SimBrief has become the gold standard for flight planning in the flight simulation community. By integrating this powerful online tool with Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS), you can replace manual waypoint plotting with a fully automated, realistic dispatch process. This guide walks you through everything from account setup to advanced routing techniques, ensuring your simulated airline operations run smoothly.

What Is SimBrief and Why Use It?

SimBrief is a free, web-based flight planning system originally designed for real-world aviation enthusiasts and virtual pilots alike. It generates comprehensive flight plans that include route structure, fuel calculations, payload distribution, and weather-optimized altitudes. Unlike MSFS's basic in-game planner, SimBrief uses current real-world wind data, aircraft performance models, and navigation databases to create plans that closely mimic what a real dispatcher would produce.

Key features include:

  • Support for thousands of aircraft types with custom performance profiles
  • Automatic route generation based on preferred airways, SIDs, and STARs
  • Fuel planning with reserves, alternate airports, and ETOPS requirements
  • Export to MSFS (.pln format) and native file formats for payware addons
  • Integration with real-time weather and NOTAMs

Using SimBrief not only saves time but also adds a layer of realism that transforms routine flights into professional-grade operations.

Setting Up Your SimBrief Account and Pilot Profile

Account Registration

Go to SimBrief.com and click "Register." The process requires only a username, email, and password. After verification, you can log in to the main dashboard.

Configuring Your Pilot Profile

Click "My Account" then "Pilot/Addon Settings." Here you define your virtual airline identity, but the most critical section is Aircraft Profiles. Each aircraft you fly in MSFS should have its own profile. SimBrief includes default profiles for common addons, but you can customize them.

  • Select your aircraft type (e.g., A320neo, B737-800).
  • Enter maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), empty weight, and fuel capacity.
  • Specify climb and cruise speeds (e.g., Mach 0.78).
  • Set default passenger and cargo load options.

Accurate profiles ensure SimBrief calculates fuel burn and performance correctly. Many addon aircraft manufacturers (e.g., PMDG, Fenix, Asobo) provide recommended profile data on their forums.

Creating Your First Automated Flight Plan

From the dashboard, click "Create Flight." You will see a comprehensive form that you can fill in as quickly or as thoroughly as you like.

Basic Flight Details

  • Departure and Arrival: Enter ICAO codes (e.g., KLAX for Los Angeles). Use the route lookup tool to see available runways and preferred approaches.
  • Flight Number: Optional but helpful for logging.
  • Route: You can leave this blank and let SimBrief calculate the best route, or you can manually enter airways and waypoints (e.g., "DCT JFK J6 ARG R22 ROBIN DCT").
  • Altitude: Choose an initial cruise altitude or let SimBrief optimize based on aircraft weight, wind, and direction.

Aircraft & Fuel Configuration

Select your pre-configured aircraft profile. Then adjust:

  • Payload: Enter number of passengers or cargo weight. SimBrief automatically divides weight between front and rear cargo holds.
  • Fuel: Choose "Minimum" for required fuel plus reserves, or "Manual" to enter a specific block fuel.
  • Reserves Policy: Typically 45 minutes of holding fuel plus 5% contingency, but you can adjust.
  • Alternate Airport: If required, enter an alternate (e.g., LFPG for LFPG). SimBrief will calculate extra fuel for the alternate leg.

Weather and NOTAMs

Under the "Weather" tab, select "Real Weather (Live)" to pull current winds aloft from NOAA. Enabling "NOTAMs" will show any active restrictions along your route. This is essential for realistic planning, as real-world dispatchers rely on these.

Generating the Plan

Click "Generate Flight Plan." Within seconds, SimBrief returns a detailed document including:

  • Route in text format with waypoints, airways, distances, and estimated time en route (ETE).
  • Fuel summary: Trip fuel, reserve, alternate fuel, taxi fuel, and total block.
  • Weight and balance breakdown with takeoff and landing weights.
  • Alternate airport recommendation and an "Ops" sheet for crew briefing.

Review the plan to ensure everything looks correct. You can manually edit the route or fuel if needed.

Advanced Flight Planning Options

Cost Index and Optimal Altitude

SimBrief supports cost index (CI) modeling. A higher CI results in faster, less fuel-efficient cruise speeds, while a lower CI saves fuel. For long-haul flights, setting an appropriate CI can make your virtual flight more realistic. The tool also calculates the optimum altitude (OPT) and maximum altitude (MAX) based on weight and temperature.

ETOPS and Extended Range

For flights over oceans or remote areas, SimBrief can include ETOPS waypoints (e.g., on a North Atlantic track). Set your aircraft's ETOPS rating in the profile to enable this.

Route Customization

If you want to fly a specific approach or arrival, you can manually add a STAR or approach transition. For example, in the route field, type "KJFK/04L" to force departure from runway 04L.

