Hi all, quick couple of questions for you experts.-How would I add a SID (aren't they called DP's now?) or STAR to the FS2004 flightplanner so that ATC knows what I'm doing and will give me guidance instead of trying to get me on course?-Last question, how can I get the FMC to coordinate with the FS flightplanner's flightplan so that the top of descent are the exact same. To clarify that question I mean, ATC will start my descent while the TOD in the FMC is maybe 10 more miles further. Also the FMC won't transition to Descent from CRZ, which is a little bit frustrating because I can't use VNAV correctly for descending.Your help is always appreciated.Thanks,A1C Jeff Smith USAF

Well, I hate of not being any real help here by saying that those things don't really work in FS2004 ATC. The ATC is too simple so it doesn't model SIDs/STARs. It can also vector two aircraft to final only 1 nautical mile from each other, not to mention that AI aircraft are very slow to clear the runway.My advice is to disable the AI traffic and not use ATC for other than weather services. There's also some 3rd party software available to make ATC better, but someone with more knowledge can tell you about those.As what comes to FMC and VNAV, do you have the runway selected and MCP altitude set before the aircraft reaches T/D?

Try Vatsim, you will not get that by using default ATC, hell I never even use FS's ATC. Even in the real world pilots, do not always get to fly what they program into the FMC, most of the time you are vectored and this extends all the way up! As for your TOD issues, just use DEScend NOW to start an early descent which will be @1000 FPM until you capture the original TOD point and resume the PATH if you desire to stay in VNAV.....[h4]Best Wishes,Randy J. Smithhttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/betaimg.jpg