✈️ AeroPlan

A C++/Qt-based flight planning application for Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS), X-Plane, and Prepar3D. It generates optimal routes using the A* algorithm, displays real-time maps via MapTiler, and exports flight plans in .pln, .fms, and .lnmpln formats.

🌟 Features

• Route Planning: A* algorithm optimized with global airport and VOR data from OurAirports, considering wind data from NOAA.

• Map Display: Real-time MapTiler map with clickable waypoints

  • 🟦 Airports
  • 🔴 VORs
  • 🟩 Route lines
  • ⚪ White labels

• Export Formats:

  • .pln (MSFS/Prepar3D)
  • .fms (X-Plane)
  • .lnmpln (Little Navmap)

• Modern GUI:

  • Dark theme
  • Toolbar (Export, Refresh Weather)
  • Route summary (waypoints, distance)
  • Tabified docks (charts, pilot tools)

• Weather Tools: Fetches METAR data every 15 minutes or on demand

• Cross-Platform: macOS & Windows

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⚙️ Prerequisites

• CMake: ≥ 3.10

• Qt 6: Widgets, WebEngineWidgets

• libcurl: For NOAA weather API

• C++17 Compiler: Clang (macOS) or MSVC (Windows)

• Dependencies:

  • json.hpp (v3.11.3)
  • csv.hpp

• Data Files:

  • airports.csv (OurAirports)
  • navaids.csv (OurAirports)

• Internet Access: Required for MapTiler & NOAA API

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🖥️ Installation

macOS

1. Install Homebrew

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

2. Install Dependencies

brew install cmake qt libcurl

3. Clone Repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/flight-planner.git
cd flight-planner

4. Download Headers

mkdir -p include
curl -L https://github.com/nlohmann/json/releases/download/v3.11.3/json.hpp -o include/json.hpp
curl -L https://github.com/vincentlaucsb/csv-parser/raw/master/single_include/csv.hpp -o include/csv.hpp

5. Download Data Files

mkdir -p data
curl -L https://davidmegginson.github.io/ourairports-data/airports.csv -o data/airports.csv
curl -L https://davidmegginson.github.io/ourairports-data/navaids.csv -o data/navaids.csv

6. Create Resource File

echo '<RCC><qresource prefix="/"><file>world_map.jpg</file></qresource></RCC>' > resources.qrc

7. Build & Run

mkdir build && cd build
cmake .. -DQt6_DIR=/opt/homebrew/lib/cmake/Qt6 -DCURL_DIR=/opt/homebrew/lib/cmake/CURL
make
./flight-planner

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Windows

1. Install Visual Studio

   • Download Visual Studio 2022 Community
   • Include "Desktop development with C++" workload

2. Install CMake

   • Download
   • Add to PATH

3. Install vcpkg

git clone https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg.git
cd vcpkg
.\bootstrap-vcpkg.bat

4. Install Dependencies

.\vcpkg install qt6-base qt6-webengine curl --triplet x64-windows

5. Clone Repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/flight-planner.git
cd flight-planner

6. Download Headers

mkdir include
curl -L https://github.com/nlohmann/json/releases/download/v3.11.3/json.hpp -o include\json.hpp
curl -L https://github.com/vincentlaucsb/csv-parser/raw/master/single_include/csv.hpp -o include\csv.hpp

7. Download Data Files

mkdir data
curl -L https://davidmegginson.github.io/ourairports-data/airports.csv -o data\airports.csv
curl -L https://davidmegginson.github.io/ourairports-data/navaids.csv -o data\navaids.csv

8. Create Resource File

echo ^<RCC^>^<qresource prefix="/"^>^<file^>world_map.jpg^</file^>^</qresource^>^</RCC^> > resources.qrc

9. Build & Run

mkdir build
cd build
cmake .. -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64 -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=C:\path\to\vcpkg\scripts\buildsystems\vcpkg.cmake
cmake --build . --config Release
.\Release\flight-planner.exe

🔁 Replace C:\path\to\vcpkg with your actual vcpkg path.

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🚀 Usage

• Route Planning: Select departure/arrival airports (e.g., EGLL to KJFK); A* algorithm generates route.

• Map Viewer:

  • 🟦 Airports, 🔴 VORs
  • 🟩 Green route line
  • Zoomable, clickable interface

• Export:

  • .pln: Copy to C:\ProgramData\Garmin\Trainers\GTN\FPLN or load in MSFS/Prepar3D
  • .fms: Copy to Output/FMS plans for X-Plane
  • .lnmpln: Import into Little Navmap

• Charts & Tools:

  • View mock SIDs/STARs
  • METAR, NOTAMs, and ATIS
  • "Refresh Weather" for updates

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🛠️ Troubleshooting

• Build Errors:

  • Confirm Qt6, libcurl, and CMake are installed
  • Check file presence: include/json.hpp, include/csv.hpp, data/*.csv

• Map Not Rendering:

  • Verify internet access

  • Test MapTiler API:

    curl -I https://api.maptiler.com/maps/basic/style.json?key=YOUR_API_KEY

• Export Issues:

  • Check file permissions:

    ls -l ~/route.pln

• JavaScript Errors in WebView: Add this before app.exec():

  qputenv("QT_LOGGING_RULES", "qt5.webenginecontext=true");

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🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome!

1. Fork the repo
2. Create a feature branch
3. Submit a pull request

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🙏 Acknowledgments

• OurAirports – Airport & VOR data
• MapTiler – Map rendering
• NOAA – METAR data

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