Advanced Users Guide
Advanced Users Guide
This guide is intended for advanced FSFO users who want to manually customize SOPs, create their own flows and checklists, tune Smart Flows, and manage the FSFO airport database.
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SOP File Location
All SOPs are stored in:
C:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Local\FSFO_V6\FlowsChk
Replace [Your Name] with your Windows user name.
Each SOP file must begin with two required header lines:
type;AIRBUS;; user;;;
- The first line identifies the aircraft type (BOEING or AIRBUS).
- The second line is reserved for user-generated flows and checklists.
SOP File Structure
Each line in an SOP file uses the following structure:
Phase;Type;System;Response
Example:
1;1;Auto_Brakes;MAX
Where:
- Phase = Flight phase number
- Type = Flow or Checklist
- System = Target system or command
- Response = Desired value or action
Phases
The following numeric values define flight phases:
1 = Preflight or Cockpit Preparation 2 = Before Start 3 = Engine Start 4 = After Start 5 = Taxi 6 = Before Takeoff or Lineup 7 = After Takeoff 8 = Descent 9 = Approach 10 = Landing 11 = After Landing 12 = Shutdown or Parking 13 = Runway Change 100 = Turn Around 14 = User Defined 15 = User Defined 16 = User Defined
Types (Flow vs Checklist)
1 = Flow 2 = Checklist
Flow A memorized, spatial sweep of switches and controls used to configure the aircraft. Flows are fast, heads-up, and done from memory.
Checklist A short, written challenge-response used to verify critical items are correctly set.
How they work together:
- Normal operations: Flow → Checklist
- Abnormal or emergencies: Use QRH or abnormal checklist
The flow performs the actions, the checklist verifies them.
Creating Custom Flows and Checklists
Always create a backup copy of your SOP file before making manual edits.
To add user-defined flows (for example: Single Engine and Go-Around):
Update the second line of your SOP file:
type;AIRBUS;; user;Single_Eng;Go_Around;
Then add new phase lines at the end of your file:
13;2;Takeoff_Speeds;READBACK 13;2;Altitude;READBACK
14;2;Action;Value 14;2;Action;Value
15;2;Action;Value 15;2;Action;Value
Mapping:
- Phase 14 = Supplemental Flow One
- Phase 15 = Supplemental Flow Two
- Phase 16 = Supplemental Flow Three
Voice commands:
- “Supplemental checklist one”
- “Supplemental flow one”
Flow Commands Explained
LVAR
Used to control MSFS Local Variables.
Format:
1;1;LVAR;XMLVAR_StandbyPower_Selector=1=Standby Power
Meaning:
- XMLVAR_StandbyPower_Selector = LVAR name
- 1 = value
- Standby Power = display string
SIMVAR
Used to control MSFS Simulation Variables.
Format:
1;1;SIMVAR;67271=1=Parking Brake
Meaning:
- 67271 = SIMVAR control number
- 1 = value (ON)
Play_Sapi_Copilot
Speaks text using the Copilot SAPI voice.
Play_Sapi_Pilot
Speaks text using the Pilot SAPI voice.
Play_Wav
Plays a WAV file.
Format:
1;1;Play_Wav;C:\Users\name\FSFO\boarding_Noise.wav
Misc_Text
Displays reminder text under the Pilot section.
Example:
1;1;Misc_Text;Start ACARS
Capt_Actions
Displays reminder text under the Captain Actions section.
Flight_Plan
Loads the most recent flight plan from:
C:\Users\[name]\AppData\Local\FSFO_V6\Download
Landing_Data
Reads back minimums and Vref speeds.
Fuel
- Load = Loads fuel from FSFO Flight Plan
- Readback = Reads back current fuel
Payload
- Load = Loads payload from FSFO Flight Plan
- Readback = Reads back current payload
Loadsheet
- Confirm = Confirms aircraft under MTOW
Walk_Around
Custom duration (seconds):
1;1;WALK_AROUND;965
Defaults:
- SHORT = 150 seconds
- MED = 300 seconds
- LONG = 600 seconds
Manually Update Smart Flow Options
Close FSFO.
Navigate to:
C:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Local\FSFO_V6\UserData
Open:
userSettings.cfg
Locate and edit:
Flows_PreFltStart=10 Flows_BeforeTakeoffStart=800 Flows_AfterTakeoffStart=3000 Flows_DescentStart=20 Flows_ApproachStart=10000 Flows_LndgStart=1500
Units:
Flows_PreFltStart = Seconds Flows_BeforeTakeoffStart = Feet to runway threshold Flows_AfterTakeoffStart = AGL feet Flows_DescentStart = Nautical miles Flows_ApproachStart = AGL feet Flows_LndgStart = AGL feet
FSFO Airport Database Tool
FSFO Make Runway is a separate program that builds the runway database using SIMCONNECT and MSFS APIs.
Installation
You can install it in two ways:
- From FSFO
- Click Get Started on the FSFO main page
- Click MAKE RWY on the New User window
- Follow the installation instructions
- Manually:
- Navigate to *\Flight Simulator First Officer V6\Res\Exe
- * represents your FSFO V6 directory; just right-click on the Flight Simulator First Officer V6 shortcut and select "Open File Location"
- Right-Click FSFO_Make_Runway.exe and Select "Run as Administrator"
- Navigate to *\Flight Simulator First Officer V6\Res\Exe
Building the Database
- Start MSFS or MSFS24 and load into the cockpit
- Click FSFO NAV PATH and select the FSFO NavData folder
- Click Connect
- Click Build
Note: This process can take over two hours.
Manual Database Updates
Runway data file:
- *\FSFO_V6\NavData\runways.csv
Note 1 (Runway Code):
- Stored as a 3-digit code where the last digit indicates the side:
- 0 = none
- 1 = Left (L)
- 2 = Right (R)
- 3 = Center (C)
- 4 = Water (W)
- Examples:
- 330 = Runway 33
- 331 = Runway 33L
- 332 = Runway 33R
- 333 = Runway 33C
- 090 = Runway 9
- 091 = Runway 9L
Note 2 (Latitude/Longitude format):
- Lat/Lon values must be in decimal degrees (DD) format (example: 42.193545).
- Threshold lat/lon represent the runway threshold (AFCAD “runway start”).
Note 3 (Feet):
- Elevation, length, width, and threshold offset values are (must be) in feet.
Note 4 (Heading):
- Runway heading is the magnetic runway heading.
Note 5 (ILS frequency):
- ILS frequency is stored as nnn.nn (example: 109.50) or 0 if no ILS is available.
Note 6 (Magnetic variation):
- Magnetic variation (in degrees) is the value applied to convert magnetic to true heading: True Heading = Magnetic Heading + Magnetic Variation
For standard setup and everyday operation, see Getting Started and User Settings Reference.
