How To Add Co Route To Flight Factor 757

Loading a company route into the Flight Factor 757 for X-Plane requires placing your flight plan files into the correct directory structure and utilizing the Captain’s Flight Management Computer. Mastering this workflow ensures rapid pre-flight programming, precise lateral navigation tracking, and seamless integration with SimBrief or native X-Plane route formats.

Pre-Flight Configuration and Directory Requirements

Executing a company route import on the Flight Factor 757 demands strict adherence to file path conventions and database synchronization. Because this aircraft relies on a custom simulation environment running inside X-Plane, file placement errors are the primary cause of flight plan recognition failures.

• Essential Gear and Files: A generated flight plan file in text format matching the standard flight plan naming convention, access to your X-Plane root installation directory, and the Flight Factor 757 aircraft loaded with engines in a cold-and-dark or turnaround state.
• Mandatory Prerequisite Standards: Flight plans must match the active navigation cycle installed in your simulation avionics (such as Navigraph or default X-Plane AIRAC data), and route files must not contain unsupported airway restrictions or discontinued waypoints.
• Estimated Duration and Scope: 3 to 5 minutes of preparation and loading time prior to engine startup, suitable for online VATSIM/IVAO network flying or offline procedural training.

Step-by-Step Company Route Loading Workflow

Step 1: Export and Format Your Flight Plan File

Generate your desired flight route using an authorized flight planning software such as SimBrief or standard flight dispatch tools. Export the route specifically as an X-Plane flight plan (.fms) or a company route format recognized by the Flight Factor avionics suite. Ensure the file naming convention uses the standard four-letter origin and destination layout, such as KJFKEGLL01.fms or a direct ICAO-to-ICAO naming structure if required by your specific database version.

Step 2: Deposit the Route File into the Aircraft Directory

Navigate through your X-Plane directory structure to reach the target folder for company routes. Open the main X-Plane folder, proceed to the Aircraft directory, locate your Flight Factor 757 package, and open the plugins folder. Inside the avionics or custom FMS data subfolder, look for the route or company routes folder, and paste your exported flight plan file directly into this directory.

Warning: Placing the flight plan file into the general X-Plane Output/FMS plans folder may not work for the Flight Factor 757, as this aircraft utilizes an independent custom flight management computer file path for company routes.

Step 3: Power the Avionics and Access the RTE Page

Initialize the aircraft electrical system by activating external power or starting the Auxiliary Power Unit to bring the Primary Flight Display, Navigation Display, and Flight Management Computer to life. On the Flight Management Computer control display unit, press the RTE (Route) hard key to open the route definition page. Ensure the origin and destination airports are verified or ready for manual entry if the route index requires them.

Step 4: Input the Company Route Identifier

Locate the CO ROUTE line select key on the right or left side of the Flight Management Computer screen depending on your specific display configuration. Type the exact file name of your route without the file extension using the scratchpad keypad, then press the line select key adjacent to the CO ROUTE prompt. The system will read the text file, parse the waypoints, and populate the active flight plan fields automatically.

Pro-Tip: If the Flight Management Computer displays a syntax error or route not found message, check your scratchpad spelling against the exact file name in your directory, ensuring no hidden spaces or incorrect file extensions exist.

Step 5: Execute and Verify the Flight Plan Discontinuities

Review all loaded waypoints by stepping through the active flight plan pages using the STEP soft key on the navigation display or reviewing the legs page on the Flight Management Computer. Check for any route discontinuities, missing altitude constraints, or unlinked segments, and clear them using the delete key before pressing the EXEC (Execute) button to activate lateral navigation tracking.

Technical Specifications and Route Compatibility Matrix

Common Loading Failures and Field Fixes

• Route Not Found Error:
  
  
  • Root Cause: The flight plan file is placed in the wrong X-Plane directory or features an unsupported file extension.
  • Actionable Fix: Move the file directly into the designated Flight Factor plugin company route folder and verify the file extension matches the aircraft manual specifications.
• Missing Waypoints and Discontinuities:
  
  
  • Root Cause: Outdated AIRAC cycles between the generated flight plan and the simulator navigation database causing procedural parsing errors.
  • Actionable Fix: Update your flight planning tool and simulator navigation data to the exact same AIRAC cycle or manually insert the missing intermediate fixes.
• Crash to Desktop Upon Loading:
  
  
  • Root Cause: Corrupted text formatting inside the flight plan file or illegal characters within custom waypoint names.
  • Actionable Fix: Re-export a fresh flight plan file from your flight dispatcher and open it in a text editor to verify clean line breaks and standard syntax.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Flight Factor 757 say route not in database?

This error typically occurs when the flight plan file contains waypoints, airways, or standard instrument departures that do not exist in the currently loaded navigation database. Ensure your AIRAC cycle is synchronized between your flight planner and the simulator.

Can I load SimBrief routes directly into the Flight Factor 757?

Yes, you can download the X-Plane format flight plan from SimBrief and place it into the aircraft company route folder. Alternatively, some modern integration plugins allow direct datalink loading through the options menu.

Where is the exact folder location for company routes?

The standard path requires navigating to your X-Plane root folder, entering Aircraft, selecting the Flight Factor B757 folder, and locating the specific plugin data subfolder designated for flight plans. Refer to your aircraft manual if you operate a heavily customized installation.

What should I do if my route has flight plan discontinuities?

Flight plan discontinuities occur when the avionics cannot automatically connect two consecutive waypoints. Use the delete key on the Flight Management Computer to select the discontinuity and clear the gap before executing the route.

Does the flight plan need to be loaded before entering performance data?

It is standard procedural practice to load your company route on the route page first before calculating and entering gross weight, zero fuel weight, and takeoff performance on the init reference pages.

Master your Flight Factor 757 operations today by organizing your custom company route directories and streamlining your pre-flight preparation for every digital aviation journey.