They provide sectional, enroute, and terminal procedures in PDF, georeferenced TIFF, or raster formats.
  • SkyVector: A popular web-based tool that delivers integrated charts worldwide. SkyVector allows you to view and download screenshots, but note that direct embedding in Aerofly FS works best with flat image files.
  • Jeppesen: Commercial charts used by professional pilots. Subscribers can download high-resolution images. Jeppesen charts include additional procedural notes and are often more detailed than government charts.
  • Navigraph (Worldwide): For users outside the US, Navigraph offers charts for nearly every region. Their data is updated every 28 days, matching the real AIRAC cycle.
  • ICAO/Eurocontrol: Many national aviation authorities provide free digital AIPs in PDF format—these can be converted to images for Aerofly FS use.

Preparing Charts for Aerofly FS

Once you have chart files, they need to be in a format compatible with Aerofly FS’s overlay system. The sim expects standard image formats—typically PNG or JPEG—with reasonable dimensions to avoid lag.

  • Format: Convert PDFs to PNG using image editors (e.g., GIMP, Photoshop). Save as high-quality JPEG if file size is a concern, but PNG is preferred for sharp text.
  • Resolution: A 300 DPI chart works well, but you may downscale to 150 DPI for large sectional charts to keep file sizes under 20 MB. Test different resolutions for readability in the sim.
  • Cropping: Focus on a specific airport or region instead of loading an entire country chart. For example, crop to a 30 nm radius around your departure/destination airport. Use tools like IrfanView or XnConvert for batch cropping.
  • Naming: Use descriptive names like KORD_ILS_28L_2025_01.png to identify chart type and date. Avoid special characters.

Methods to Display Charts During Flight

Aerofly FS does not natively support a moving map overlay like some other sims, but there are several effective workarounds. Choose the method that best matches your hardware and preferences.

In-Sim Overlay via Custom Panels

This method places a static image inside the cockpit as a secondary instrument or a popup window. It requires creating a custom .tmd file for the aircraft or using the simulator's existing panel editing capabilities.

  1. Locate the aircraft panel folder: Go to Documents/Aerofly FS 4/aircraft/<aircraft folder>/panel/. If the folder has no panel textures, you can create a new subfolder called chart_overlay.
  2. Add the chart image: Copy your prepared PNG file into this folder.
  3. Create an XML entry: Edit the panel.cfg or add a custom texture definition in the aircraft’s .tmb file. Example: a new panel element with type="texture" pointing to your image. Detailed instructions are available on the Aerofly Community Forum.
  4. Assign a keybinding (optional): Use the sim's keyboard shortcuts to toggle the overlay on/off. You can map a key to show a specific panel view.
  5. Adjust transparency: In the panel config, set an alpha value (e.g., 0.7) so your chart remains readable without obscuring the outside view.

Note: This method works best for approach plates and airport diagrams that stay in view. For sectional charts that you need to pan, consider using an external device instead.

External Device Setup (Second Monitor, Tablet, or Phone)

Using a separate screen is the most flexible approach. You can display full-screen charts, zoom/pan freely, and keep them always visible—no in-sim modding required.

  • Second monitor: Simply open the chart image in a photo viewer. Place it on your second screen. For efficient switching, use a utility like DisplayFusion to create hotkeys for different chart sets.
  • Tablet via web browser or app: Use SkyVector directly on a tablet. Pair it with the SkyVector Predict feature for a moving map. Alternatively, apps like ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot allow you to stream position from Aerofly FS via SimConnect (requires third-party plugin).
  • Phone as a secondary screen: Install Spacedesk to extend your PC desktop to a phone, then run the chart viewer there. Wireless setups keep your cockpit free of cables.

Virtual Cockpit Integration with Moving Map Apps

Advanced users can integrate Aerofly FS with external moving map software. For example, Little Navmap (free) can connect via UDP to display your aircraft position over a sectional chart. Export the chart as an image background in Little Navmap, then run both programs on the same PC. This gives you a real-time update of your position relative to airspace boundaries—an excellent training tool for VFR navigation.

Advanced Tips for Realistic Navigation Practice

Here are ways to use charts for more than just scenery:

  • Read airspace boundaries: On sectional charts, identify Class B, C, D, and E airspace. Before each flight in Aerofly FS, plan a route that avoids controlled space without prior clearance—this exercises your real-world airspace knowledge.
  • Identify obstacles: Charts show towers, smoke stacks, and ridges. When flying VFR in the sim, match obstacles on the chart with objects on the terrain to sharpen your visual references.
  • Use NAVAID frequencies: VOR and NDB frequencies on charts are real. Tune them in Aerofly FS to practice instrument approaches and radial intercepts. Combine the chart’s course arrows with the sim’s CDI for realistic training.
  • Plan a cross-country: Pick two airports, obtain the sectional, and calculate headings, distances, and fuel. Fly the entire route in Aerofly FS while following the chart. Use the external monitor method to have the chart visible throughout.
  • Practice SIDs and STARs: Load an approach plate for a major airport. Fly the full procedure (departure, enroute, arrival, approach, missed approach) using the chart as your only guidance. This is excellent IFR practice.
  • Workload management: Toggle the chart overlay on/off to simulate the scan between instruments and navigational references. Time yourself on how long it takes to find your next waypoint on the chart.

Creating Custom Chart Panels in Aerofly FS

For users comfortable with XML editing, building a dedicated chart panel inside an aircraft cockpit is the most immersive method. This approach turns your chart into a functional instrument you can glance at without breaking immersion.

Steps to build a custom panel:

  1. Create a new texture element: In the aircraft's panel.cfg (inside the panel/ folder), define a new texture polygon. Example: 
    [Texture.Chart1]
Texture = my_chart.png
Size = 0.15, 0.08
Position = 0.5, 0.02
Transparent = 0.7
  2. Map to a 3D position: In the .tmb file, add a mesh for the chart display. Use a flat plane with the texture assigned. Position it on the glareshield, side panel, or yoke mount.
  3. Make it interactive (optional): Add a clickable region that shows an enlarged version when clicked. This requires more complex scripting but is possible using Lua in Aerofly FS 4’s new panel system.
  4. Link to aircraft variables: Some users have created panels that display the currently active approach plate based on the aircraft’s NAV1 frequency. This is advanced but highly rewarding—consult the Aerofly FS 4 Lua Scripting forum for examples.

If you lack the time for custom modifications, third-party aircraft from the Aerofly Marketplace sometimes include a tablet or EFB that can display images. Simply drop your charts into the tablet’s media folder; the aircraft developer usually documents which folder to use.

Conclusion

Incorporating real-world aeronautical charts into Aerofly FS is a rewarding way to turn simulation time into genuine flight training. By using appropriate chart types, sourcing official updates, preparing clean image files, and choosing the right display method—whether in-sim overlay, external monitor, or dedicated tablet—you can practice every phase of real-world navigation. The result is a flight experience that not only looks authentic but teaches you to read and interpret the same information pilots rely on every day.

Start with one simple approach: load a VFR sectional for your local airport on a second screen and fly a short cross-country. As you become comfortable, add instrument plates and enroute charts. The effort you invest in setting up this workflow will reward you with far richer flights and measurable improvement in your aeronautical knowledge. Dive into the Aerofly community forums and share your custom panel setups—you may discover even more clever integrations.

Remember: always cross-check chart validity before using them for actual flight simulation training that replicates instructor-led syllabus items. Charts used here should be kept up to date with the current AIRAC cycle.