#What OFP Reader does

OFP Reader turns a SimBrief operational flight plan (the PDF, in the airline-style LIDO layout) into an interactive briefing. Every part of the OFP gets its own section, in the same order as the PDF. Codes are explained when you hover over them, and the numbers are worked out for you: margins, wind components, landing fuel, how far off plan you are.

It is built for people who already know roughly what an OFP is. The aim of this manual is to tell you where each piece of information is, both in the reader and on the printed OFP, and what to do with it at each stage of a flight.

• Runs in your browser. The PDF is read on your device. Nothing is uploaded, and there is no account.
• Keeps your notes. Anything you type (times, fuel, ATIS, clearance, frequencies) is saved to this browser as you type, per flight.
• Works offline once opened. Each PDF is kept in the browser, so a plan reopens even after SimBrief has deleted its copy.

Watch out For flight simulation only. Not for real-world navigation. Not affiliated with SimBrief or Navigraph.

#Finding your way around the screen

Every page has the same layout, from top to bottom:

Top bar

The OFP Reader logo (goes back to the reader), then the page's main tool: the SimBrief link box on the plan, the search box here. On the right: ⚙ Settings and the day / night switch. On narrower screens Collapse all is here too; on wide ones it sits under the Contents card.

Status row

Just under the top bar. It shows the flight chip (the plan that is open, which you can change from any page), the loading bar while a PDF is read, and messages such as errors.

Left rail

The page tabs: icons for Plan, Simple, Weather, Radio, Settings and Manual, with the page's name and what it's for on the strip below (point at a tab to see its name), and Wind lab on its own dashed tab. Then the Contents card. Contents lists the page's numbered sections grouped by phase of flight, highlights the one you're reading, and shows 01 / 14 style progress. A blue dot means that section holds something you typed.

Sections

Numbered cards. Click a section's title bar (or its box in Contents) to fold it away; it stays folded next time. The PDF page it comes from is on the right of the title bar, for example PDF p.4–.

On a phone the rail moves above the content and everything stacks into one column; nothing scrolls sideways.

#Underlined labels explain themselves

Any label with a dotted underline has an explanation. Hover over it with the mouse, or tab to it with the keyboard. That covers almost every OFP abbreviation (EFOB, MORA, FINRES…), ICAO flight plan codes, METAR / TAF groups and TLR columns. The same explanations are collected in the Glossary.

#The blank form

Before a plan is open, the reader shows the whole OFP as an empty form: every section, with dotted blanks where values will go. As a PDF is read, the blanks fill in, the airport codes flip in on split-flap tiles and the flight graphic draws from left to right. Use the empty form to learn where things will appear.

#One active flight across every page

The plan you open becomes the active flight. The reader, Weather, Radio and Settings all show that same flight, and switching it on one page switches it on every page, including other open tabs. The flight chip in the status row shows which one is active.

#From a SimBrief link

1. In SimBrief, open your generated flight and copy the link to the OFP PDF. It looks like https://www.simbrief.com/ofp/flightplans/LEMDEHAM_PDF_1791211422.4264540f.pdf.
2. On the Plan page, paste it into the box at the top (Paste a SimBrief PDF link…) and press Load or Enter.
3. The status row shows Downloading PDF… → Reading page 3 of 14… → Decoding OFP… while the form fills in.

The address bar changes to /?ofp=<link>, so you can bookmark or share it. Opening the same link again later uses the copy saved in your browser instead of downloading it.

#From a PDF file

Click Upload and choose the PDF, or drag the file from your desktop and drop it anywhere on the page. Uploaded plans are saved too, and the address bar changes to /?flight=<id> so a reload reopens them.

#Reopening a plan you've used before

• Just open the site. With no link in the address bar, the reader reopens the active flight, the one you were last on.
• The flight chip. Click it in the status row of any page and pick a flight. Flights are listed newest first as EZY2192 · LEMD→EHAM · 02OCT2026 · OFP 2. The OFP number tells re-releases of the same flight apart. PDF needed means only your notes are stored in this browser, not the PDF (an imported JSON, for example).
• Settings. ⚙ Settings → Saved flights lists every flight; Open in reader opens it.

#Closing a plan: Blank plan

The ← Blank plan chip closes the plan on every page and returns the reader to the empty form. Nothing is deleted: the flight and your notes are still in Saved flights.

