VFR flight planning and routing – from a click on the map to the navigation log
Set departure and destination, drag waypoints on the map, check alternatives: BriefingPal plans the route with airspace, terrain and weather, computes headings, times and fuel with your aircraft's performance and delivers the navigation log with frequencies as a PDF.
VFR route planning in BriefingPal starts on the map: airfields, reporting points, airspace (CTR, TMA, restricted and danger areas), VORs and mountain passes are available as layers, plus topography, satellite imagery, rain radar, cloud and wind overlays and webcams. Every leg is checked against terrain: the planner suggests the lowest practical route over passes and saddles, caps the altitude at the service ceiling and reports where an approach or descent would not be feasible.
Below the map, the terrain and weather profile (GRAMET-style cross-section) shows terrain, the planned flight profile, clouds, visibility and wind along the route at the chosen departure time. The 3D view flies the route over the terrain model – with weather from the model or from METAR/TAF and a traffic light for every pass.
How it works
- Airfields and routeChoose departure, destination and alternate; route by clicking on the map, drag waypoints, round trip or shortcut with one button.
- Altitude and airspaceAutomatic cruise altitude or your own value; CTR, TMA and restricted areas are detected, alternatives suggested.
- Times and fuelHeading, distance, flight time and fuel per leg with TAS and consumption from the POH and wind from the weather model.
- Nav log and exportFlight log with frequencies (airfield, CTR/TMA, FIS) as PDF; route as GPX for SkyDemon, ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, EasyVFR or as KML.
Example from the app
Example: LSPV – Nuolen – Horgen – Oberalikon – Burgdorf – Murten – LSGL
The navigation log shows heading, distance and EET per line and the frequency whenever it changes: LSPV 123.205 at departure, Zurich Information 124.700 outside controlled airspace, Emmen Tower when crossing the TMA, Geneva Information west of the Geneva/Zurich CTA boundary and Payerne Tower inside the CTR. Below, the fuel calculation with trip, alternate, reserve and block fuel.
Tools for route planning
Map with aeronautical layers
Airspace (openAIP), airfields, VFR reporting points, VORs, passes, NOTAM areas, SIGMET/AIRMET – optionally with satellite imagery and topography.
Lowest route over terrain
The planner searches the lowest practical line over passes and saddles and keeps the desired clearance above terrain.
Terrain and weather profile
Terrain, flight profile, clouds (oktas), visibility, wind and freezing level along the route – at the planned departure time.
3D weather map
Route over the terrain model with clouds, precipitation, freezing level and pass traffic light; time slider for the flight.
Nav log with frequencies
Airfield, CTR/TMA and FIS frequencies per leg, headings, distances, EET and fuel calculation – ready to print.
Export and import
GPX 1.1 for SkyDemon, ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot and EasyVFR 4, SkyDemon flight plan and KML for Google Earth.
Frequently asked questions
How do I plan a VFR flight with BriefingPal?
Pick the aircraft, enter departure, destination and alternate, set the route on the map or let the planner suggest one, choose the departure time. BriefingPal checks airspace, terrain and weather, computes times and fuel with the aircraft's performance data and produces the navigation log and briefing PDF.
Does the route planner consider airspace?
Yes. CTR, TMA/CTA, restricted, danger and prohibited areas from openAIP are shown and taken into account when planning the altitude; for a TMA the lower limit is compared with the planned flight profile. Planning does not replace checking the current ICAO chart and AIP.
Where do the frequencies in the nav log come from?
From AIP data (OFMX) of the covered countries as well as openAIP and OurAirports. For each leg the responsible frequency is determined by altitude: airfield frequency or tower, tower of the CTR, TMA frequency above its lower limit, otherwise FIS.
Can I use the route in SkyDemon or ForeFlight?
Yes. The route can be exported as GPX 1.1 (SkyDemon, ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, EasyVFR 4), additionally as a SkyDemon flight plan and as KML for Google Earth.
What does the terrain profile show?
Terrain under the route, the planned flight profile with climb and descent, cloud bases and coverage, visibility, wind at cruise altitude and the freezing level – each for the chosen departure time from the weather model (ICON-D2, ICON-CH, ICON-EU, ECMWF, GFS).
Does planning work outside Switzerland?
Yes, worldwide: airfields, terrain, weather models, METAR/TAF and NOTAMs are available globally. AIP frequency data are stored for Switzerland, Austria, France, Slovenia and Croatia; elsewhere they come from openAIP and OurAirports.
Popular aircraft types
VFR flight planning and routing
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