I would like to know whether it is possible to persuade the FS ATC controllers to let me fly a flight-planned STAR. The extensive data base used to program the FMC in the 737, as in other aircraft, seems to me to be of little use because I can seldom get to the T/D before the vectors and decent clearances begin. ATC generally flies me much further than what the STAR would entail and I am unable to use the programmed decent path at all. I generally prepare my flight plan in FS Navigator or FS Build. I then export it to FS9 (and to the 737 unless keyed into the FMC) and load it from the FS Flight Plan page. It always looks good on the FMC but, if I am flying with ATC, I never get to see it work. Comments much appreciated.

If you were to use Radar Contact Version 3.1 you would overcome this problem. Radar Contact will either vector you from your last fix to the active ILS of your destination or you can select to fly a IAP,which is the STAR.I use FSBuild V2 for my flight planning which always includes a SID and a STAR for my flights if there is one for the departure and/or destination airports. Of course it then builds a FMC route for the PMDG 737 FMC. In almost 99% of my flights I do not receive a vector away from the STAR until I am about 35 miles from the airport, which in most STARS is at the end of the STAR routing.I highly suggest you try RC and see how you like a "real-world" ATC environment. You can get more information about Radar Contact on the RC forum here at AVSIM or go to this site http://www.jdtllc.com/ and read everything you ever wanted to know.Hope this helps you, enjoyBob Johnson

Thanks very much for your response. I used RC with FS 2002 but had two complaints. First, I found it very "slow talkin" and despite trying the various suggestions made to over come that problem, I never was able to get to what I thought was satisfactory. Second, when I added AI aircraft (from Project AI), I found that RC did not recognized them so landing at KLGA or CYYZ became a pretty hairy experience. Your response confirms my view that it is necessary to compromise something, but it is unfortunate that the FS ATC cannot be made to do what RC does at least in so far as the use of STARS is concerned.