#Re-released plans and Re-download

If dispatch re-issues the plan (a new OFP number), open the new link: it gets its own storage, so notes for OFP 1 and OFP 2 stay separate. If you reopen a link you've used before and want SimBrief's latest copy rather than the saved one, use Re-download in the status row (only while SimBrief still has the file).

#When a plan won't open

The link fails or reports a network error

SimBrief only keeps OFP PDFs for a limited time. If you opened it before, use the flight chip instead (the saved copy still works). Otherwise download the PDF from SimBrief again and use Upload.

“No saved copy of … in this browser”

The notes are here but the PDF isn't (an imported JSON, or cleared browser data). Upload the PDF again; your notes reload with it.

Some sections stay blank

The reader is built for SimBrief's airline-style (LIDO) layout. Other layouts only partly fill the sections, but Source text always shows every line of the PDF.

#Where is…?

Look up what you need on the left. The middle column is where it sits in the reader (click it to go there with the active flight), and the right column is where the same thing is on the printed OFP. Page numbers vary between plans: each section's title bar shows the exact PDF page for yours.

#Searching

• This manual: type in the search box at the top, or press / to jump to it. Results list the matching topics; select one to go there.
• The OFP itself: in the reader, Source text searches every line of every page.
• NOTAMs: the NOTAM sections have their own search box and filters.
• The browser's find (Ctrl / ⌘ + F) also finds text inside folded sections and opens them.

#Quick reference card

One row per phase of flight: what to read, what to type, and where. The links open the reader at that section for the active flight.

#1 · Briefing in ten minutes

1. Open the plan (paste the link). Check the top of Flight summary: flight number, date, registration and the OFP number. A higher OFP number than you expected means the plan was re-issued.
2. Weather at both ends. The small sky icon on each country flag in the summary is the TAF forecast at your take-off and landing time, ringed in its flight category (VFR, MVFR, IFR, LIFR). A T on it means a TEMPO or PROB group applies then. Hover over it for the detail.
3. Fuel. In Planned fuel, read Landing fuel and Arrival margin (Comfortable or Tight). If you want more, type it into PIC EXTRA and give a reason; TOTAL FUEL and the time it buys update straight away.
4. Alternates and the fuel ERA. Alternate & routing lists each alternate with track, distance, level, wind and fuel. An amber Fuel en-route alternate line names the airport the contingency fuel relies on and when you pass it.
5. Weather on the way. At the top of Airport weather, the SIGMET / AIRMET badges say how many affect your route. Red On your route cards are the ones at your level and time. They are also drawn on the route map and profile in the Flight log.
6. NOTAMs. In NOTAM, switch on Critical (closed, unserviceable, not available) and Planned RWY (mentions your take-off or landing runway). That usually leaves a handful worth reading.
7. Terrain. The MOST CRITICAL MORA line at the top of the Flight log and the Terrain clearance check in Times & weights tell you where the high ground is.

Tip Fold the sections you've finished with (click the title bar). The Contents rail shows closed next to them, so you can see what's left.

#2 · At the gate: setting up

1. Program the FMS from the Print MCDU set-up sheet button at the top of Alternate & routing. It lists INIT A, INIT B, F-PLN, PERF TAKE OFF, RAD NAV and winds in the order you type them in. Copy text puts it on the clipboard.
2. Write down the ATIS in the ATIS box in Times & weights, and the departure clearance in Departure ATC clearance (Alternate & routing). Both are saved with the flight.
3. Frequencies. On the Radio page, type the departure ATIS, DEL, GND and TWR (from your charts or the sim). The departure ILS and every VOR / NDB on the route are already filled in from the OFP, in the order you'll need them under NAV tuning.
4. Take-off performance. Runway analysis → Takeoff · planned shows V1 / VR / V2, flaps, FLEX temperature and how far the planned weight is below the limit. If ATC gives you another runway, type it in Takeoff actual → RWY to see that runway's figures and wind components.

#3 · Pushback to take-off

1. OUT. In Times & weights → Times, every Actual Z box shows the current UTC time in grey with a clock button. Click the clock next to OUT as you push back. The Δ column shows how early or late you are against the estimate.
2. OFF. Click the clock next to OFF as you lift off. Now switch on Times & weights OFF above the navigation log: a RETO column recalculates every ETO from your real take-off time. (The switch needs the nav log's own Actual OFF box to be empty, so there's only one take-off time.)
3. Take-off actuals (optional): runway, OAT, wind, QNH, flaps, speeds in Takeoff actual under Runway analysis.

Tip Typed a time wrong? The clock button stays next to filled boxes, so one click puts in the time now. You can also select the box and type over it.

