PlanToSim - Complete Flight Plan Transfer Solution

Transfer flight plans from popular Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) apps directly into X-Plane and Microsoft Flight Simulator GPS/FMS units. This complete solution includes the PlanToSim iOS app, the PlanToSim X-Plane plugin, and the PlanToSim MSFS Bridge to seamlessly move your flight plans from planning to simulation.

System Overview

PlanToSim consists of an iOS app plus a free receiver that runs on your flight-sim PC:

1. PlanToSim (iOS App) - Convert and send flight plans from your iPhone/iPad
2. PlanToSim (X-Plane Plugin) - Receiver for X-Plane setups: Reality-XP GTN/GNS, TDS GTN Xi, X-Plane FMS, and FlyThisSim/SimAVIO
3. PlanToSim (MSFS Bridge) - Receiver for Microsoft Flight Simulator setups: MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024, and TDS GTN Xi

Which receiver do I need? If you fly X-Plane, install the plugin. If you fly MSFS, install the bridge. Both are free downloads from this repository's Releases page.

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, updated every AIRAC cycle via in-app Check for Updates
• EFB Integration - Import from ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, and FlyQ
• Full Procedure Support - Handles airports, fixes, airways, SIDs, STARs, approaches, and runways
• Multiple Export Formats - GTN (.gfp), GNS (.fpl XML), TDS (.gfp), X-Plane FMS (.fms), MSFS (.pln), and FlyThisSim slot XML
• Configurable Destinations - Toggle each output format independently
• Network Transfer - Send flight plans directly to the PlanToSim plugin or bridge via TCP
• Airway Expansion - Full airway support with automatic route expansion
• Clear Send Feedback - Delivery confirmations from the receiver, and a clear "not sent — check connection" message when the PC can't be reached

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 (native procedures)
• X-Plane FMS (.fms) - For X-Plane flight management systems
• MSFS (.pln) - Native flight plans for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024
• FlyThisSim slot XML - For FTS TouchTrainer / SimAVIO (GNS 530/430)

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
• Five Format Support - Saves to GTN, GNS, TDS, and X-Plane FMS folders, and delivers FlyThisSim/SimAVIO plans directly into a flight-plan slot
• 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

PlanToSim (MSFS Bridge)

A Windows system tray application that receives flight plans from the PlanToSim iOS app for use with TDS GTNXi in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Features:

• System Tray App - Runs quietly in the background on Windows
• TCP Server - Listens on port 5000 for incoming flight plans
• Multiple Destinations - Supports TDS GTNXi, MSFS 2020, and MSFS 2024
• Enhanced Protocol - Full waypoint manifest support for user waypoints
• Toast Notifications - Visual feedback when flight plans are received
• Configurable Paths - Set custom output folders per destination

Requirements:

• Windows 10/11
• .NET 8.0 Runtime (included in portable build)
• TDS GTNXi installed in MSFS (for TDS destination)

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 1b: Install PlanToSim MSFS Bridge (for MSFS users)

1. Download the bridge:

   • Download the latest PlanToSimBridge-X.X.X-Portable.zip from the Releases page
   • Extract the ZIP file to a folder of your choice (e.g., C:\PlanToSimBridge\)

2. Run the bridge:

   • Double-click PlanToSimBridge.exe
   • The app will appear in your system tray (near the clock)
   • Right-click the tray icon to access settings

3. Configure the bridge (optional):

   • Default TDS path: C:\ProgramData\TDS\GTNXi\FPL\
   • Right-click tray icon -> Settings to change paths
   • Enable "Start with Windows" for automatic startup

4. Firewall configuration:

   • Allow PlanToSimBridge.exe through Windows Firewall on port 5000
   • Both devices must be on the same network

Step 2: Install PlanToSim (iOS)

1. Download from App Store: PlanToSim on the App Store
2. Configure network settings:
   • Open the app settings
   • Enter your simulator PC'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)
• MSFS - Microsoft Flight Simulator native .pln files (pick your edition, 2020 or 2024)
• FTS - FlyThisSim TouchTrainer / SimAVIO flight-plan slots

Step 3: Export to Your Simulator PC

• The app automatically processes and sends the flight plan
• Flight plans are sent to your PC via TCP (port 5000) — the X-Plane plugin or the MSFS bridge receives them and puts each file where its navigator loads it
• You'll see progress indicators for importing, converting, and exporting, plus a delivery confirmation from the receiver
• If the PC can't be reached, the app tells you within seconds ("Flight Plan Not Sent") so you can check the connection and retry

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

Note: X-Plane restores departure/arrival procedures from a loaded plan only when the app's navigation-data cycle matches the simulator's — keep both on the current AIRAC (in the app: Settings → Navigation Data → Check for Updates).

For Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020 and 2024)

1. The bridge places the .pln file where your edition loads flight plans
2. MSFS 2020: open the World Map and load the plan (or it appears as the current plan)
3. MSFS 2024: open the EFB / flight planning screen and load the plan — departures, arrivals, and approaches are attached automatically
4. Resending a plan with the same name overwrites the previous file

For FlyThisSim TouchTrainer / SimAVIO

1. The plugin saves the plan into the lowest empty flight-plan slot (or a slot you pin in the app's settings) and the app confirms "plan saved to slot N"
2. SimAVIO reads its flight-plan store when its panel opens — start X-Plane, send the plan, then open SimAVIO (or close and reopen its panel)
3. Load the slot in the TouchTrainer GNS as usual

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, airways, SIDs, STARs, approaches, and runways
• TDS GTN Xi and MSFS: Procedures transfer natively (the navigator/simulator expands them)
• Reality-XP GTN/GNS, FlyThisSim, X-Plane FMS: Procedures and airways are expanded to individual waypoints where the format requires it
• 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 (the app shows "Flight Plan Not Sent"):

• Verify your simulator PC's IP address in the iOS app settings
• Make sure the receiver is running — the PlanToSim plugin (X-Plane must be running) or the MSFS bridge (tray icon visible)
• 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
  • MSFS - Microsoft Flight Simulator (with a 2020/2024 edition picker)
  • FTS - FlyThisSim TouchTrainer / SimAVIO (with an optional pinned slot)

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

All PC components are free and live on this repository's Releases page.

PlanToSim MSFS Bridge (Windows) — for MSFS users

Receives plans for MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024, and TDS GTN Xi:

• Download the latest PlanToSimBridge-*-Portable.zip from the Releases page (release bridge-v1.0.0 or newer)
• Extract to any folder and run PlanToSimBridge.exe
• The app runs in the system tray

PlanToSim Plugin (X-Plane) — for X-Plane users

Receives plans for Reality-XP GTN/GNS, TDS GTN Xi, X-Plane FMS, and FlyThisSim/SimAVIO:

• Download the latest plugin ZIP from the Releases page (release v1.0.6 or newer)

Navigation Data

Published here every AIRAC cycle as navdata-v{cycle} releases — the iOS app downloads updates itself via Settings → Navigation Data → Check for Updates; no manual download needed.

PlanToSim (iOS App)

Available now: PlanToSim on the App Store

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, FlyThisSim TouchTrainer/SimAVIO

MSFS Bridge (PlanToSimBridge)

• Simulator: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and/or 2024
• Operating System: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
• Supported destinations: MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024, TDS GTN Xi

iOS App (PlanToSim)

• iOS: Version 17.6 or later
• Device: iPhone or iPad
• Network: WiFi connection to same network as the simulator PC

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.