Creating IFR Flight Plans using Perplexity and Little NAV Maps
- Robert Hopkins
- Jun 28
- 3 min read
How to efficiently create any IFR flight plan, using Little NAV Maps and exporting the results to X-Plane or MSFS.
Perplexity.AI (copy and paste this into Perplexity): Tell me step-by-step how to create an IFR flight plan in Little Navmap from BIKF to EIDW, including:
* Setting departure and destination airports
* Choosing cruise altitude
* Selecting appropriate SID and STAR procedures (with transitions)
* Picking the best ILS runway at the destination based on current METAR wind
* Adding the approach procedure
* Calculating and reviewing the route
* Exporting the plan for use in the ToLiss A321 in X-Plane
Please include all necessary details for each step, including how to find and insert SIDs, STARs, transitions, and ILS approaches, and how to save the plan in the correct format and location for the ToLiss A321.
Response:
Step-by-Step: Creating an IFR Flight Plan in Little Navmap from BIKF to EIDW for Airbus ToLiss A321
1. Set Departure and Destination Airports
In Little Navmap, use the search bar to find BIKF (Keflavik).
Right-click BIKF on the map or in the airport list and select Set as Flight Plan Departure.
Search for EIDW (Dublin).
Right-click EIDW and select Set as Flight Plan Destination.
2. Choose Cruise Altitude
In the flight plan window (usually on the left), set your cruise altitude to 38,000 feet (FL380).
You can do this by clicking on the altitude field next to your route and entering the value.
3. Select SID (Standard Instrument Departure) at BIKF
Right-click BIKF and select Show Departure Procedures.
Review the available SIDs. Choose one that matches your intended initial route direction and the active runway based on current wind (check the METAR for BIKF).
Right-click the chosen SID and select Insert into Flight Plan.
4. Build the Enroute Segment
Click the Calculate Route button to let Little Navmap generate the enroute waypoints between BIKF and EIDW, or manually add preferred airways and waypoints.
Review the route for efficiency and realism.
5. Select STAR (Standard Terminal Arrival Route) and Transition at EIDW
Right-click EIDW and select Show Arrival Procedures.
Check the current METAR for EIDW to determine the likely active runway (choose the STAR that leads to the best ILS runway based on wind).
Select the STAR and appropriate transition that aligns with your enroute segment and intended arrival runway.
Right-click the STAR and select Insert into Flight Plan.
6. Choose the Best ILS Runway at EIDW (Based on METAR)
Obtain the latest METAR for EIDW (Dublin) to determine wind direction and speed.
Select the ILS runway most aligned into the wind (e.g., if winds are from the west, choose ILS 28L/R; from the east, choose ILS 10L/R).
7. Add the Approach Procedure
In the procedures window for EIDW, select the ILS approach for your chosen runway.
If prompted, select the appropriate transition that matches your STAR.
Right-click the approach and select Insert into Flight Plan.
8. Calculate and Review the Route
Click Flight Plan > Calculate Flight Plan to ensure all segments (SID, enroute, STAR, approach) are connected.
Review the flight plan for logical transitions and altitude restrictions.
Use the elevation profile to check for any altitude conflicts or discontinuities.
9. Export the Plan for ToLiss A321 in X-Plane
Go to File > Export Flight Plan As > X-Plane FMS 11 (.fms).
Save the file as BIKF-EIDW.fms in the folder:X-Plane/Output/FMS plans
This ensures the ToLiss A321 MCDU can read and load the plan using to CO-Route inout field in the INT page of the MCDU. Type it as BIKF-EIDW and then press the Left Page-1 input.
Additional Tips
METAR Access: Use Little Navmap’s built-in weather fetch or an external source to get the latest METAR for both BIKF and EIDW.
SID/STAR/Approach Details: You can view charts and procedure details in Little Navmap or a tool like Navigraph for cross-checking.
MCDU Loading: In the ToLiss A321, use the MCDU’s "CO RTE" or "Load FP" feature and enter the filename (without .fms) to load the plan.
This workflow ensures a realistic, weather-appropriate IFR plan for your ToLiss A321, using all of Little Navmap’s advanced features for SIDs, STARs, transitions, and approaches.
Little NAV Map Flight Plan:
