What Is SimBrief and Why Do Virtual Airline Pilots Use It?
If you have spent any time in flight simulation communities, you have probably heard the name SimBrief. It is a free, web-based flight planning tool that generates realistic Operational Flight Plans (OFPs) used by real-world airlines. For virtual airline pilots, SimBrief bridges the gap between casual flying and professional-grade operations.
Instead of guessing your fuel load or picking a random cruise altitude, SimBrief calculates everything for you — fuel burn, optimal altitude, cost index, alternate airports, and even ETOPS planning for oceanic crossings. The result is a detailed OFP that mirrors what a real dispatcher would hand to a crew before departure.
At JetStream Virtual, SimBrief integration is built directly into the pilot workflow. When you select a flight and generate your OFP, JetStream's flight logger can load that plan automatically — no manual data entry, no copy-pasting waypoints. It is the fastest way to go from booking to boarding.
Setting Up Your SimBrief Account
Getting started with SimBrief takes just a few minutes. Head to simbrief.com and create a free account. Once registered, you will want to configure a few key settings in your profile:
- Default Aircraft: Set this to match the aircraft type you fly most often in your virtual airline. SimBrief's database includes performance profiles for nearly every airliner in MSFS and X-Plane.
- Units: Choose between metric and imperial for fuel, altitude, and distance. Most virtual airlines use nautical miles and feet, matching real-world aviation standards.
- OFP Layout: SimBrief offers multiple OFP formats that replicate airline dispatch documents. The default layout works well, but you can experiment with LIDO, UAL, or other formats to find one you prefer.
- SimBrief Pilot ID: This numeric ID is what links your SimBrief account to external tools like flight loggers and EFB apps. You will find it on your SimBrief account page — copy it and save it somewhere accessible.
Once your account is configured, link your SimBrief Pilot ID inside your JetStream Virtual pilot profile. This one-time step enables the automatic OFP import feature in the flight logger.
Creating Your First Operational Flight Plan
With your account ready, generating an OFP is straightforward. Here is the step-by-step process:
Step 1: Enter Your Route
On the SimBrief Dispatch page, enter your departure and arrival airports using their ICAO codes (for example, EHAM for Amsterdam Schiphol and EGLL for London Heathrow). SimBrief will automatically suggest routes based on real-world airline flight plans and current airway availability.
Step 2: Select Your Aircraft
Choose the aircraft type that matches your assigned flight in JetStream. If you are flying a Boeing 737-800, select the corresponding performance profile. SimBrief uses these profiles to calculate accurate fuel burn, speed schedules, and altitude constraints.
Step 3: Configure Flight Options
This is where SimBrief really shines. You can adjust:
- Cost Index: A value that balances fuel cost against time cost. Lower values save fuel but add flight time; higher values do the opposite.
- Altitude: SimBrief calculates an optimal cruise altitude based on weight, wind, and temperature. You can override this if ATC or VATSIM assigns a different level.
- Passengers and Cargo: Adjust the payload to match your flight's load factor. JetStream flights come with pre-set load factors, but you can fine-tune them here.
- Alternate Airport: Always include at least one alternate. SimBrief calculates the extra fuel required to divert if your destination becomes unavailable.
Step 4: Generate the OFP
Click Generate OFP and SimBrief will produce a complete flight plan within seconds. The OFP includes your route, fuel breakdown, time estimates, weather data, NOTAMs, and weight-and-balance calculations. Review it carefully — this is your roadmap for the entire flight.
Understanding Your Fuel Plan
One of the most valuable sections of any OFP is the fuel breakdown. SimBrief calculates several fuel categories that every virtual airline pilot should understand:
- Trip Fuel: The fuel required to fly from departure to destination under planned conditions.
- Contingency Fuel: Extra fuel (typically 5% of trip fuel) to cover unexpected deviations, headwinds, or routing changes.
- Alternate Fuel: Fuel needed to fly from your destination to your alternate airport if a diversion is required.
- Reserve Fuel: A fixed minimum (usually 30 to 45 minutes of holding fuel) that should never be consumed during normal operations.
- Taxi Fuel: Fuel consumed during ground operations before takeoff.
When loading fuel in your simulator, use the Block Fuel figure from the OFP — this is the total of all categories above and represents the fuel that should be in the tanks at engine start. Getting fuel right is one of the factors that affects your flight scoring at JetStream Virtual, so pay attention to this section.
Weather Integration and Real-Time Data
SimBrief pulls real-world weather data when generating your OFP, including winds aloft, temperatures, turbulence forecasts, and active METARs and TAFs for your departure and arrival airports. This data directly affects your flight plan in several ways:
Strong headwinds at your planned cruise altitude might prompt SimBrief to suggest a lower altitude where winds are more favorable. Thunderstorms along your route could trigger alternate routing suggestions. Low visibility at your destination might require additional fuel for holding or a diversion.
For virtual airline pilots who fly with real-world weather enabled in their simulator, this integration is invaluable. Your OFP reflects the actual conditions you will encounter in the sim, making fuel planning and arrival timing much more accurate. It is one of the details that transforms a casual flight into a realistic simulation experience.
How JetStream Virtual Loads Your OFP
Here is where everything comes together. Once you have generated your OFP in SimBrief and linked your Pilot ID in your JetStream profile, the flight logger handles the rest.
When you select a booked flight in the JetStream flight logger and begin pre-flight setup, the logger automatically fetches your most recent SimBrief OFP. It imports the route, fuel figures, cruise altitude, and time estimates directly into the tracking session. You will see the planned route overlaid on the flight map, with each waypoint plotted along your path.
This integration eliminates the need to manually enter routes or cross-reference data between SimBrief and the logger. You generate the plan, start the logger, and fly. The system compares your actual flight performance against the planned OFP — how closely you followed the route, whether you arrived on schedule, and how your fuel consumption compared to the plan. These factors all contribute to your pilot score and flight rating.
Tips for Better Flight Planning
After generating dozens or hundreds of OFPs, experienced virtual airline pilots develop habits that make their flights smoother and more realistic:
- Always check the winds: A five-minute glance at winds aloft can help you decide whether to request a higher or lower altitude from ATC, potentially saving fuel and time.
- Use step climbs on long flights: SimBrief can plan step climbs where you ascend to higher altitudes as fuel burns off and the aircraft gets lighter. This mirrors real airline procedures and improves fuel efficiency.
- Save your favorite routes: If you regularly fly the same city pairs, save them as favorites in SimBrief for faster dispatch in future sessions.
- Double-check your aircraft type: Generating an OFP with the wrong performance profile leads to inaccurate fuel and speed calculations. Make sure the SimBrief aircraft matches your simulator aircraft.
Start Planning Your Next Flight
SimBrief transforms virtual airline flying from a casual hobby into a structured, professional experience. Combined with JetStream Virtual's flight operations, it gives you the tools to plan, fly, and debrief every flight with the same rigor as a real airline crew.
Whether you are a new pilot filing your first flight plan or a veteran looking to optimize your routes, SimBrief is an essential part of the toolkit. Sign up for a free JetStream Virtual account, link your SimBrief ID, and start flying with a real operational flight plan behind every departure.