The Route Planner
The Route Planner is the core of OnAirTools. Here you plan your routes, select your aircraft, add cargo or passengers and view the optimised flight sequence.
Interface overview
The interface consists of three columns:
- Left — aircraft selection and capacity: select your aircraft and view your payload capacity.
- Centre — map, cargo input and route details: manage your cargo and view the route.
- Right — selected cargo and route overview: a summary of everything you have planned.
Selecting an aircraft
In the left column, choose an aircraft from your fleet via the dropdown menu. Once you select an aircraft, the tool automatically loads:
- The current location of the aircraft (ICAO code).
- The maximum payload in lbs or kg (depending on your unit setting).
- The maximum flight range.
If an aircraft is currently airborne, its location is unknown. You cannot calculate a route or import cargo for that aircraft. Wait until the flight is completed.
Next to the dropdown there is a reload button to refresh the fleet data from OnAir Company.
Importing cargo from OnAir Company
The quickest way to get started is to import your open assignments directly via the Import Pending Jobs button. This button fetches all available jobs waiting for you in OnAir Company.
When importing, you can choose whether to replace your current route plan or add to it. Use the Replace current route option next to the import button.
Import filter
If jobs are available in different categories, a filter window will appear before the import takes place. At the top you see an overview of how many jobs are available per category. You can then use toggles to control what you want to import:
- Include Level Missions — Level missions are assignments linked to your progression in OnAir Company, recognisable by a numbering such as #1, #2 in the description. These are filtered out by default; enable this toggle to include them.
- Exclude VA Jobs — Jobs assigned by your Virtual Airline. Enable this toggle to skip VA jobs and only import your own assignments.
- Exclude Work Orders — Jobs that are part of a Work Order. Enable this toggle to exclude Work Order jobs.
After setting the toggles, click Import Jobs to add the filtered jobs to your route. Your choices are remembered for next time.
After an initial import, you can use the Reload Jobs button. This reloads jobs using the same filter settings as last time, without showing the filter window again.
Adding cargo manually
You can also add cargo or passengers yourself via the Add Cargo form in the centre of the page. This is useful for cargo you have already accepted in OnAir Company but that does not come through via the automatic import.
Fill in the following:
- Type — Cargo or Passengers.
- Description — a free name for the cargo.
- Weight — in lbs or kg, depending on your unit setting.
- Load location (ICAO) — the airport where you pick up the cargo.
- Delivery location (ICAO) — the airport where you deliver the cargo.
- Price — the payout in dollars.
Then click Add to Route to add it.
Route calculation
Once cargo has been added, the tool automatically calculates the most efficient route. The route is displayed on the map and as a list of stops in the right column.
Per stop you can see:
- Which cargo you load (with weight and destination).
- Which cargo you unload (with weight and origin).
- The weight on that leg and whether you remain within the capacity limit.
The tool uses a smart algorithm that determines the shortest and most logical order of stops, taking capacity management per leg into account.
Capacity indicator
At the top of the right column you see a visual overview of payload utilisation. A green bar means you are within limits; red means you have exceeded the capacity limit and need to remove some cargo.
Adjusting the route
You can remove cargo from your route by clicking the bin icon next to the relevant item. The route is then automatically recalculated.
The Clear Route button removes all cargo at once. Reset Route resets the route status back to the starting point — useful when you are mid-flight and have already completed one or more stops.
Executing the route
During your flight you tick off stops as you visit them. The tool keeps track of which cargo you have already loaded and unloaded and updates the display accordingly.