Getting Started with FlyAround

Table of contents

  1. What is FlyAround?
  2. System Requirements
    1. Supported Simulators
    2. Simulator Connection
    3. FlyAround Simulations Connect for MSFS
    4. The FlyAround Simulations Bridge
    5. Third-Party Integrations
  3. First Launch & Login
  4. Main Navigation
  5. Connection Status
  6. Themes
  7. App Version & Updates
  8. Language
  9. Next Steps

What is FlyAround?

FlyAround is a flight tracking and management platform designed for Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) 2020/2024 and X-Plane 11/12. It adds a full logistics layer to your sim — flight planning, cargo/passenger loading, real-time tracking, logbook keeping, and more — all from a desktop app that runs alongside your simulator.

System Requirements

  • A Windows, macOS or Linux computer with a supported flight simulator installed
  • The FlyAround desktop app (installed via the FlyAround Simulations Installer)
  • Active internet connection
  • A FlyAround account

Supported Simulators

FlyAround connects to the following simulators:

Simulator Connection Platforms
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 SimConnect (built in) Windows
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 SimConnect (built in) Windows
X-Plane 11 FlyAround Simulations Connect plugin Windows, macOS, Linux
X-Plane 12 FlyAround Simulations Connect plugin Windows, macOS, Linux

FSX and Prepar3D are not supported.

Simulator Connection

  • MSFS 2020 / 2024 connect through SimConnect, which is part of the simulator — there is nothing extra to install and no third-party software to buy. Start the sim, start FlyAround, and the link comes up on its own.
  • X-Plane 11 / 12 connect through the FlyAround Simulations Connect plugin. Install it from the FlyAround Simulations Installer — open the Installer, navigate to the Plugins section, and enable the X-Plane Connect plugin. On macOS and Linux this is the only connection needed.

FlyAround Simulations Connect for MSFS

Tracking works over SimConnect alone, but a few features need to read and write cockpit variables that SimConnect does not expose. Those come from FlyAround Simulations Connect for MSFS, a small add-on module you install from the FlyAround Simulations Installer:

  • GSX Pro ground handling
  • First Officer actions on study-level aircraft (Fenix, FlyByWire, iniBuilds, ToLiss and similar)
  • The in-sim EFB panel hotkey

Install it once and it loads with the simulator. Without it, flights are still planned, tracked and logged normally.

The FlyAround Simulations Bridge

The app ships with a background service — the FlyAround Simulations Bridge — that talks to your simulator and keeps tracking your flight. On Windows it lives in the system tray and keeps running even if you close the FlyAround window (use the tray icon’s Exit to stop it, or enable Exit when FlyAround exits in the tray settings). On macOS and Linux the bridge starts and stops together with the app.

Third-Party Integrations

Some features depend on external services and require separate accounts or subscriptions:

Service Required for
Navigraph (subscription) Internal flight planning, ATC layer on the Live Map, en-route Center hand-offs and the automatic arrival chain in ATC Communications
SimBrief (free account) External flight plan import in the Dispatcher Wizard

First Launch & Login

  1. Start the FlyAround desktop application.
  2. You will see the Login screen. Enter your credentials to authenticate.
  3. After login, the app checks your account status and loads your pilot profile and settings.
  4. If your account is on a trial or requires billing activation, a notification will appear. Some features may be limited.

The main menu is accessed via the hamburger icon (☰) in the top-left corner. It contains:

Menu Item Description
Live Map View real-time global flight tracking
Calendar Schedule flights and group events (requires active subscription)
Activity Activity feed and pilot community list
Hangar Manage your aircraft fleet
Logbook Review your completed flight history
Settings Configure the application

At the top of the menu you will also see your pilot profile summary:

  • Pilot nickname and avatar
  • Total flights, flight hours, and distance traveled

Use the edit icon next to your name to open profile settings.

Connection Status

The FS Connection indicator in the navigation bar shows whether FlyAround is communicating with your running simulator:

Indicator Meaning
Green Connected and receiving data
Yellow / Amber Connection degraded or reconnecting
No indicator Not connected

FlyAround requires the simulator to be running for flight tracking features to work.

Themes

Use the theme toggle in the main menu to switch between light and dark mode.

FlyAround also ships four full app themes — pick one under Settings → Main Settings: Flight Deck, Glass Cockpit (frosted, the default), Steam Gauges and Radar. Each restyles the whole app, the live map and even the taskbar icon.

App Version & Updates

FlyAround checks for a new version on startup. If an update is available, a notification appears with release notes and a download link. Keep the app updated to access the latest features.

Language

FlyAround supports multiple languages: English, German, Spanish, and French. The app language is derived from your system/browser locale setting.

Next Steps