Hi,I am thinking of buying some flight planning software. Can someone give me some recommendations please.There are a couple of points I am interested in. I like to program the FMC myself, so I don't need to be able to import plans. And in FSnavigators case, I am not sure I like the integration into the simulator, doesn't it slow things down a little? ( Another DLL ).Isn't flight planning done in flight operations, rather than the cockpit?One last question. How do you know what sid/star to use for each destination? Eg. If I am flying London to Oslo ( North ) surely I don't want a SID that takes me south.Thanks Paul ( SPIM )

Undoubtably FSbuild 2.1 !!It's payware, but I have yet to see a planner that even comes close + it has brilliant support.

Hi Paul,As you probably know there a number of flight planning programs out there, 2 I am familiar with are FSBuild and FSnav. My own personal preference is for FSNav but a large number of people like FSBuild.I find FSNav easier to work with and the map view gives me a better picture of the route so I can make changes if needed.I have used FSNav since I started simming with FS98 and have not found a problem with it slowing FS down, mind you I have not flown without it so cannot make a comparison.You can often find flight plans on the Web, especially on the local Vatsim web sites although they do tend to be for flights within that region.Check out http://www.gvat.btinternet.co.uk/fp.htm for an Excel speadsheet of various routes but note that it was last updated in May so the routes will need checking.Flight planning is done in Ops and not the cockpit but as we don't have an Ops simulator you have to do it yourself, just like you have to be co-pilot and flight engineer :-)SIDs & STAR are easy, if you have the charts.The main bit of your flight plan is the en-route bit which starts and ends a few miles from the repective airports.The SID gets you from the departure airport (maybe runway specific) to the start of the en-route phase. The STAR does the opposite, gets you from the end of the en-route into the arrival airport.As you say you don't want a SID that takes you North if your route is South, so you look at the charts and find a SID/STAR that ends/starts near the ends of the en-route phase.In fact it often easier than that. Most (but not all) SID/STARs take their name from the waypoint or navaid the finish/start with.If you look at your en-route phase it is almost certain that you can match one of the end points to a SID/STAR.If flying into or out of the UK it is even easier as there are designated routes to/from UK airports and the edge of the UK FIR.Go to http://www.hawarden.org.uk/ and download UK Route and the latest Airac cycle for it.With this neat utility you can enter your UK departure airport and the point where you will exit UK airspace and UK Route will show you which routes are available and the correct SID.Flying into the UK you do the reverse. Enter your entry point into UK airspace and then your arrival airport.If you do not find a match then you need to change the exit/entry point into the UK.If you look on http://www.vatsim-uk.org/ and go to the London FIR section you should find diagrams showing traffic flow into and out of that area and I think it shows airways. from that you can make a good stab at making a realistic route.Rather than take up forum space, if you would like help on a route from London to Oslo, and hwo I arrived at it, private mail me.HTH

Thanks guys,A great help. The example of London Oslo was just to try and understand if there was a way, without the charts, to ensure a SID is sending you off in the right direction. It seems I will need to use charts though.Paul ( SPIM )

Paul,>I will need to use charts though.

Thanks for your help mate,I would use charts, but, as a Brit living in Peru, there isn't a great availability of charts down here.I have a friend who flies A320's for Taca, I may ask him if he can get me some.Cheers,PaulPS I bought FSBuild 2.1

Hi Paul,this is a repetition, but if you

HI,i would definitely recommend FSBuild 2.1, highly configurable and easy to use.CheersHolger Dallmeyer

Thanks Guys,I bought the FSBuild 2.1 and am very happy with it. As for the charts, there is still limited availability for South America.However, with great support from Ernie, he showed me a way of displaying sid/stars visually in the map display of FSBuild, so allowing me to choose one heading off in the right direction.Cheers, Paul ( SPIM )

You won't be disapointed with FS Navigator. I've never used FS Build, so I can't compare the two. I've had FS Navigator now for several years and would characterize it as my most useful add-on ever. It also does not slow down the simulator to any visible extent.This has been important with the PMDG bird because I just can't seem to solve the missing runway and SID.STARS in the FMC. I build the flight plan in FS Navigator, export it to MS, convert to RTE format and dump it inot the PMDG flight plan file. Works like a charm, every time. And FS Navigator allows you to update the approach and departure database with ease. Good luck with your decision.