#4 · In cruise: at every waypoint

1. Find the next fix in Flight log → Navigation log. The first unfilled waypoint after your last entry is outlined in blue: its ATO box offers the time now, its AFOB box offers the predicted fuel.
2. As you pass it, click the clock in ATO (or press Enter in the box). The Δ beside it shows minutes early (green) or late (red) against ETO, or RETO if that's on.
3. Fuel: check the predicted value against the aircraft's fuel on board. If it matches, click ✓. If not, accept it and nudge with ▲ ▼ (0.1 t each), or type the real figure. The fuel Δ turns red when you're below plan.
4. Filling one you missed? Hover over any row: it offers the time now and its own predicted fuel, worked out from the nearest fix above that you did fill in.

While you're there: the route map shows where you are relative to FIR boundaries (the marks across the route), SIGMET areas and the fuel ERA. Do the RVSM altimeter check in Times & weights: type LEFT, STBY and RIGHT, and it says whether the primaries agree within 200 ft.

#5 · When something changes en route

Diverting, or checking an alternate

Print alternate sheet (Alternate & routing) has one page per alternate, each starting with FINRES, plus return to departure and the fuel ERA. The alternate's weather is in Airport weather; its frequencies under Alternates on the Radio page.

Asked to climb or descend, or flying faster

Operational impacts (Alternate & routing) shows the fuel and time cost of cruising a level or two higher or lower, or carrying more weight. Red bars cost fuel; green bars save it.

New weather

Paste the new METAR, TAF or ATIS on the Weather page to read it as cards. Your pasted reports are kept and never overwritten by the plan's.

ATC hands you to a station you didn't plan

On the Radio page, use + Add channel under the airport or En route and type its name and frequency.

#6 · Descent and landing

1. Destination weather: the METAR and TAF cards in Airport weather. An amber badge warns when the temperature / dew-point spread is 2 °C or less (fog risk).
2. Landing performance: Runway analysis → Landing · planned has the landing weight limit and factored landing distance against the runway length. If you're given another runway, type it in Landing actual → RWY for its figures and an estimated landing distance.
3. Approach: the arrival ILS is at the end of NAV tuning on the Radio page, with its Morse ident.
4. ON: click the clock next to ON in Times & weights when you touch down.

#7 · After landing

1. Click the clock for IN at the gate. Under Times you now see taxi out, airborne and taxi in times next to the plan, the block time against schedule, and a planned vs actual timeline.
2. Type the final weights if you want them recorded (Times & weights → Weights).
3. Everything is already saved. To keep a copy outside this browser, use Export JSON in Settings.
4. Close the plan with ← Blank plan, or just open the next one.

#Shortcuts worth knowing

• Enter in an empty ATO / AFOB box accepts what it offers; ↑ ↓ in the latest AFOB nudge it by 0.1.
• Click a chart, then use ← → to step through waypoints, and + − to zoom the map.
• / jumps to this manual's search box. All shortcuts are in Keyboard & gestures.

#The ID bar

The first line: FLT (flight number), ATC C/S (the callsign ATC will use), date, registration, aircraft type, the OFP number and the RELEASE time. Check the OFP number first: it goes up each time dispatch re-issues the plan.

#The departure and arrival flags

Big split-flap ICAO codes with the airport name, country flag, IATA code and the planned times: OUT and OFF under departure, ON and IN under arrival.

The small sky icon on each flag is the TAF forecast for your take-off or landing time. Its ring is the flight category: green VFR, blue MVFR, red IFR, magenta LIFR. A T means a TEMPO or PROB group is active then; the icon shows the worse of the two. Hover over it to read both.

#The flight graphic

Between the flags is a picture of the flight. Choose its style in Settings → Appearance: vertical profile (the default, to scale with TOC / TOD and step climbs), profile with clock times, the route's real shape, a gate-to-gate timeline, or the classic arc.

#Cruise, distance and wind figures

CRZ SYS · Cost index

The speed schedule. The cost index is also described in words: economy (20 or less), balanced, or fast (60 or more).

GND DIST · AIR DIST · G/C DIST

Ground and air distance, and great-circle distance. Underneath: air distance against ground (more means a headwind) and how direct the route is as a percentage.

AVG WIND · AVG W/C · AVG ISA

Average wind (with a wind arrow that sways faster in stronger wind), the component in words (M015 = 15 kt headwind) and temperature against ISA.

