Flight Plan Import for PMDG 737 NGX

[AlanRussell 0]

I recently got this plane and cannot import the flight plan. I am able to import the origin and the destination. However, when I try to key in the Co Route name, I get "Invalid Entry". I have tried saving the flight plan to different names and have tried keying in the entire name, KSANKSEA.PLN.

[mopperle 4162]

Try without the file suffix "PLN" and read the manuals and tutorials.

[Cheyenne Chief Pilot 829]

You can't import a native FSX flightplan. It has to be converted into a dedicated PMDG flightplan format via a freeware (internet) or payware flightplanner.

It's all described in the PMDG intro manual and the two NGX tutorials.

[AlanRussell 0]

Thanks for the help. I'm trying to help my husband. He had a stroke and can't type but can fly. I can't fly but know a little bit about computers. A scary combination.

[Cheyenne Chief Pilot 829]

You're welcome.

A flightplan can also be entered manually. The smallest amount of typing comes with a native FSX, VOR-to-VOR flightplan. Strictly speaking, a single VOR on your flighttrack would do. VORs have 2- or 3-letter identifiers, that is typing 3 letters and up-selecting them on the LEGS page is all it takes to enter a minimum flightplan. You still need to fill in the other CDU pages for the plane to fly on automation, but for the flightplan those few letters would do.

All the best.

[Herman 1591]

I recently got this plane and cannot import the flight plan. I am able to import the origin and the destination. However, when I try to key in the Co Route name, I get "Invalid Entry". I have tried saving the flight plan to different names and have tried keying in the entire name, KSANKSEA.PLN.

Company routes are ones you previously entered and saved throuigh the Flight Management Computer/Flight Management System inside the NGX program. If you didn't enter and save one, that would explain why you got and invalid entry response. As noted above, the PMDG 737NGX cannot import native FSX flight plans.

Once you save them, they're in the format of 4 characters for the departure airport (for example, EDDM) then 4 characters for the arrival airport (for example, LOWI) followed by three digits assigned sequentially. My first and only Munich to Innsbruck flight plan is EDDMLOWI001.rte. They're stored in the [FSX folder]\PMDG\FLIGHTPLANS\NGX folder. Again, they're in a PDMG format, so simply re-naming a flight plan created in stock FSX won't work.

I recall that there are external programs that will create NGX readable flight plans, but for what it sounds like your husband does, it would be more complicated, not less.