Understanding Routes & Navigation

In-Flight Operations Updated 1 month ago

Routes & Navigation

Your OFP contains a route string that describes the path your aircraft will follow from departure to destination. Understanding this route is fundamental to operating your flight.

Route String Format

A typical route string looks like:

EHAM/18R BERGI 3S BERGI Y113 SONEB UL984 KONAN UL607 REKOD REKOD 1A KJFK/31L

Let’s break this down:

Element	Meaning
`EHAM/18R`	Departure airport / runway
`BERGI 3S`	SID (Standard Instrument Departure) — the published route from the runway to the airway system
`BERGI`	A waypoint (named fix in the sky)
`Y113`	An airway — a named corridor in the sky connecting waypoints
`SONEB`	Next waypoint along the airway
`UL984`	Upper airway (above FL245)
`REKOD 1A`	STAR (Standard Terminal Arrival Route) — the published route from the airway system to the approach
`KJFK/31L`	Destination airport / runway

Types of Route Elements

SID (Standard Instrument Departure): A published departure procedure that guides aircraft from the runway to the en-route airway system. SIDs include altitude restrictions, speed limits, and noise abatement turns. Example: BERGI 3S means the BERGI THREE SIERRA departure.
Airway: Named corridors in the sky defined by a series of waypoints. Airways beginning with “U” (e.g., UL984) are upper airways (above FL245). Airways beginning with other letters are lower airways. The airway ensures aircraft follow predictable paths for traffic separation.
Waypoint / Fix: Named points in the sky, identified by 5-letter codes (e.g., SONEB, KONAN). These are defined by latitude/longitude coordinates and are used globally for navigation. Some waypoints are named after nearby VOR/NDB radio navigation aids (3-letter codes like SPY, BIG).
STAR (Standard Terminal Arrival Route): The arrival equivalent of a SID. It guides aircraft from the en-route system to the approach phase, with altitude and speed restrictions to sequence traffic.
DCT (Direct): When you see DCT in a route, it means the aircraft flies directly between two waypoints without following an airway. This is common over oceans or in areas with less traffic.

Loading Routes in Your FMC

Most modern aircraft have a Flight Management Computer (FMC or MCDU) where you enter the route:

Enter the departure and destination airports
Select the SID for your departure runway
Enter the en-route waypoints and airways
Select the STAR for your arrival runway
Review the route on the ND (Navigation Display) to verify it matches the OFP

Tip: Many addon aircraft for MSFS and X-Plane can import SimBrief flight plans directly into the FMC, saving you manual entry time. Check your aircraft’s documentation for SimBrief integration.

NAT Tracks (North Atlantic)

For transatlantic flights, you may see NAT tracks in your route. These are daily-published routes across the North Atlantic that change based on jet stream position:

Westbound tracks — Published for daytime (eastbound jet stream = headwind, so tracks optimise around it)
Eastbound tracks — Published for nighttime (rides the jet stream for fuel savings)

SimBrief automatically selects the most efficient track for your flight.