PlanToSim - Complete Flight Plan Transfer Solution

Transfer flight plans from popular Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) apps directly into X-Plane flight simulator GPS/FMS units. This complete solution includes both the PlanToSim iOS app and the PlanToSim X-Plane plugin to seamlessly move your flight plans from planning to simulation for Reality-XP GTN/GNS navigators, TDS GTN Xi navigators, and X-Plane FMS systems.

System Overview

PlanToSim consists of two components that work together:

1. PlanToSim (iOS App) - Create, convert, and export flight plans from your iPhone/iPad
2. PlanToSim (X-Plane Plugin) - Receive flight plans and install them in your simulator

Components

PlanToSim (iOS App)

A comprehensive flight planning app that supports worldwide navigation data and multiple export formats.

Features:

• Global Navigation Data - Uses pre-processed FAA CIFP, NASR and OurAirports data
• EFB Integration - Import from ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, and FlyQ
• Basic Route Processing - Handles airports, fixes, and airways (no SIDs/STARs/runways)
• Multiple Export Formats - Supports GTN (.gfp), GNS (.fpl XML), X-Plane FMS (.fms), and TDS (.gfp)
• Configurable Destinations - Toggle between GTN, GNS, X-Plane FMS, and TDS output formats
• Network Transfer - Send flight plans directly to X-Plane plugin via TCP
• Airway Expansion - Full airway support with automatic route expansion

Supported Export Formats:

• GTN (.gfp) - For Reality-XP GTN navigators
• GNS (.fpl XML) - For Reality-XP GNS navigators
• TDS (.gfp) - For TDS GTN Xi navigators
• X-Plane FMS (.fms) - For X-Plane flight management systems

PlanToSim (X-Plane Plugin)

A plugin for X-Plane 11/12 that receives flight plans from the PlanToSim iOS app and automatically saves them to the correct simulator directories.

Features:

• TCP Server - Listens on port 5000 for incoming flight plans from iOS app
• Four Format Support - Saves to GTN, GNS, TDS, and X-Plane FMS folders
• Configurable Paths - Set custom folder paths for each GPS/FMS type
• Automatic Directory Creation - Creates necessary directories if they don't exist
• Persistent Settings - Configuration saved across X-Plane sessions

Installation Guide

Step 1: Install PlanToSim Plugin (X-Plane)

1. Download the plugin:

   • Download the latest PlanToSim plugin from the Releases page
   • Extract the ZIP file

2. Install the plugin:

   • Close X-Plane if it's running
   • Copy the PlanToSim folder to your X-Plane plugins directory:

     X-Plane/Resources/plugins/PlanToSim/
     

3. Configure the plugin:

   • Start X-Plane
   • Go to Plugins > PlanToSim
   • The plugin comes with default folder paths for each GPS/FMS type:
     • GTN Folder: C:\ProgramData\Garmin\Trainers\Databases\FPLN
     • GNS Folder: C:\ProgramData\Garmin\GNS Trainer Data\GNS\FPL
     • TDS Folder: C:\ProgramData\TDS\GTNXi\FPL
     • X-Plane FMS Folder: [X-Plane Directory]\Output\FMS Plans
   • Only change these paths if you've installed your GPS/FMS software in a different location
   • Use the plugin dropdown menu and file selector to set custom folder paths if needed

Step 2: Install PlanToSim (iOS)

1. Download from App Store: [Link coming soon]
2. Configure network settings:
   • Open the app settings
   • Enter your X-Plane computer's IP address
   • The default port (5000) should work in most cases

Usage Instructions

Step 1: Import Flight Plan from EFB

Choose your Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and follow the specific instructions:

ForeFlight

1. Open your flight plan in ForeFlight
2. At the bottom of the flight plan window, tap the share icon
3. Select "SHARE FPL FILE"
4. Choose "PlanToSim" from the app list
5. After the plan is sent, you may return to ForeFlight

