Roberta Aguirre
SimBrief is a free virtual flight planning service that allows users to generate virtual flight plans in seconds. Users can enter their departure and arrival airports using their ICAO or IATA codes. The departure airport can be selected from a drop-down menu, and users can choose the specific gate/stand/parking they would like to depart from. Additionally, SimBrief allows users to manually enter their departure and arrival times, with times being entered in UTC.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Departure airport | Entered using their ICAO or IATA airport code |
| Departure time | Entered in UTC (Zulu) |
| Arrival time | Manually entered |
| Starting point | Gate/stand/parking |
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What You'll Learn
- Departure airport is selected using its ICAO or IATA code
- letter IATA codes are translated into ICAO codes automatically
- Select the gate/stand/parking from the dropdown menu under 'departure airport'
- Selecting a gate by clicking on its location can mess up imported flight plans
- Departure and arrival times can be entered manually
Departure airport is selected using its ICAO or IATA code
When selecting a departure airport on SimBrief, you can enter the airport's ICAO or IATA code. ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) codes are four-letter codes that are used by air traffic control and airline operations such as flight planning. The first letter of the code indicates the region of the world in which the airport is located, the second letter specifies the country, and the third and fourth letters identify the airport. For example, the ICAO code for Heathrow Airport in London, England is EGLL, with 'E' indicating Europe, 'G' indicating the United Kingdom, and 'LL' identifying Heathrow Airport.
IATA (International Air Transport Association) codes, on the other hand, are typically three-letter codes that are commonly used by airlines and travel agents for commercial purposes such as ticketing, reservations, and
When entering the departure airport on SimBrief, you can input either the ICAO or IATA code. If you enter the IATA code, SimBrief will automatically translate it into the applicable ICAO code. This flexibility allows users to utilize the code systems they are most familiar with when creating their virtual flight plans.
It is worth noting that while ICAO codes follow a standardized numbering system based on the airport's location and type of facility, IATA codes are generally more random. While some IATA codes use the three letters of the city they are located in, such as LAS for Las Vegas-Harry Reid International Airport, others follow national naming conventions or refer to the airport's name, like CDG for Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
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3-letter IATA codes are translated into ICAO codes automatically
The SimBrief dispatch system is a free virtual flight planning service that has been used by over half a million flight simulation enthusiasts since 2013. It supports over 140 different aircraft types and is compatible with a wide range of add-ons and simulators. SimBrief allows users to generate virtual flight plans in seconds, with features such as accurate fuel planning, weather forecasts, current NOTAMs, and ETOPS calculations.
When creating a flight plan on SimBrief, users are required to enter basic flight information, including departure and arrival airports, flight number, and flight date. While airports are normally entered using their ICAO or IATA codes, SimBrief also accepts 3-letter IATA codes, which are automatically translated into the applicable ICAO code.
IATA codes, or 3-letter codes, are used to identify airports and cities worldwide. These codes are typically derived from the name of the airport or the city it serves and do not provide a geographic reference. For example, the IATA code for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City is JFK, and the code for Heathrow Airport in London is LHR.
On the other hand, ICAO codes are distributed by region and country. The first one or two letters of the ICAO code indicate the country, while the remaining letters identify the airport. For instance, the ICAO code for Heathrow International Airport is EGLL, with "EG" reflecting that it is based in the United Kingdom. ICAO codes are more commonly used for aerodromes than IATA codes, and their selection is partly delegated to authorities in each country.
In summary, when entering departure and arrival airports in SimBrief, users can input either the ICAO code or the 3-letter IATA code. The IATA codes will be automatically translated into the corresponding ICAO codes, ensuring flexibility and convenience for users during the flight planning process.
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Select the gate/stand/parking from the dropdown menu under 'departure airport'
When loading a SimBrief plan, you can select the gate, stand, or parking from the dropdown menu under the departure airport. This allows you to choose where you want to start your flight.
To do this, go to the dropdown menu under the departure airport and select the gate/stand/parking option. If you are at a large airport, you can hover over the airport to find a gate that you like and then find it in the dropdown menu. This will save your preferred departure route.
It is important to note that selecting a gate by clicking on the location can mess up your flight plan. The best way to choose a gate is to use the dropdown menu. Additionally, you can zoom in on the airport to view and select gates and parking on the map.
By following these steps, you can successfully select the gate, stand, or parking for your departure airport in SimBrief, ensuring that your flight plan remains accurate and allowing you to start your flight from your preferred location.
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Selecting a gate by clicking on its location can mess up imported flight plans
When importing flight plans from SimBrief, selecting a gate by clicking on its location can cause issues, with some users reporting that their flight plans get "messed up" or "completely screwed up". This problem appears to be related to the software forcing a different SID (Standard Instrument Departure), and it occurs whether the gate is selected from the dropdown or the map.
To avoid this issue, it is recommended to use the dropdown menu to select the gate/stand/parking you want to depart from, rather than clicking on the location. This will save your departure route as it was before. Zooming in close at the airport should allow you to identify the gate you want to select from the dropdown menu.
If you are using MSFS, another workaround is to first select the gate you want to spawn at and then load the flight plan from SimBrief. This will not affect where you spawn. You can also use Little Navmap to import the .pln file from SimBrief, select a gate, and then export it as a new MSFS .pln file to load in the world map.
It is important to note that this issue is not due to user error but is instead a bug in the software. By following the suggested workarounds, you can select your desired gate while avoiding potential disruptions to your imported flight plan.
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Departure and arrival times can be entered manually
SimBrief is a free virtual flight planning service provided by Navigraph. It is used to generate detailed flight plans featuring accurate fuel planning, weather forecasts, current NOTAMs, ETOPS calculations, and more.
To enter the departure airport in SimBrief, you can enter the airport's ICAO or IATA code. The 3-letter IATA code will be automatically translated into the applicable ICAO code. You can also select the departure airport from a list of suggested alternates by clicking the guide icon. This list will appear once you have selected a Departure Airport, Arrival Airport, and Aircraft Type.
The departure time can be entered manually in the text box. The time should be entered in UTC (Zulu). You can also modify the time using the calendar widget. Clicking the refresh icon will reset the time to the default value, which is 30 minutes from the current time.
Although it is not entirely clear how to enter the arrival time manually, it is possible to plan a route in SimBrief without knowing the arrival runway beforehand. You can plan based on the expected conditions at the time of arrival and be prepared to change to another arrival route if the conditions differ or if ATC assigns a different one.
Additionally, when loading a SimBrief plan, you can select the gate/stand/parking you would like to depart from by selecting the option under the "runway" dropdown menu. However, it is important to note that selecting a gate by clicking on the location can mess up the flight plan.
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Frequently asked questions
You can enter your departure airport using its ICAO or IATA code.
Yes, you can enter the departure time manually. Times should be entered in UTC (Zulu) and can be modified using the calendar widget or by typing into the text box directly.
You can start your SimBrief flight from the gate by selecting the gate/stand/parking you'd like to depart from in the dropdown menu under the departure airport.