Exporting Your Flight Plan to MSFS

Method 1: Download the .pln File

From the flight plan page, click the "Download" button and choose "MSFS (.pln)." Save the file to your computer.

  • Open MSFS and go to the World Map.
  • Click "Load" then "From File."
  • Navigate to your .pln file and select it.

MSFS will populate the route, waypoints, and departure/arrival airports. You may need to adjust the departure procedure (SID) if MSFS does not automatically assign one. The altitude filed in the .pln will become the initial cruise altitude.

Method 2: Import via SimBrief Downloader

SimBrief Downloader is a lightweight third-party tool that integrates directly with MSFS. Once installed, it can inject the flight plan into the sim's internal database in real time, even while MSFS is running. This method also works with many addon glass cockpits that read from the MSFS flight plan system.

  • Download and install SimBrief Downloader (available on flightsim.to).
  • Launch the tool and link it to your SimBrief account.
  • After generating a flight plan on the website, click "Send to Sim" in the Downloader.
  • In MSFS, the plan will appear in the World Map under "Flight Plan" as the most recent one.

Method 3: Direct Addon Panel Integration

Many payware aircraft (e.g., PMDG 737, Fenix A320) include a built-in SimBrief panel. After generating a plan, you can enter your SimBrief username and flight number into the aircraft's MCDU or FMC, and the route, fuel, and payload will be loaded automatically. Check your addon manual for specific steps.

PMDG 737-800

After creating a SimBrief plan, you can import it into the PMDG FMC by:

  • Going to the "LIDO" or "AIRAC" page (depending on your FMC version).
  • Selecting "ATC" then "SIMBRIEF IMPORT."
  • Enter your SimBrief username and the flight number. The FMC will populate the route, performance data, and fuel.

This method is seamless and preserves all computed altitudes and cost indices.

Fenix A320

The Fenix A320 uses a "SimBrief Integration" feature:

  • On the EFB (Electronic Flight Bag), open the "SimBrief" page.
  • Log in with your SimBrief account.
  • Select the flight plan from your recent plans and click "Load into MCDU."

The MCDU will receive the full route, including SIDs, STARs, and fuel weights.

Working Title Garmin G3000 / G5000 (in default aircraft)

For the CJ4 or TBM 930, download the .pln file and load it via the World Map. The Garmin units will read the waypoints, but you may need to manually enter the cruise altitude into the flight plan page.

Tips for Optimal Flight Planning

  • Update Your Navigation Database: Ensure your MSFS navigation data is current (e.g., using Navigraph). SimBrief uses the same AIRAC cycle, so plan consistency depends on matching databases.
  • Use Realistic Payloads: Empty weight and passenger numbers affect fuel burn. Enter realistic figures for the aircraft type.
  • Factor in Taxi Fuel: SimBrief includes a default taxi fuel (usually 100–200 kg). Adjust if your airport has long taxiways.
  • Save Frequently Used Routes: On your SimBrief dashboard, click "Fleet" to save route templates. This is great for your regular virtual airline routes.
  • Monitor Weather Updates: If your flight is delayed, regenerate the plan before pushback to get fresh winds and alternate data.
  • Use the "Briefing" Page: Print or screenshot the briefing sheet to have all METARs, NOTAMs, and fuel data at hand during the flight.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

.pln File Does Not Import Waypoints Correctly

This often occurs when the route includes airways that MSFS does not support (e.g., high-level airways like J103). SimBrief creates a "direct" .pln file that lists only waypoints, not airways. If you see missing waypoints, try regenerating with "Shorten Route" option to reduce the number of intermediate nodes.

The Aircraft in MSFS Does Not Follow the Planned Route

Check that you have activated the flight plan in the cockpit. In default aircraft, press "Flight Plan" on the MFD and ensure "NAV" mode is engaged. For addon aircraft, confirm that the FMC has accepted the route and that you have activated the departure procedure.

SimBrief Downloader Not Working

Ensure you have the latest version and that both MSFS and the Downloader are running as administrator. If the tool cannot communicate with MSFS, try restarting both the sim and the tool.

Fuel Calculation Seems Off

Verify your aircraft profile's fuel burn rates. You can compare SimBrief's trip fuel to real-world dispatch data by checking sites like FlightAware or consulting community forums for your specific addon.

Conclusion

Automated flight planning with SimBrief elevates MSFS from a casual hobby to a deeply realistic simulation of airline operations. By following the steps in this guide, you can generate professional-grade flight plans in minutes, integrate them seamlessly with your favorite aircraft, and focus on the joy of flying rather than the tedium of manual calculations. Whether you are flying a short-haul regional jet or a long-haul widebody, SimBrief gives you the tools to plan like a real dispatcher. Start exploring its capabilities today and watch your virtual airline efficiency soar.