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XPGuard

VATSIM-controlled runway safety lights for your flight sim.

XPGuard draws five kinds of light into MSFS and X-Plane 12:

  • Stop bars
  • Lead-on/off lights
  • Takeoff Hold Lights
  • Runway Entrance Lights
  • Follow the Greens taxi guidance

The controllers on VATSIM drive them live. As a pilot, you read the lights — you never switch them yourself. It works at every airport (Stop bars and THL), with no per-airport setup.

Freeware — no payment, ever

XPGuard is free to use.

  • No paid tier.
  • No unlock.
  • No license to buy.

Download it from xpguard.net — no account needed — and fly.

The lights

Light Color What it means Driven by
Stop bars Red / dark Red = hold short, do not cross. Dark = no restriction from this bar. A controller switches them.
Lead-on/off lights Green or green+amber The green or green+amber centerline route beyond a stop bar — lights as its bar is cleared for you. A controller switches them.
Takeoff Hold Lights (THL) Red A double row down the runway centerline ahead of you — the runway ahead is unsafe for takeoff. Automatic, from ground radar.
Runway Entrance Lights (REL) Red A red row from your holding position onto the runway — traffic is on it or about to be. Automatic, from ground radar.
Follow the Greens (FTG) Green Green centerline lights along your cleared taxi route. A controller sends them.

The lights are an aid, not a clearance

A dark stop bar or REL row is not permission to cross or enter.

  • Dark only means XPGuard sees no restriction or conflicting traffic.
  • Your clearance always comes verbally from ATC.

Stop bars

Red lights across a taxiway at a holding position. A controller switches them.

  • Red = hold short.
  • Dark = no restriction from this bar.
  • There is no green state.
  • A bar with no controller online is also dark (no-entry bars excepted).
  • Detected automatically at every airport — no per-airport setup.

Read more in The lights.

Lead-on/off lights

Green or green+amber centerline lights beyond a stop bar, along the route the bar protects.

  • When the controller clears the bar for you, the lead-on lights for your route light with it.
  • A bar can carry several routes — only the one you were cleared for lights.
  • After landing, lead-off lights guide you off the runway.

See The lights.

Takeoff Hold Lights (THL)

A double row of red lights down the centerline ahead of an aircraft lined up to depart.

  • Automatic — not switched bar by bar.
  • Lights when the runway ahead is unsafe.
  • Clears itself when the runway is safe.
  • Fed from the controller's ground radar. It needs an online controller with THL active.

See The lights.

Runway Entrance Lights (REL)

A red row of in-pavement lights running from a holding position to the runway edge. It warns you not to enter.

  • Automatic.
  • Lit whenever there is traffic on, or about to be on, the runway at your entrance.
  • Fed from the controller's ground radar, like THL. It needs an online controller with REL active.

See The lights.

Follow the Greens (FTG)

Green centerline lights that trace your cleared taxi route from where you are to where you're going.

  • A controller sends them to you.
  • Accept, and the route lights up.
  • Follow the greens.

See The lights.

Who it's for

  • Pilots flying on VATSIM in MSFS (2020 & 2024) or X-Plane 12 — install the plugin, connect, and the lights appear. Start with X-Plane setup or MSFS setup.
  • Controllers using EuroScope or vatSys — claim a runway and switch the bars for the pilots at your airport. See EuroScope or vatSys.
  • Contributors who map an airport's stop bars, lead-on lines and REL rows in the web editor for everyone to use. See Contributing.

Where to next

Need help?

Report bugs and request features on the XPGuard Discord.