FUEL BIAS · STA · CTOT

The burn correction for this airframe, scheduled arrival (with “12 min early / late” against the planned IN) and any slot time.

ALTN · TKOF ALTN

The destination alternate (with its name) and the take-off alternate if one was needed.

#Weights and the cruise plan

Weights compares TOW, LAW and ZFW: maximum, estimated, the margin, and a gauge showing how full each one is. Cruise plan lists the FL STEPS as badges (MOSIS · FL360 = climb to FL360 at MOSIS), dispatcher remarks, and the WX PROG / OBS times of the forecast the plan used.

MAXIMUM   TOW 70000  LAW 62500  ZFW 59000
ESTIMATED TOW 66120  LAW 61080  ZFW 57900

#The fuel table

Every line of the OFP fuel block, in the plan's unit, with the airport it relates to and its time equivalent: TRIP, CONT (contingency), ALTN, FINRES, any additional or extra fuel, TAXI, then the totals MINIMUM T/OFF FUEL, T/OFF FUEL and BLOCK FUEL(highlighted).

FUEL               ARPT    FUEL   TIME
TRIP               AMS     5040   0219
CONT 5%            BIO      252   0007
ALTN               RTM     1180   0024
FINRES                     1040   0030
MINIMUM T/OFF FUEL         7512   0320
T/OFF FUEL                 7512   0320
TAXI               MAD      200   0012
BLOCK FUEL                 7712

#Adding PIC extra fuel

1. Type the extra into PIC EXTRA (whole kg or lb). The time it buys at the average fuel flow appears beside it, for example +8 min.
2. TOTAL FUEL becomes block + PIC extra, and a grey PIC segment joins the composition bar.
3. Give a reason in Reason for PIC extra (weather at destination, expected holding…). It's saved with the flight.
4. In the Flight log, switch on Include PIC extra to see fuel on board with it at every waypoint (TFOB).

#The fuel en-route alternate (fuel ERA)

Some contingency policies (a reduced percentage of trip fuel, for example) are only allowed with an airport along the route that you could divert to. LIDO plans name it on the CONT line, in the Airport WX List as Fuel Enroute Airport and in the NOTAMs. When the plan has one, an amber line appears under the fuel table (and under the alternates):

Fuel en-route alternate  LEBB/BIO Bilbao · for CONT 5% (252 kg) · 18 NM off track, abeam PPN at 1214Z · forecast then VFR

It also gets a diamond on the route map, its own card in Airport weather, a page on the alternate sheet and its frequencies on the Radio page.

#Worked-out figures

Landing fuel

T/OFF fuel − trip: what should be in the tanks at touchdown.

Arrival margin

Landing fuel above ALTN + FINRES, the minimum you must land with to still divert. Comfortable above 400, otherwise Tight.

Endurance at T/O

How long the T/OFF fuel lasts, from the OFP's time column.

Extra over min · Trip share · Burn / NM

T/OFF fuel above the minimum, trip fuel as a share of block, and trip fuel per ground mile.

FMC INFO · TANKERING

The figures to enter in the FMS (FINRES+ALTN, TRIP+TAXI) and the tankering advice.

Release

The self-briefing statement, dispatcher and phone, PIC name, and a PIC signature box you can sign.

#Printouts: MCDU set-up sheet and alternate sheet

Two buttons at the top print onto continuous-form paper on screen. Each has Copy text and Close ✕.

Print MCDU set-up sheet

The plan in MCDU page order: INIT A (from / to, alternate, flight number, cost index, cruise level and steps, average wind / ISA), INIT B (fuel figures in tonnes), F-PLN, PERF TAKE OFF (runway, V-speeds, flaps, FLEX), RAD NAV and the winds for climb, cruise and descent at the levels you'll fly. If you typed an actual take-off runway, PERF TAKE OFF uses it.

Print alternate sheet

Return to departure, the fuel ERA if there is one, then one page per alternate. Each page starts with FINRES and includes its METAR.

#Alternate route to…

One row per alternate: airport and runway, track, distance, VIA (the route), level, wind component (hover for head / tail in words), time and fuel. FINRES is shown in the heading.

EHRD/24  TRK 236  DST 31  VIA ARNEM L980 RTM  FL100  WC M010  0024  1180

#MEL / CDL items and the departure clearance

Deferred defects the aircraft is dispatched with, or “None”. Under it, Departure ATC clearance is a box for the clearance as you copy it (CLRD TO … VIA … CLIMB … SQUAWK …).

