Getting Started

Getting Started with FSFO v6

This guide walks you through the modern FSFO v6 setup flow and the minimum steps required to start a flight.

Before starting, make sure Microsoft Flight Simulator is installed and that you have your FSFO license key and purchase email available.

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First-Time Setup

The easiest way to complete initial setup is to open the Get Started page inside FSFO and work through the checklist there. The current v6 setup flow is built around Pilot Portal access, FSUIPC7, your SimBrief ID, your audio and speech settings, and aircraft activation.

1. Create your Pilot Portal account

Pilot Portal is now part of the normal FSFO v6 setup flow. It is used for your pilot profile and for features such as Company and Career. Some aircraft activations also depend on a valid Portal sign-in.

From the Get Started page:

• Click Create Portal Account
• Create your account in the Pilot Portal
• Verify your email address before returning to FSFO

If you already have a Pilot Portal account, you can skip account creation and go straight to Portal sign-in.

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2. Install or update FSUIPC7

FSFO uses FSUIPC7 to connect to Microsoft Flight Simulator.

From the Get Started page:

• Click the FSUIPC7 button
• Install or update FSUIPC7 if needed

If FSUIPC7 is missing or outdated, FSFO will not be able to link to MSFS correctly.

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3. Run Make Runways

From the Get Started page:

• Click Make Runways

This updates FSFO's airport and runway reference data for your simulator version. It is especially important after simulator updates or scenery changes.

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4. Sign in to Pilot Portal from FSFO

Once your Portal account exists and your email is verified:

• Return to FSFO
• Open the Get Started page
• Click Portal Sign-In
• Sign in with your Pilot ID, email, or username and your Portal password

You can also sign in later from the Settings page or Portal-related pages, but it is best to complete this early during setup.

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5. Enter your SimBrief ID

At the top of the Get Started page, enter your numeric SimBrief ID.

This allows FSFO to import your flight planning data from SimBrief during flight setup.

Use your numeric SimBrief user ID, not your username.

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6. Open Settings and configure the basics

The main v6 settings window is opened from the gear icon in the top toolbar, not from the older tablet-style home workflow.

Recommended first-time settings to review:

• Pilots audio output
• Cabin Crew audio output
• Region
• Speech Eng
• Mic Input if applicable
• speech startup preferences such as Open Mic and Start Speech On Start

If you plan to use voice control, this is also the right time to:

• click TRAIN SPEECH
• test your pilot and crew outputs
• confirm the microphone icon behavior in the top toolbar

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7. Activate the aircraft profiles you own

Open the Licenses page in FSFO and activate each aircraft profile you plan to use.

The current license page uses this general flow:

• Select the product
• Enter the purchase email
• Enter the 16-character FSFO key
• Click Activate

If the product uses Portal-based activation, sign in to Pilot Portal first.

Activations are tied to the current device after validation succeeds.

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Minimum Steps for Every Flight

Once the one-time setup above is finished, use the following sequence each time you fly.

1. Start Microsoft Flight Simulator

Launch MSFS and load into your aircraft as usual.

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2. Start FSUIPC7

FSUIPC7 must be running before FSFO can link to the simulator.

If you prefer, you can configure FSUIPC7 to launch automatically with MSFS.

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3. Start FSFO after MSFS is ready

Wait until MSFS is fully loaded and ready, then start FSFO.

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4. Link FSFO to the simulator

Use the Wi-Fi icon in the top toolbar:

• Red = not linked
• Green = linked to the simulator

If you use Auto Connect in Interface Settings, FSFO may connect automatically. If not, click the Wi-Fi icon manually.

Do not continue with the flight until the Wi-Fi icon shows a successful connection.

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5. Enable voice control if desired

If you plan to use voice control, click the microphone icon in the top toolbar.

• Red = microphone/speech recognition off
• Green = microphone/speech recognition on

If you are not using voice control, FSFO can still run flows and checklists using aircraft-state detection and manual progression.

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6. Open the Flight Planning page

Use the Flight Planning page to build or import the current flight.

The current page is organized into these main areas:

• Flight Setup
• Routing
• Load / Perf
• Ops Status
• Actions

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7. Complete the Flight Setup section

On the left side of the Flight Planning page, confirm:

• Aircraft Profile
• Aircraft Checklist
• Aircraft Type
• Cargo Flight
• Turnaround
• Flight Type

Current flight types are:

• FREE FLIGHT
• CAREER
• COMPANY

You will also see:

• Training Flight

Set Training Flight to YES only if you intentionally want FSFO to capture copilot handling telemetry for tuning and suggestions. For normal flights, leave it on NO.

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8. Load or enter the route

In the Routing section, enter or confirm:

• Flight Number
• Departure and Arrival ICAOs
• Departure and Arrival runways
• Initial altitude
• Planned altitude
• Departure transition altitude
• Arrival transition altitude

If you use SimBrief:

• Click SimBrief in the Actions area
• Import your route and planning data

If you are entering the flight manually:

• enter the route information yourself
• review the route list and vertical profile
• use Calculate if needed

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9. Complete load and performance inputs

In the Load / Perf section, review or enter:

• Payload
• Fuel
• Passengers
• Distance

Useful related actions on the Flight Planning page include:

• EFB
• Pilot Brief
• OPS Center
• Live Wx

These are optional support tools, but they are helpful for verifying performance inputs and operational readiness before the flight starts.

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10. Click Start Flight

When the flight setup is ready, click Start Flight.

You must click Start Flight before running flows or checklists for the flight.

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11. Open the Checklist / EFB page and run the current phase

Go to the Checklist / EFB page and use the flow controls there.

The current checklist page includes:

• a flow or checklist phase selector
• a START FLOW button
• a CHECKLIST view
• the EFB view
• PERF INPUTS
• the current AUTOFLOW POLICY

From there, start the appropriate phase for where you are in the flight.

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Understanding Flows and Checklists

Flows and checklists are still the core of FSFO, but the surrounding workflow is more integrated in v6.

• A Flow is a series of actions the copilot performs automatically.
• A Checklist is the challenge-and-response verification that follows the flow or phase setup.
• In typical use, FSFO runs the flow first and then progresses through the checklist logic for that phase.

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Voice Enabled vs Voice Disabled

Voice Enabled

If speech recognition is enabled, you can respond verbally to checklist prompts and use spoken commands throughout the flight.

See: Voice Commands

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Voice Disabled

If speech recognition is disabled, FSFO can still continue when the aircraft is configured correctly or when you manually advance or bypass a hold.

To bypass a wait or prompt, hold Ctrl+Alt.

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AutoFlow Policy

FSFO can run phases manually or automatically depending on your AutoFlow configuration.

The current v6 flow settings support these main policies:

• SMART
• LIGHTS
• USER
• NONE

If you want full control, leave AutoFlow on a manual-friendly setup and start phases yourself. If you want more automation, review the Flow Options section in Settings.

See: User Settings Reference

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Recommended First Flights

For your first few flights with FSFO v6:

• use a familiar aircraft
• start with a short route
• import from SimBrief if possible
• keep voice enabled only after your mic and output tests are working
• manually supervise the first few flows and checklists

This makes it much easier to understand what FSFO is doing before you rely on deeper automation.

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If something does not work as expected, check your Pilot Portal sign-in, FSUIPC7 status, simulator connection, speech settings, and aircraft activation status first. After that, see Troubleshooting.