Creating a flight plan is a snip. Through a series of pop up windows, the user is invited to choose the starting and finishing airfield, whether the flight will take place in VFR or IFR conditions, the height at which they wish to cruise and the the cruise throttle setting. The user can also set up intermediate waypoints, which may be other airfields or navigation aids. The final selection to be made is the weather to be encountered at the starting airfield, en route and at the destination. When the user has set up their route, it is displayed on a wireframe map which can expand to display the entire United States or zoom in to show the relation of the flight plan to a particular nav aid.
Buttons allow the user to switch on or off the display of airfields, nav aids and other features.
For those who wish to just do a little flying without a formal light plan, It is possible to place your aircraft anywhere in the scenary area using a similar map. The benefit of creating a flight plan is that you will be guided by air traffic control all the way from the start of your flight to the destination and that, should you so choose, the radios will be automatically tuned for you . Tuning the COM radio to the appropriate frequency will initiate an exchange with the appropriate controller. Unless you're following a flight plan and are passing over an intermediate way point, this request will be for landing clearance so if you have other plans, you will need to make another request via a somewhat limited options box. If you're the type who gets nervous when left alone for any length of time, fear not for at the click of a menu item you can have a silicon chum to accompany you on your flights.