Garmin Pilot

1. Open your flight plan in Garmin Pilot
2. In the flight planning screen, tap the share icon at the bottom left
3. Select "Print Navlog"
4. Tap the share icon at the top right
5. Choose "PlanToSim" from the app list
6. After the plan is sent, you may return to Garmin Pilot

FlyQ+ EFB

1. Open your flight plan in FlyQ+ EFB
2. In the Plans section, tap the share icon at the top right
3. Select "PRINT"
4. Tap the share icon at the top
5. Choose "PlanToSim" from the app list
6. After the plan is sent, you may return to FlyQ+ EFB

Step 2: Configure Export Destinations

In the PlanToSim app settings, toggle which flight plan formats you want to export:

• GTN - Reality-XP GTN navigators (.gfp files)
• GNS - Reality-XP GNS navigators (.fpl XML files)
• TDS - TDS GTN Xi navigators (.gfp files)
• X-Plane FMS - X-Plane flight management systems (.fms files)

Step 3: Export to X-Plane

• The app automatically processes and sends the flight plan
• Flight plans are sent to your X-Plane computer via TCP (port 5000)
• You'll see progress indicators for importing, converting, and exporting

Step 4: Import Flight Plan in GPS Navigator

After flight plans are sent to the appropriate folders, you must use your navigator's instructions to import the flight plans:

For GNS Navigators (Reality-XP and X-Plane GNS 430/530)

1. Press FPL button
2. Use the small knob to scroll right to the import page
3. The import page will display available flight plans
4. The first plan should be highlighted; if not, press the center button to select and highlight
5. Use the small knob to scroll through available flight plans
6. Press ENTER to select your desired flight plan
7. Choose the flight plan slot number (use small knob to change if desired)
8. Press ENTER to import
9. Select "DONE" when complete and press ENTER
10. Use the big knob to scroll back to import more plans, or:
    • Press center button to unhighlight/deselect
    • Press FPL again to exit
    • Press CLR or press and hold CLR depending on your preference

Note: These procedures work identically for both Reality-XP GNS trainers and X-Plane's built-in GNS units.

For GTN Navigators (Reality-XP GTN 650/750)

1. Select HOME
2. Select FLIGHT PLAN
3. Press MENU
4. Select CATALOG
5. Press MENU
6. Select IMPORT
7. Choose your flight plan (flight plan names will show destination and departure)
8. You then have the option to STORE or ACTIVATE the flight plan

For TDS GTN Xi Navigators

1. Follow similar steps as GTN navigators above
2. Navigate to the flight plan catalog
3. Import your flight plan from the available list
4. Choose to store or activate as needed

For X-Plane FMS

1. Open your aircraft's flight management system
2. Navigate to the flight plan section
3. Load the flight plan from the FMS plans directory
4. Follow your specific aircraft's FMS procedures for activation

Supported Aircraft and GPS Units

Reality-XP GTN Series

• GTN 650/750 touchscreen units
• Flight plans saved as .gfp files
• Supports full airway routing - receives complete route with airways intact

TDS GTN Series

• TDS GTN 650Xi/750Xi navigators
• Flight plans saved as .gfp files
• Supports full airway routing - receives complete route with airways intact

GNS Series (Reality-XP and X-Plane)

• GNS 430/530 units
• Flight plans saved as .fpl XML files
• Compatible with Reality-XP GNS trainers and X-Plane built-in GNS units
• Both versions use identical import procedures
• Point-to-point routing only - airways are expanded to individual waypoints

X-Plane Flight Management Systems

• Native X-Plane FMS
• Saved as .fms files in X-Plane format
• Works with default X-Plane aircraft and most third-party aircraft
• Point-to-point routing only - airways are expanded to individual waypoints

Navigation Data Sources

PlanToSim uses pre-processed navigation data from multiple sources:

• United States: Mostly free FAA data sources (CIFP, NASR)
• Rest of World: OurAirports database

Important: This data is for simulation purposes only - do not use for navigation and may not be complete.

