Manual

Set up, launch, and troubleshoot X-Dispatch.

Start with first launch and the X-Plane folder scan, then use the manual for airport search, flight setup, hidden settings, layers, add-ons, companion apps, tracking, and support.

12 sections Updated May 31, 2026 Support

01 Getting started

Point X-Dispatch at X-Plane 12.4 or newer, let it scan your install, then keep the scan fresh when you add scenery or aircraft.

Where

First launch, or Settings -> X-Plane.

  1. 01

    Download the installer for your operating system from the website.

  2. 02

    Open X-Dispatch and choose the folder that contains your X-Plane executable.

  3. 03

    Wait for the first airport and add-on scan to finish. The loading screen shows progress while the local cache is built.

  4. 04

    Use Settings -> X-Plane when you need to switch installs, rescan data, or add another simulator folder.

  • X-Dispatch reads X-Plane data locally. It does not need X-Plane to be running for airport browsing, add-on scanning, or flight setup.
  • If macOS or Windows blocks file access, fix the operating-system permission first, then rescan from Settings.

Requirement

X-Dispatch targets X-Plane 12.4 or newer. Older simulator versions do not support the launch handoff X-Dispatch uses.

The first start flow asks for your X-Plane folder, then scans the install before the main dispatch screen opens.

02 Find an airport

Use the globe, search, filters, favorites, and the airport detail panel to get from world view to a usable airport diagram.

Where

Main toolbar search, airport markers, airport detail panel.

  1. 01

    Press Ctrl+F or Cmd+F to focus airport search, then enter an ICAO code or airport name.

  2. 02

    Click an airport marker on the globe to open the airport detail panel.

  3. 03

    Use the detail panel to review runways, gates, frequencies, METAR, scenery source, and available procedures.

  4. 04

    Mark regular airports as favorites or set one home airport so they are easy to spot and reopen later.

  5. 05

    Click ICAO codes shown elsewhere in the app to jump straight to that airport.

  • Custom scenery airports get their own marker style, so you can tell default and add-on airports apart.
  • The star icon represents a favorite airport. The home icon represents your home airport.
  • Favorites and a home airport are useful for regular routes. Starred and home airports get distinct map markers, and X-Dispatch can auto-navigate to the home airport on each app start.
The airport view is drawn from your X-Plane install, including custom scenery when present.
Use the star icon for favorite airports and the home icon for the home airport X-Dispatch can auto-navigate to on startup.

03 Configure and launch a flight

Choose the aircraft, livery, fuel, payload, weather, time, and launch options before X-Plane opens.

Where

Flight setup panel after selecting an airport and start position.

  1. 01

    Select an airport, then choose a gate, runway, helipad, or custom start.

  2. 02

    Pick the aircraft type filter, aircraft, and livery. X-Dispatch remembers recent choices per aircraft where possible.

  3. 03

    Set fuel and payload from the flight setup controls, or open the detailed fuel and weight dialog when you need tank-level control.

  4. 04

    Set weather and time, then press Launch. If X-Plane is already running, use the relocate flow instead of a cold launch.

  • The disabled Launch button usually means a required field is missing. Hover or inspect the current panel for the missing item.
  • Close-on-launch and custom X-Plane launch arguments live in Settings, not the main setup panel.

Detailed setup

Use the fuel and weather dialogs when the compact setup controls are not enough for a specific flight.

The launch flow keeps the preflight choices in one place before handing off to X-Plane.

04 Start positions

Start from a gate, runway, helipad, coordinates, a pin drop, an approach, or a special start mode.

Where

Airport diagram, start position controls, pin-drop split button.

  1. 01

    Click a gate, ramp, runway end, or helipad directly on the airport diagram.

  2. 02

    Click the same selected item again to deselect it if you want to choose a different start.

  3. 03

    Use pin drop for custom coordinates or non-airport starts.

  4. 04

    Use runway start options for approach distance and glider tow, or special starts such as air start, carrier, and frigate when available.

  • Gate starts are best for normal airline and GA departures because they also feed the taxi routing tools.
  • Pin-drop starts are useful for repositioning, demos, and flights that begin away from an airport stand.
The map itself is interactive: gates, runways, helipads, and custom start points can all drive launch setup.
Pin drop is the custom start path for coordinates and non-standard launch positions.

