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AutoDGS for X-Plane 12 The Free Plugin You Didn’t Know You Needed.
AutoDGS for X-Plane 12 The Free Plugin You Didn’t Know You Needed.
In the ever-evolving world of flight simulation, quality of life improvements like AutoDGS can make a big difference in immersion and realism. There are many great other plugins you can utilise for X Plane 12 to enhance the overall experience too.
If you’re flying in X-Plane 12 and often operate airliners or larger aircraft, AutoDGS is a must-have free plugin but is also great for us GA pilots so many users are only just discovering. Here is what it is, how to get it and what it does for you in this blog.
Despite its usefulness, it has flown under the radar for a long time until posts on Facebook and other communities started spreading the word. I’m personally not an airline guy so it went under my radar as well but there are so many captains out there that may not know about this amazing plugin I had to write about it.
Let’s dive into what AutoDGS is, what it does, how to get started, and why it might become a staple in your plugin arsenal.
What Is AutoDGS?
AutoDGS stands for Automatic Docking Guidance System. It’s a plugin that adds realistic Visual Docking Guidance Systems (VDGS) to compatible airport gates in X-Plane 12. These systems are typically seen in real-world airports to help pilots park accurately at the gate—no more guessing if you’re aligned or too far forward.
It works much like the Safedock or A-VDGS systems you see at major airports around the world, giving you real-time visual feedback on your alignment and stopping point using animated LED displays placed at the terminal gates.
What Problem Does It Solve?
Before AutoDGS, parking at the gate in X-Plane was mostly guesswork unless the airport scenery developer had implemented a custom docking system. AutoDGS solves several problems:
- Lack of VDGS in default airports
- Difficulty aligning large aircraft properly
- No immersion cues for stopping accuracy
- Manual placement of aircraft leading to scenery clipping or incorrect positioning
AutoDGS automatically adds docking systems at compatible jetways (including default or third-party jetways) and takes the guesswork out of gate arrivals.
Key Features
- Fully automated and works with most airport sceneries and jetways.
- Supports default, SAM, and MisterX jetways.
- Provides live guidance for stopping and alignment using real-time visual feedback.
- Works seamlessly with AI traffic and multiplayer (with some limitations).
- Extremely lightweight with minimal FPS impact.
How to Download AutoDGS 3.0.0
AutoDGS is completely free and can be downloaded from:
- AUTODGS 3.0.0 – DIrect Download LetsFlyVFR.com – 27/5/2025 Version
- Simply download the ZIP file and follow the instructions provided in the README.
How to Install and Set It Up
Installation is easy:
- Download the AutoDGS ZIP package.
- Unzip the file.
- Drag and drop the AutoDGS folder into your
X-Plane 12/Resources/plugins/directory. - Start X-Plane 12.
That’s it! No configuration files or setup wizards—just install and go.
How to Use AutoDGS in X-Plane 12
Once installed:
- Start a flight and taxi to a gate with a jetway.
- As you approach the gate, the AutoDGS system will activate automatically.
- Watch the visual display (usually placed on the terminal building near the jetway) as it gives you:
- Stop guidance (when to stop)
- Left/Right alignment indicators
- Text and visual cues depending on aircraft type
It’s a passive system no interaction needed beyond taxiing to the gate.
Known Issues or Limitations
While AutoDGS is a fantastic plugin, it’s not without quirks:
- Not all gates are supported, especially if the airport scenery uses custom static objects or incompatible jetways.
- It may not display properly in VR if the gate scenery places the display too far from the cockpit view.
- Multiplayer compatibility is limited—only the pilot’s aircraft is guided in most cases.
- Some users report conflicts with SAM plugin updates, which may require reordering plugin priorities or updating both.
Overall, the plugin is stable, widely praised, and consistently updated by its developer.
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How Popular Is AutoDGS?
Although it’s been around for a while, many users only hear about AutoDGS through community forums or Facebook groups. It has over 100,000 downloads on X-Plane.org and an active support thread, but isn’t bundled with the sim or airport sceneries, so awareness is still growing.
If you hadn’t heard of it before now, you’re not alone but once you use it, you’ll wonder how you ever flew without it. Just one more small step to making the whole X Plane 12 world more entertaining and realistic.
Other Must-Have X-Plane 12 Plugins – Download Here.
To round off, here’s a list of the most popular and useful plugins for X-Plane 12 in 2025:
| Plugin | Function |
|---|---|
| AutoDGS – LetsFLyVFR Download | Automated gate docking guidance |
| X-World Scenery (SimHeaven) | Global autogen and scenery enhancement |
| BetterPushback – X Plane.org | Highly realistic pushback tug with route planning |
| FlyWithLua – LetsFlyVFR Download | Lua scripting engine for performance tweaks and add-ons |
| Avitab – X Plane.org | In-cockpit tablet with charts, maps, and integration with SimBrief |
| X-Camera – X Plane.org | Advanced camera views and tracking for immersive visuals |
| SAM (Scenery Animation Manager) | Jetway, seasons, and ground service animations |
| X-RAAS – X Plane.org | Runway Awareness and Advisory System simulation |
| LiveTraffic – X Plane.org | Real-world aircraft tracking displayed in-game – READ CONDITIONS FIRST |
| SkunkCrafts Updater – Direct Download | Automatically update aircraft and plugins easily – More INSTALL HELP HEREI |
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Final Thoughts
AutoDGS is a simple, effective plugin that enhances realism in a subtle but meaningful way. If you fly airliners or want to improve immersion at gates, this is a must-have. Best of all, it’s free, easy to install, and plays nicely with most sceneries and aircraft.
Try it on your next flight—you might just be surprised how much it adds to the experience.
Author
Brendon McAliece (Aka Gunnie) is a military veteran with 23 years working on Jet Fighters, their weapons systems and ejection seat/module systems as well as munitions and R&D. Involved with flight simulation since the 1980s, he has flown all the major flight simulators over the years.
He is an Australian expat who has lived in Malaysia, UK, Saudi Arabia and more recently Thailand. He is a multi-lingual blogger who loves to share his life experiences here on LetsFlyVFR.com and DreamingGuitar.com, with his lifestyle and Travel experiences Blog plus his Dreaming Coffee website.
Learn More @
DreamingGuitar.com – DreamingCoffee.com – LetsFlyVFR.com
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