Supported Import Sources

PlanToSim can import flight plans from:

• ForeFlight
• Garmin Pilot
• FlyQ

Current Processing Capabilities:

• Processes airports, fixes, and airways
• Does not process runways, SIDs, or STARs
• GTN navigators: Support full airway routing
• GNS and X-Plane FMS: Routes are converted to point-to-point waypoints only
• Database compatibility: If your navigator's database is out of date, some fixes may not match and you may need to manually edit or remove fixes

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

Flight plans not transferring:

• Verify your X-Plane computer's IP address in the iOS app
• Check that port 5000 isn't blocked by your firewall
• Ensure both devices are on the same network

Plugin not appearing in X-Plane:

• Verify the plugin is in the correct directory
• Check X-Plane's Log.txt file for error messages

Flight Plan Issues

Flight plan not appearing in GPS:

• Verify the folder paths are correctly configured in the X-Plane plugin
• Check X-Plane's Log.txt file for any error messages from the plugin
• Ensure your GPS/FMS software is looking in the correct folder for flight plans
• Some aircraft may use custom paths - check aircraft documentation

Missing or unrecognized waypoints:

• The app uses current navigation data, but your GPS/FMS may have an older database
• If your navigator's database is out of date, some fixes may not be recognized
• Solution: Manually edit the flight plan in your navigator to remove or replace unrecognized waypoints
• Some very recent navigation data changes may not be reflected immediately
• Custom or local waypoints may not be available

Advanced Configuration

Flight Plan Destination Toggles

Both the iOS app and X-Plane plugin allow you to control which flight plan formats are generated and received:

In the iOS App:

• Go to Settings within the app
• Toggle on/off the formats you want to export:
  • GTN - Reality-XP GTN navigators
  • GNS - Reality-XP GNS navigators
  • TDS - TDS GTN Xi navigators
  • X-Plane FMS - X-Plane flight management systems

In the X-Plane Plugin:

• No toggles needed - the plugin receives and saves all formats sent by the app
• Simply configure the correct folder paths for each GPS/FMS type
• The app controls which formats are sent based on your iOS app settings

Note: The plugin will save any formats sent by the app to the configured folders.

Custom Installation Paths

If you're using non-standard installations:

1. GTN Custom Path: Set via plugin menu "Select GTN Flight Plan Folder"
2. GNS Custom Path: Set via plugin menu "Select GNS Flight Plan Folder"
3. TDS Custom Path: Set via plugin menu "Select TDS Flight Plan Folder"
4. X-Plane FMS Custom Path: Set via plugin menu "Select X-Plane FMS Flight Plan Folder"

Network Configuration

• Default Port: 5000
• Protocol: TCP
• Firewall: Ensure port 5000 is open for incoming connections

Downloads

PlanToSim Plugin (X-Plane)

Download the latest version from the Releases page.

PlanToSim (iOS App)

[App Store link will be added here]

Requirements

X-Plane Plugin (PlanToSim)

• X-Plane: Version 11 or 12 (Windows only)
• Operating System: Windows (64-bit) - Windows only
• Supported GPS: Reality-XP GTN/GNS, TDS GTN Xi, X-Plane FMS

iOS App (PlanToSim)

• iOS: Version 13.0 or later
• Device: iPhone or iPad
• Network: WiFi connection to same network as X-Plane computer

Support and Documentation

• Updates: Check releases page for latest versions
• Documentation: Complete setup and usage instructions provided below
• Downloads: Plugin and app downloads available in the releases section

About This Repository

This repository serves as the official distribution point for PlanToSim components and provides comprehensive setup and usage instructions.

Repository Purpose:

• Download location for the PlanToSim X-Plane plugin
• Complete installation and configuration instructions
• Usage guides and troubleshooting information
• Version release information

License

This software is provided as-is. Use at your own risk.

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Transform your flight planning workflow with seamless EFB-to-simulator integration.