Getting Started
This guide walks you through the initial setup and the minimum steps required to start a flight using Flight Simulator First Officer (FSFO) v6.
Before starting, make sure Microsoft Flight Simulator is installed and you have your FSFO license key available.
Before your first flight
1. Ensure FSUIPC7 is installed
If FSUIPC7 is not installed or is outdated, click Get Started, then click the Install FSUIPC7 button to install the latest version. It is recommended to keep the default FSUIPC7 settings unless instructed otherwise.
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2. Start FSFO and configure basic settings
- Return to the home screen by double-clicking anywhere on the FSFO tablet.
- Click the Settings icon on the home screen.
- Review all configuration options by clicking Help and selecting User Settings.
- Select your region and configure your audio output devices.
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3. Activate your license
You must activate FSFO for each aircraft profile you own.
- Select your product from the drop-down list
- Enter your 16-character FSFO license key
- Enter your email address
- Click Activate
Activation may take a few minutes to complete.
Once this one-time setup is complete, follow the steps below for each flight.
Minimum steps for every flight
1. Launch Microsoft Flight Simulator
Start MSFS and load into your aircraft.
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2. Start FSUIPC7
FSUIPC7 must be running before FSFO connects to MSFS.
You may optionally configure FSUIPC7 to start automatically with MSFS.
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3. Start FSFO after MSFS is ready
Once MSFS shows “Ready to Fly”, start FSFO.
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4. Connect FSFO to MSFS
Click the red WiFi button in the top-right corner of FSFO.
- Red icon: not connected
- Green icon: connected successfully
When the icon turns green, FSFO is successfully connected to the simulator.
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5. Open the Flight Plan page
Click the Flight Plan icon to begin setting up your flight.
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6. Enter and confirm your flight plan
If you have configured your SimBrief ID in FSFO settings, you can import your flight directly from SimBrief.
- Recommended: import your flight from SimBrief
- If not using SimBrief, fill in all required fields (marked with an asterisk)
- Click Calculate (ONLY REQUIRED IF MANUALLY ENTERING YOUR AIRPORT CODES)
- Select your Aircraft Profile
- Select your Aircraft Checklist
- Review performance data using the Performance button
- Click Start Flight
You must click Start Flight before starting any flow or checklist.
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7. Start a flow or checklist
Navigate to the Checklist page and select the phase you want to run.
Understanding flows and checklists
Flows and checklists are the core of FSFO.
- A Flow is a series of actions the copilot performs automatically.
- A Checklist requires challenge-and-response interaction between the pilot and copilot.
- In FSFO v6, flows are executed before the associated checklist.
Voice enabled vs voice disabled
Voice enabled
When voice is enabled, you must respond verbally to checklist challenges.
Available Voice Commands are listed here: Voice Commands
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Voice disabled
When voice is disabled, the aircraft must be configured correctly before the copilot proceeds.
To bypass a checklist item, hold: CTRL + ALT
Auto Flow policy
Flows and checklists can be started manually (press the Start Flow Button), or automatically using an Auto Flow policy.
You can learn more about Auto Flow Policies here: User Settings Reference
If a step does not work as expected, see Troubleshooting.