05 Taxi routing

Build a taxi path from gate to runway, reverse it for arrivals, and drag the route when you want a different taxiway.

Where

Gate card and taxi route controls after selecting an airport start.

  1. 01

    Select a gate or ramp first, then pick the runway or arrival direction for the taxi route.

  2. 02

    Use departure mode for gate to runway and arrival mode for runway to gate.

  3. 03

    Drag the route to insert a via point and force a different taxiway path.

  4. 04

    Launch normally. X-Dispatch writes route data for supported downstream tools when that export path is configured.

  • Network routing depends on the taxi network in the airport data. Some airports have incomplete or unusual taxi network definitions.
  • Freehand routing is useful when the automatic network path does not match how you want to taxi.
Taxi routing sits on top of the airport diagram and uses the airport taxi network when available.

06 SimBrief

Import the latest OFP, review the route and briefing, draw it on the map, and export FMS files into the simulator.

Where

SimBrief button/panel, full briefing dialog, Settings -> SimBrief.

  1. 01

    Generate or update the flight on SimBrief first.

  2. 02

    Use X-Dispatch to fetch the latest OFP and review the route, vertical profile, navlog, performance, weights, and fuel.

  3. 03

    Use the compact panel for the active plan, or reopen the full briefing dialog when you need the detailed tabs again.

  4. 04

    Configure FMS export targets in Settings -> SimBrief, then export the file format your aircraft expects.

  • Imported routes draw on the globe with waypoints and flight-plan markers.
  • If SimBrief returns no plan, generate the flight on simbrief.com first, then fetch again from X-Dispatch.
SimBrief import is more than a route line: the full briefing includes performance, weights, fuel, and navlog tabs.

07 Map layers and overlays

The layer controls expose terrain, weather, nav data, procedures, online traffic, sectors, range rings, and airport filters.

Where

Map toolbar, Layers tab, overlay controls, and Settings -> Graphics.

  1. 01

    Use the map toolbar layer controls to toggle nav aids, airspace, procedures, weather radar, terrain, range rings, VATSIM, and IVAO.

  2. 02

    Use airport filters to narrow the globe by airport type, surface, country, or custom scenery status.

  3. 03

    Switch basemaps when readability changes: dark, light, satellite, or a custom map style URL.

  4. 04

    Open Settings -> Graphics to change the map style, enable 3D terrain and elevation shading, and tune performance-related visuals.

  • For satellite imagery, keep 3D elevation enabled but avoid terrain shading because it can muddy the satellite view.
  • Surface detail and approach light animation can be toggled off if you notice performance issues in the app.
  • ILS information appears in the airport panel and can be visualized on the map, including 3D glide slope rendering for runway ends.
  • VATSIM sector overlays and airport ATC details help identify controlled areas before you connect to the network.

Hidden power

Many advanced map features live behind the layer controls rather than in the airport panel.

Filters and layer toggles are in the map controls, not the airport detail panel.
Terrain, basemap, weather, and nav overlays are controlled separately so you can build the map view you need.
Graphics settings control dark, light, satellite, and custom map styles, 3D terrain, terrain shading, surface detail, and approach light animation for performance tuning.

08 Add-ons

Browse installed aircraft, plugins, liveries, scripts, and scenery, then install or reorder add-ons from one place.

Where

Add-ons button in the main toolbar.

  1. 01

    Open Add-ons from the toolbar to browse installed aircraft, plugins, liveries, Lua scripts, and scenery.

  2. 02

    Use the scenery tab to review and reorder scenery priority.

  3. 03

    Drag an archive or folder into the installer, or click to browse for a file.

  4. 04

    Use rescan after manually adding scenery or aircraft outside X-Dispatch.

  • Windows .lnk shortcuts, POSIX symlinks, and common external scenery layouts are followed during scans.
  • Delete-from-disk actions ask for confirmation. Use them carefully because they operate on your X-Plane folders.

File access

If X-Dispatch cannot modify an add-on folder, close X-Plane and check operating-system permissions before retrying.