#The route string

The filed route, coloured by what each word is: airports and runways (ink), SID / STAR (green), airways (blue), fixes and navaids (magenta), DCT (grey). Hover over any word to have it explained, including speed / level changes like MOSIS/N0450F360 (“At MOSIS change to 450 kt TAS and FL360”). ROUTE ID is in the heading.

#Operational impacts

What a change would cost compared with the plan: a level or two higher or lower, or more / less weight. Each row shows the change in words, trip fuel difference (with a bar: red costs fuel, green saves it) and time difference.

#ATIS and RVSM check

ATIS is a free-text box for the information you copy (INFO … RWY … WIND … VIS … QNH …). In RVSM altimeter check, type the LEFT, STBY and RIGHT altimeter readings in feet: it confirms the two primaries are within 200 ft (green) or warns that they aren't (red).

#Times: estimated, local, schedule and actual

A row each for OUT, OFF, ON, IN and block time. Columns: estimated (UTC), local, schedule, Actual Z (yours to fill in) and Δ (actual minus estimated, red when late).

1. Each Actual Z box shows the current UTC time in grey with a clock button beside it. Click the clock to stamp it, or type HHMM.
2. The clock stays after the box is filled, so you can re-stamp it if you clicked too early.

Underneath: Taxi out, Airborne and Taxi in durations (with your actual ones once both ends are filled), vs schedule, and the UTC offset of each airport. A planned vs actual timeline draws both on one clock.

#Weights

ZFW, FUEL, TOW and LAW: estimated, operational maximum and an Actual box for the final load sheet, plus LDG (actual landing weight). A LAW-limited note appears when the take-off weight limit comes from the landing limit plus trip fuel. Gauges, payload share of TOW and average payload per passenger follow.

#Terrain clearance check

The OFP's terrain lines, with each check's abbreviation explained on hover. Compare it with the MOST CRITICAL MORA in the Flight log.

#The line at the top

MOST CRITICAL MORA (the highest minimum off-route altitude and where it is), the maximum wind shear (SHR), and badges for TOC, TOD and the highest cruise level.

#Vertical profile

Flight level against distance, with the MORA terrain shaded underneath, fuel on board (EFOB) on the right-hand axis and a minimum fuel line at FINRES + ALTN. With PIC extra switched on, a TFOB line is added. SIGMET / AIRMET areas you fly through are drawn as bands.

Hover over the chart (or click it and use ← →) to step through waypoints. The same waypoint is highlighted on the map and in the table.

#Route map

The route from the waypoint coordinates over a map in one of three styles (Settings): contours, no contours (neighbouring countries in different tones), or elevation (height bands and contour lines on land, depth bands and dashed depth contours at sea). Country names are placed so they don't cover the route.

FIR / UIR

A dashed line beside the route, named, for each FIR you're in. A short mark across both lines shows where one ends and the next begins. In Settings you can switch to circles (Lines only) or hide them.

Zoom

Route, Region, Close levels and + / − buttons, or scroll the mouse wheel, pinch on a trackpad or touchscreen, double-click or double-tap. Shift + double-click zooms out. When zoomed in, drag to move; the fit button returns to the whole route. When the map shows the whole route, scrolling down scrolls the page.

Markers

Triangles for waypoints (more names appear as you zoom in), circles for the airports, an amber diamond for the fuel ERA with a line to where you pass closest, and SIGMET / AIRMET areas (switch them off with Show SIGMET / AIRMET areas).

Scale and key

A scale bar in the bottom right of the map shows a round distance in nautical miles at the current zoom. The key under the waypoint card lists the symbols on the map (route, waypoints, departure and arrival, FIR / UIR, fuel ERA, SIGMET areas) and, in the Elevation style, the height and depth bands in metres.

#Waypoint card

The waypoint under your pointer: name and position, then the same rows every time (level, wind, temperatures, speeds, distances, times, fuel), with a dash where the OFP has nothing. Below the charts, the FIR boundaries are listed with the time after take-off for each.

#Navigation log columns

One row per waypoint, with FIR crossings as hatched rows. Hover over any column header for its meaning. The main ones:

#Filling it in: quick fill

The next waypoint after your last entry is outlined in blue, and so is any row you hover over or are typing in.

ATO

Shows the time now in grey with a clock. Click the clock, or press Enter in the box, to stamp it.

AFOB

Shows the predicted fuel with a ✓: the planned fuel there (TFOB with PIC extra on, otherwise EFOB) shifted by the fuel Δ of the nearest filled-in waypoint above. Click ✓ or press Enter to accept.

