Select your product to confirm this information applies to you

FltPlan.com Map Builder Instructions

Below are directions on how to access the Map Builder from the Navigation Log, and how to create user defaults for the Map Builder.


Map Builder

  • The Map Builder can be accessed from the Navigation Log. After entering your route on the Flight Plan Entry page, you will be brought to the Navigation log. The Map Builder can be accessed from the blue View Maps button, found at the top of the Navigation log.

  • Once the Map Builder is open, you will see a white area on the left side of the screen where you can adjust your Map Builder options.

  • To edit the route, return to your flight plan and modify the route selection.

Background Map

  • There are twelve possible background map options on the Map Builder:

    • Streets

    • Imagery

    • Topography (TOPO)

    • Gray

    • Sectionals

    • Sectionals – Canada

    • Jet Charts – US

    • Jet Charts – Canada

    • Jet Charts – Caribbean

    • Victor Charts – US

    • Victor Charts – Canada

    • Victor Charts – Caribbean

  • To choose which Background Map you would like to view, click the down arrow in the Background Map drop-down box, and select any of the options.


Map Layers

  • Press the arrow to the left of the label "Map Layers" to expand the Map Layers section.

  • There are thirteen possible Map Layer options:

    • Airspace & TFRs

    • Airports

    • State Outlines

    • TAC Charts

    • NRS Grid Fixes

    • The CAP Grid. The CAP Grid Map Layer is disabled until you are zoomed far enough into the map

    • STARs

    • SIDs

    • Helicopter Charts

    • Fuel Prices

    • IFR Terminals

    • Customs Locations

    • SUA (Special Use Airspace)

  • To view any of the available May Layers, put a checkmark in the checkbox to the left of the specific Map Layer(s) you would like displayed on the Map Builder.


Weather Layers

  • Press the arrow to the left of the label "Weather Layers" to expand the Weather Layers section.

  • There are six possible Weather Layer options:

    • Weather Radar

    • Infrared (IR) Satellite

    • Visible Satellite

    • Surface Analysis

    • Echo Tops

    • Winds Aloft

  • To view any of the available Weather Layers, put a checkmark in the checkbox to the left of the specific Weather Layer(s) you would like displayed on the Map Builder.

  • Opacity: Slide the circle along the Opacity Bar to change the level of opacity of the weather layer that is currently displayed on the Map Builder. When the Opacity Bar is at 100%, the weather layer will be fully opaque. When the Opacity Bar is at 0%, the weather layer will be fully transparent.


Route Options

  • Press the arrow to the left of the label "Route Options" to expand the Route Options section.
  • There are three possible Route Options:

    • Opacity

    • Width (in pixels)

    • Color

  • To adjust the Opacity and Width options, slide the circle along the bar. To adjust the color, tap the down arrow to display the drop-down box selections.

Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) Layers

  • Press the arrow to the left of the label "METAR Layers" to expand the METAR Layers section.
  • There are four possible METAR Layer options:
    • Ceiling (100s Feet)

    • Visibility (Miles)

    • Wind Speed (Knots)

    • Temperature (Celsius)

  • To view all the METAR Layer options, put a checkmark in the All METARs checkbox. METARs will then be displayed on the Map Builder in purple, red, blue, and green circles.

  • Click on any of the purple, red, blue, or green circles displayed on the Map Builder.

Map Builder and in-depth details of the METAR will appear in a pop-up window. Click the "X" at the top right of the pop-up window to close the window.

  • To view specific METAR Layer(s), put a checkmark in the checkbox to the left of the specific METAR Layer(s) you would like displayed on the Map Builder.
  • Click the arrow next to each METAR Layer to view the default values for that layer.

Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET)s / Airman's Meteorological Information (AIRMET)s Layers


  • Press the arrow to the left of the label 'SIGMETs/AIRMETs Layers' to expand the SIGMETs/AIRMETs Layers section.

  • There are two SIGMETs/AIRMETs Layer options:

    • SIGMETs

    • AIRMETs.

  • To view all SIGMETS or AIRMETS, put a checkmark in the checkbox to the left of the 'SIGMETs or AIRMETs Layers' option that you would like displayed on the Map Builder.

When SIGMETs / AIRMETs are displayed, colored boxes will be displayed on the Map Builder with labels including:

    • Dust Storm (DS)

    • Sandstorm (SS)

    •  Mountain Waves (MTW )

    •  Low Level Wind Shear (LLWS )

    •  Thunderstorms with Hail (TSGR )

    •  Volcanic Ash (VA )

    • Mtn Ob (Mountain Obstruction)

    • Icing (Ice)

    • Turbulence (Turb)

    • Towering Cumulus  (TC )

    •  Thunderstorms, (TS) and Convection

    • Click on any of the color boxes to displayed on the Map Builder, and in-depth details of the SIGMETs or AIRMETs will appear in a pop-up window. Click the ‘X’ at the top right of the pop-up window to close the window.

    • If you would like to view a specific type of SIGMET, click the arrow next to the SIGMETs layer option to expand the SIGMETs section. Put a checkmark in the checkbox to the left of the specific SIGMET(s) you would like displayed on the Map.

    • The SIGMET(s) will then appear on the Map Builder in colored boxes that correspond to the color swatch next to each type of SIGMET. 

If you would like to view a specific type of AIRMET, click the arrow next to the 'AIRMETs layer' option to expand the AIRMETs section. Put a checkmark in the checkbox to the left of the specific AIRMET(s) you would like displayed on the Map.

  • The AIRMET(s) will then appear on the Map Builder in colored boxes that correspond to the color swatch next to each type of AIRMET.

  • Click on any of the color-coded boxes to display on the Map Builder and in-depth details of the AIRMET(s) will appear in a pop-up window. Click the ‘X’ at the top right of the pop-up window to close the window.

  • The type of AIRMETs that you can view on the Map Builder are:

    •  Turbulence (Turb)

    • Icing (Ice)

    • Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)

    • Mountain Obscuration (Mtn Ob)

Related