The OFP Route Table
The main body of your OFP contains a detailed waypoint-by-waypoint breakdown of your entire flight. Each row represents a waypoint or reporting point along the route.
Column Reference
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| AWY | Airway identifier (e.g., UL607, DCT for direct) |
| WPT | Waypoint name (5-letter fix or navaid) |
| MT | Magnetic track — the magnetic heading from this waypoint to the next |
| DIST | Distance to next waypoint (in nautical miles) |
| REM | Remaining distance to destination |
| ETO | Estimated Time Over — the UTC time you should pass this waypoint |
| ETE | Estimated Time Enroute to next waypoint |
| FUEL REM | Expected remaining fuel at this waypoint |
| FL | Flight level at this waypoint (includes step climbs) |
| WIND | Forecast wind at this point (direction/speed, e.g., 270/045 = 270° at 45kt) |
| TAS | True Airspeed in knots |
| GS | Ground Speed in knots (TAS adjusted for wind) |
Step Climbs
On longer flights, you may notice the FL (flight level) column changes partway through the route. This is a step climb — as the aircraft burns fuel and becomes lighter, it can climb to a more efficient altitude. SimBrief automatically calculates optimal step climb points. For example:
- Waypoint KONAN — FL350 (initial cruise)
- Waypoint MASAP — FL370 (step climb after 3 hours)
- Waypoint DONLI — FL390 (second step climb)
Using the Route Table In-Flight
The route table is your primary reference for monitoring flight progress:
- Time check — As you pass each waypoint, compare actual time with ETO. Differences indicate stronger or weaker winds than forecast.
- Fuel check — Compare actual fuel remaining with FUEL REM. If you have less fuel than expected, investigate (headwinds, incorrect flight level, etc.).
- Position check — Verify your FMC shows the same waypoints in the correct sequence.
Cost Index
The OFP header shows a Cost Index (CI) value. This number (typically 0-999) represents the balance between fuel cost and time cost:
- CI 0 — Maximum Range speed — slowest but most fuel-efficient
- CI 50-100 — Typical long-haul economy (balances fuel and time)
- CI 200-400 — Typical short-haul (faster, slightly less efficient)
- CI 999 — Maximum speed — fastest but least fuel-efficient
The CI affects your planned TAS and therefore your ETOs and fuel figures. SimBrief uses the airline’s default CI for each aircraft type.