▲ ▼

The latest AFOB you entered gets ▲ ▼ to adjust it by 0.1 t; ↑ ↓ do the same in the box. When you fill the next one, the arrows move to it.

FIX     ETO    ATO    Δ     EFOB  AFOB   Δ
PPN     1214   1215   +1′   5.6   5.4   −0.2
MOSIS   1229   1229   ±0′   5.2   5.0   −0.2   ▲▼
BOBSI   1241   [now]        4.9   [4.7 ✓]

Tip The buttons sit over the next column, so the table never shifts sideways as offers appear. You can always ignore the offer and type your own value.

#Actual OFF and the two switches

Actual OFF (above the table)

Type your take-off time here to recalculate every ETO. Left empty, ETOs use the planned OFF.

Times & weights OFF

Adds a RETO column from the OFF you stamped in Times & weights, so you don't type it twice. It needs that OFF filled in and the Actual OFF above the table empty.

Include PIC extra

Needs PIC extra in Planned fuel. Adds TFOB: EFOB plus the extra still on board, less the cost of carrying it (from Operational impacts). AFOB is then compared with TFOB.

#Winds at five levels

The forecast wind and temperature at five levels around each point. The row at the planned level is highlighted in magenta, so you can see straight away whether a level above or below would have a better wind. The strongest wind on the route is quoted at the top.

PPN      FL380 265/062 -57
         FL360 262/058 -54   ← planned
         FL340 260/051 -50

#Explain route & navaids

The button at the top draws item 15 leg by leg on printer paper: each fix with its time from take-off, the airway or procedure to the next one (SID, STAR, airway, DCT), speed / level changes, and the VOR / NDB frequencies beside the legs. Its chips summarise the flight, for example LEMD → EHAM · 18 legs · 3 VORs or RNAV only.

#Message and decoded cards

Message shows the message as filed, with the AFTN addresses and originator explained. Hover over any item in the message and its decoded card lights up, and the other way round.

Decoded splits it into cards: Flight (callsign and operator's radio name, rules, date, registration), Aircraft (wake category, equipment and surveillance codes, PBN capabilities, approach and TCAS), and Route & times (EOBT, cruise speed and level, route, alternates and the estimated FIR times from item 18).

#Dispatch briefing info

The flight reference and city pair, then any other dispatch notes as printed. If the plan has none it says so.

#Takeoff · planned

The basic empty weight / CG the analysis used, then the planned runway as cards: V1, VR, V2, flaps, FLEX temperature and thrust. The planned take-off weight is compared with the maximum for these conditions, with the margin. Head and crosswind components are worked out from the planned wind and the runway heading.

Tip The TLR prints V-speeds with the hundreds digit dropped (61 for 161 kt). The reader puts it back and shows what was printed.

#Using a different runway

1. In Takeoff actual (or Landing actual), type the runway in RWY. Fill in OAT, wind and QNH too if you have them.
2. A badge says as planned or planned 36L, or not in the analysis in red when the TLR has no figures for it (check performance separately).
3. Underneath you get that runway's head / crosswind (from your wind if typed, otherwise the planned wind), its weight limit and margin, and for landing an estimated landing distance.

#Performance tables, landing grid and distances

Toggle between the TLR's performance tables. Landing · planned compares the planned landing weight (PLDW) with the runway's maximum. The landing grid gives the maximum landing weight (× 10 kg) per runway and OAT, dry / wet; the letter after each figure is what limits it (A = structural, F = field length). Factored landing distances are shown against runway length.

RWY  OAT   DRY     WET
18R   15   6250A   6110F

#SIGMETs and AIRMETs on your route

A badge per advisory type: green none, amber when some were issued for your FIRs, red with n on route when any are at your level and time. Each one is decoded into a card with the hazard, levels, valid time and a verdict:

• On your route: your route is inside it at its levels while it's valid. The card says between which waypoints and times.
• Route crosses it · clear of its levels or · outside its time.
• Doesn't touch your route, or can't be placed (check it against your track).

The same areas are drawn on the route map and profile in the Flight log, and marked SIG / AIR on the waypoints inside them.

#Airport cards

One card per airport in the OFP, labelled Departure, Destination, alternate, or Fuel en-route alternate. Each has its flight category (VFR / MVFR / IFR / LIFR), a sky picture, wind (with a swaying arrow), visibility and cloud, and an amber warning when the temperature / dew-point spread is 2 °C or less.

