Navigation Charts and Flight Planning Tools
Created and Maintained by Neil Dewson-Smyth and Chad Black
Last update 070206 - NDS

There are hundreds of places that navigation charts can be found, both on the internet and at local flying shops. The links provided on this page are for flight simulation use only and are not posted for use in real world aviation. Please note that all links are to external websites over which we have no control. Sites may be VATSIM related or in many cases are real world AIP (Aeronautical Information Publication) sites. Some sites may require registration. Any sites that require registration will have a image alongside. Some sites may not work if accessed by alternative browsers such as Mozilla Firefox or Netscape. If the page fails please try using Internet Explorer. If it still fails the site may be temporarily offline. If you find a broken link, or otherwise have suggestions for alternate sources of navigation charts, please visit the managers of this page at the VATSIM Forums

We also have a comprehensive list of flight planning tools and guides. Most guides are sourced to real world sites. Tools and utilities vary between freeware and payware. Several of the flight planning links point to real world sites where up to date and 100% accurate information can be obtained.



Charts - Click the relevant area on the map or use the links below to see chart links for that area.

Africa and Middle East Region
Asia Region
Europe Region
Central America, Mexico, Caribbean Region
North America Region
Oceania Region
South America Region
Miscellaneous Chart Links (If you cant find the chart you're looking for using the "by area" section, try browsing some of these helpful links)


Flight Planning Tools - Use links to jump to the relevant page section

Flight Plan Construction
Understanding Aviation Charts
Oceanic Flights and Planning

Sky Vector.com
VFR charts for the USA. Zoom in/out. Very useful site

MyAirplane.com
My airplane.com is a great resource for VFR sectionals, TAC's, IAPS, SID, STAR, and Airport diagrams. USA Only.

AIRnav
AIRnav.com is a great site with every chart you can imagine including fine details about any US airport! USA Only.

Aeronauticalchartfinder.com
This is an excellent site with charts for the entire world.

ASP  
This is US Government site that provides the most current charts for the entire USA.

Airport Destination Guide
This is the Airport Destination Guide. Its geared specifically towards the Flight Sim Pilot...especially VA pilots. Neat site!

European AIS Database 
This is the European AIS Database website. Lots of charts, but you'll need to register (free)

AVSIM
Do an extended search and type in Matt Fox as the desired author, and "sectional" as the description. This will bring up a multitude of Hi res´ sectionals and Terminal Area Charts. A MUST HAVE for VFR Flyers!

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FLIGHT PLAN CONSTRUCTION
Fltplan.com
Fltplan.com is an excellent resource actually used for real world flight planning, however is available for us simmers as well. You have to register (don't worry it's free) but it's well worth it! This is the best site to find USA Government Preferred routing.

PM Flight Planner
The PM Flight Planner is a new program. It has a steep learning curve but is a nice program. Can be used worldwide.

Route Finder
Route Finder is a simple user interface to generate flight plans around the world

Simroutes.com
An excellent flight planning utility put together by VATUSA. Try it!

Course Planner
Course Planner is an excellent freeware tool that includes a moving map and much more

FSRoute.com
A nice flight planning website. Not quite as useful as others listed above

FS Navigator
Many simmers will agree this is the most highly recommended payware utility you can get. Many features and also acts as FMC

FS Build.com
Another highly recommended payware flight planning utility

VATSIM Brazil flight plan centre
ICAO based, this system will show all local VA and real airlines RPL - Repetitive Flight Plans

FlightAware.com
This is an amazing site. Submit dep/arr airports and this site returns the last actual real world routings. US based but will provide international flights to and from the US also.

Eurocontrol CFMU flight plan validator 
Eurocontrols flight plan validator for Europe. Takes an understanding of real world flight plans but with experience will return a 100% accurate flight plan. Used by real world planners for validation

Eurocontrol CFMU tutorial
An excellent tutorial to the Eurocontrol CFMU FPL validator provided by the Dutch vACC. A must in order to make the best use of the validator. Click on "How to make a flight plan manually" in the "Pilots" menu bar.

United Kingdom Standard Route Document  
An absolute must to ensure your UK flights route 100% correctly either within UK airspace or to/from UK entry/exit points

Swiss/Austria/Germany vACC "Flightplan Centre"
The VACC-SAG Flightplan centre. Many flight routes around the world to and from the SAG area

EUroute
EUroute by Michal Rok. An excellent resource for European flight plans and modules that integrate with Flight Sim

Navdata Site
Richard Stefan's Navdata site. Navdata files for many addons updated each AIRAC cycle. Essential for accurate AIRAC information

Super Flight Planner
Many Sim enthusiasts will agree that Super Flight Planner is one of the best flight planning tools on the web. We agree!

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UNDERSTANDING AVIATION CHARTS
How to read approach plates
Simply the best explanation on how to read approach plates.

Abbreviation Index
A very useful index to abbreviations used in aviation terminology and on charts. UK document but many references are used internationally

Chart symbol identification
An index to symbols used on UK charts

Chart symbol identification
Index and guides to reading and understanding US charts



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OCEANIC FLIGHTS AND PLANNING
NAT tracks
Shows real world NAT tracks that are updated daily

Understanding NAT'S
VATSIM-UK's Oceanic section. Info and tips on oceanic flying, tracks, pilot procedures, SS Concorde routes and more.

NAT lesson 101
Valuable information that you'll want to read up on BEFORE doing a trans-Atlantic flight.

Oakland Oceanic FIR
Pacific Ocean Crossing Routes and Information.

Department of Defence
This is the Department of Defense website containing real-world daily Atlantic and Pacific Routes as well as pertinent NOTAMS about oceanic weather.

South Atlantic Information
Useful information about South Atlantic crossings, including routes, ICAO based flight plan, route segment calcules, how to use SELCAL and HF communications, and much more.


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