Pre-flight planning is one of those things that can either pull you deeper into the hobby or push you away from it entirely. SimBrief has long been the go-to for serious simmers, and tools like the recently released PERFLIGHT have done a good job of wrapping the pre-session workflow into something more approachable. But a new web tool called Plan2Sim is taking a different angle: strip it right back and get the essentials done in seconds.
The concept is straightforward. You enter a departure, a destination, and select your aircraft type. Plan2Sim then generates an optimised IFR route, calculates fuel loads, pulls live METAR and TAF weather data for both airports, and presents a runway layout for your departure and arrival.
The interface is clean and minimal. A route map shows the waypoints plotted between origin and destination, while the right-hand panel breaks down load and weights, including total fuel, trip fuel, and reserve fuel, alongside zero fuel weight, takeoff weight, and estimated landing weight, each flagged green or amber against their structural limits.
Payload is accounted for too, with passenger count, baggage, and commercial load all factored into the calculation. The developer says the tool always uses the latest AIRAC cycle, which matters if you’re flying on VATSIM or IVAO and need current navdata.
Export is a key part of the pitch. Plan2Sim supports direct export to VATSIM and IVAO flight plans, a PDF briefing sheet, and over 66 file formats covering a range of simulators and aircraft. That breadth puts it in useful territory for pilots who switch between platforms or use third-party avionics that have their own flight plan import requirements.
The route generation also offers variants. The tool presents a base route alongside at least one alternative, letting you compare options before committing. It is an understated but practical touch for those who like to cross-reference against real-world routing.
Plan2Sim is a free web-based tool and requires no installation. You can try it at plan2sim.com.