Below are the METAR and TAF as printed. Hover over any group to decode it; TAF change groups (TEMPO, BECMG, PROB) are in magenta.

TAF EHAM 021100Z 0212/0318 24015KT 9999 SCT025
    TEMPO 0214/0220 4000 SHRA BKN012

#Cutting NOTAMs down to what matters

1. Search for a word: ILS, RWY 06R, crane, a frequency.
2. Category buttons show one category at a time (the OFP's own groups).
3. Critical keeps only items that close, suspend or disable something (CLSD, U/S, NOT AVBL…).
4. Planned RWY (n) keeps only items that mention your planned take-off or landing runway; n is how many there are.

Results stay grouped by location. Each heading shows the planned runway there and how many critical items it has; each NOTAM is tagged Critical and / or Planned RWY. The count of shown items is beside the filters.

Tip Company NOTAM works the same way, for the airline's own notices.

#Charts and the full text

Charts

The image pages attached to the OFP (route map, wind / temperature charts, cross-section), drawn from the PDF and cropped. Select one to enlarge it.

Source text

Every line of text in the PDF, page by page, exactly as printed. Use Search all pages… to find any value, including anything the other sections don't show.

#Weather cards from any report

The Weather page turns METARs, SPECIs, TAFs and ATIS into the same cards as the reader, one section per airport (ATIS first, then the observation, then the forecast). Use it for reports the OFP doesn't have: a newer METAR, an ATIS you copied, an airport you might divert to.

#Using it

1. With an active flight, the box fills with that flight's METARs and TAFs automatically. The airports appear as sections in the Contents rail.
2. Paste your own reports into the box, any mix, one after another. Coded and plain-language ATIS both work. What you paste is kept for next time and is never replaced by the plan's reports; a Replace with … reports button appears instead.
3. Load examples fills the box with sample reports, and Clear empties it.
4. Anything that can't be read (no airport code or time) is listed under Not recognised so you can fix it.

METAR EGLL 021250Z 24012KT 9999 FEW040 15/09 Q1013
EGLL ARR ATIS F 1250Z EXP ILS APCH RWY 27L

#What's filled in and what you add

The Radio page is for planning the flight's frequencies, shown in radio-panel windows. The OFP doesn't carry COMMS frequencies, so you type those in once; the NAV frequencies it does carry are filled in for you and marked as coming from the OFP.

1 · Departure, 3 · Destination

ATIS, DEL, GND, TWR and APP for you to type; the ILS for each runway from the TLR (the planned runway first).

2 · En route

One centre frequency per FIR / UIR you cross, in order, with its ETO. The fuel ERA's frequencies appear here too when there is one.

4 · Alternates

The same five COMMS slots for each alternate.

5 · NAV tuning

What to set on the NAV and ADF radios, in the order you'll need it: the departure ILS (or the reciprocal for a return), each VOR and NDB on the route with its ETO, then the landing ILS. Each has its ident in Morse so you can check it by ear.

#Typing frequencies

• Type the digits only: 11895 becomes 118.95, and COMMS read with three decimals once you leave the box (118.950).
• Checks as you type: COMMS must be 118.000–136.990 on a 25 or 8.33 kHz channel. A wrong one turns the window red with a stop sign and says why (Outside the COMMS band, NAV frequency, not COMMS, Not a 25 / 8.33 kHz channel).
• A frequency a NOTAM reports as out of service (on test, U/S, not usable) gets an amber ring.
• Everything you type is saved with the flight and appears in Settings → Saved entries.

#Adding stations

ATC often hands you to stations the plan can't know about. Under any airport or En route, + Add channel adds a row with a station name, a type (ATIS, DEL, GND, TWR, DEP, APP, CTR, INFO) and a frequency. In NAV tuning, + Add navaid adds a VOR, VOR/DME, NDB, ILS, LOC or DME with its ident. Remove takes either away.

#Display style

The Display buttons on the right of the status row change how the windows look: Scanlines (VFD glass with a pixel font), Dots (VFD behind a dot mesh) or Classic (olive LCD by day, amber by night).

#Saved flights

Every plan you open gets its own storage, keyed by flight number, date, route and OFP number (for example EZY2192_02OCT2026_LEMDEHAM_OFP2), so re-releases and the same flight on another day never mix. The table lists them newest first, marks the Active one and shows whether the PDF is saved and its size.

From each row you can make it active, open it in the reader, or delete it (after a confirmation).