The add-on manager is separate from Settings because it is a normal workflow tool, not just configuration.
The installer accepts drag-and-drop archives or folders when adding scenery, aircraft, plugins, or scripts.

09 Companion apps

Register tools such as X-Plane Map Enhancement, ATC clients, or hardware utilities so X-Dispatch can start them before launching X-Plane.

Where

Settings -> Companion Apps.

  1. 01

    Open Settings -> Companion Apps.

  2. 02

    Add a tool manually or start from a suggested entry such as X-Plane Map Enhancement on Windows.

  3. 03

    Choose the executable and add any required arguments or flags. For XPME, use `--start-service` when you want it to start its Ortho service.

  4. 04

    Enable auto-launch if the tool should start before X-Plane when you press Launch. X-Dispatch starts the companion app first, then continues to launch X-Plane.

  • X-Dispatch checks access and elevation before launching companion apps and shows clear warnings when Windows administrator rights are involved.
  • This is useful for any helper app that needs to be running before the simulator starts, not only XPME.
  • Companion apps are launched detached so they can keep running independently of the X-Dispatch window.
Companion apps are intentionally inside Settings because they are configured once and reused every launch.

10 Flight tracking and logbook

When X-Plane is running, X-Dispatch can show your aircraft on the map with live heading, altitude, speed, and follow mode. The logbook lets you review previous flights and start from a saved entry.

Where

Main map while X-Plane is running, and Logbook from the toolbar.

  1. 01

    Launch X-Plane from X-Dispatch, or open X-Dispatch while X-Plane is already running.

  2. 02

    Watch for your aircraft marker and the flight strip at the bottom of the map.

  3. 03

    Use follow mode to keep the aircraft centered during taxi and flight.

  4. 04

    Open the logbook to view saved flights, then start from an entry when you want to reuse its airport or launch context.

  5. 05

    If the connection drops, use reconnect or restart X-Plane and X-Dispatch in the normal order.

  • The live strip is useful after launch because it keeps dispatch context visible while the simulator is active.
  • The logbook is useful for repeating a route, reopening a previous airport, or quickly rebuilding a recent start.
  • Programmatic map movement should not disable follow mode; manual map movement can, depending on the interaction.
Tracking turns the dispatch map into a live reference while the simulator is running.
The logbook lets you view previous flights and start again from a saved entry.

11 Settings reference

Several hidden or advanced features live in settings because they are configured occasionally rather than used every flight.

Where

Settings dialog.

  1. 01

    Use X-Plane for install folders, rescans, multiple installs, close-on-launch, and custom launch arguments.

  2. 02

    Use SimBrief for user setup and FMS export folders.

  3. 03

    Use Graphics or Appearance for basemap, rendering, interface size, and visual behavior.

  4. 04

    Use Logs and Support when collecting diagnostics or changing crash reporting preferences.

  • Settings is also where support links, privacy controls, and project information live.
  • If you cannot find a feature on the main toolbar, check Settings before assuming it is not available.
Settings gathers setup and diagnostic tools that do not need to stay on the main dispatch screen.

12 Troubleshooting and support

Report an issue from the app with built-in logs and support tools, or use Discord when X-Dispatch cannot read files, launch X-Plane, or import a plan.

Where

Settings -> Logs, Settings -> Support, website Support page, Discord.

  1. 01

    Open Settings -> Support to report an issue from the app or jump to the support channels.

  2. 02

    Open Settings -> Logs to inspect parsed X-Plane log entries and search for errors.

  3. 03

    Use Open Log.txt when you need the raw simulator log.

  4. 04

    Copy flight JSON from the logbook when reporting launch-specific problems.

  5. 05

    Use Discord for the fastest back-and-forth support, or email when the issue is private.

  • Common install blockers include macOS quarantine, Windows SmartScreen, Linux AppImage permissions, protected X-Plane folders, and files locked by X-Plane.
  • The in-app report path is best when you need to include logs or exact launch context.
  • Crash reporting can be controlled from Settings. The website itself does not use analytics or cookies.

Best bug report

Include your OS, X-Plane version, X-Dispatch version, what you clicked, and the relevant log or copied flight JSON.

Use Settings -> Support and Logs to report issues from inside the app, or use Discord when you want live support.