#Stored data for one flight

Select a flight to see what's stored: its storage key, the saved PDF, the SimBrief link, and every entry you typed with its section.

Open in reader · Export JSON

Open it, or download a JSON file of its details and entries (a backup, or to move it to another browser).

Clear entries · Delete flight

Remove what you typed but keep the flight, or remove the flight altogether. Both ask first.

Deleting single entries

Press the unlock button above the entries table; a delete button appears on each row. Lock it again when you're done.

Import JSON

Brings back exported files, from this or another browser (several at once). Entries are merged and the file's values win.

#Appearance

Theme

Match system, Day (chart-paper light) or Night (low glare). The day / night button in the top bar of every page flips between the two.

Flight summary graphic

Vertical profile (default), Profile + times, Route silhouette, Progress timeline or Classic arc.

Route map

Contours (default), No contours, or Elevation (height bands on land and depth bands at sea, with a key under the waypoint card).

FIR / UIR on the route map

Lines with boundaries (default), Lines only (circles where you cross in), or Hidden.

#Storage & privacy

How many flights, entries and PDFs are stored and how much space they take. Delete all saved data removes every flight, entry and PDF (it asks first, and can't be undone). See Saved data & privacy.

#An experimental page

Wind lab (the dashed, hatched tab under the page tabs) is where the swaying wind arrows are tuned: how fast they swing for a given wind, how gusts kick them, and how irregular the motion is. Controls has presets and every setting; Filters & custom card narrows the sample arrows and can add a card from values you type (off by default); Arrows shows METAR, PWIND and AVG WIND samples.

Tip It changes nothing in the reader. Use it to see how the arrows behave, or ignore it.

Open Wind lab

#What is stored, and where

Nothing is sent anywhere. The PDF is read on your device, and everything is kept in this browser only:

Watch out Clearing site data, or browsing in a private window, removes it all. Another browser or device doesn't see it. To keep a copy, use Export JSON in Settings; Import JSON brings it back.

#Moving a flight to another device

1. On the first device: Settings → Saved flights, select the flight, Export JSON.
2. On the second: Settings → Import JSON and choose the file. The flight appears with all your entries and becomes active.
3. Open the same SimBrief link (or upload the PDF) there too: the JSON holds your notes, not the PDF. The flight chip shows PDF needed until you do.

#Keys

#Mouse, trackpad and touch

Route map

Scroll or pinch to zoom where you point; double-click or double-tap to zoom in; Shift + double-click to zoom out; drag to move once zoomed in (one finger on a phone).

Charts and the nav log

Hover over the profile, map or a table row to select that waypoint everywhere.

Files

Drop a PDF anywhere on the reader to open it.

Sections

Click a title bar to fold or unfold it; the boxes in Contents and Collapse all do the same.

#Colours

Flight categories use their own fixed colours everywhere: VFR, MVFR, IFR, LIFR.

#Markings

Dotted underline

Hover over or focus it for an explanation.

Dotted blank

A value that isn't there yet (no plan open), or isn't on this OFP.

Dashed box

Somewhere you can type. It turns solid blue while you type.

Blue dot in Contents

That section holds something you typed.

Hatched row or tab

A FIR crossing in the nav log; on the page tabs, the experimental Wind lab.

PDF p.4–

The page of the PDF that section comes from (in each title bar).

#Common questions

My notes have disappeared

Check you're on the same flight and OFP number (the flight chip). A re-released plan is a new flight with empty notes; the old one is still in Settings. Notes are also per browser: a private window or another browser starts empty.

The plan won't download any more

SimBrief deletes old PDFs. Reopen it from the flight chip (it uses the saved copy), or upload the PDF.

The ETOs are all wrong

They use the nav log's Actual OFF, or the planned OFF if that's empty. Check the Actual OFF box above the table, or switch on Times & weights OFF to use the time you stamped there.

Include PIC extra / Times & weights OFF won't switch on

PIC extra needs a figure in Planned fuel. Times & weights OFF needs an OFF in Times & weights and an empty Actual OFF above the nav log. Hover over the switch for the reason.

The time the clock puts in is off by hours

It's UTC (Z), not local time, as on the OFP. Local offsets are under Times & weights.

A section is empty

That part isn't in this OFP, or the layout differs from the airline-style (LIDO) one the reader is built for. Source text still has every line.

I can't find a section

It may be folded: Contents shows closed next to it. Click it there, or use Expand all (the Collapse all button once everything is folded).