Hi all 737-companions.Can somebody help me - my FMC says my data is from 26. Oct. 2003?I have just unzippede the new sid/star folder from the PDMG-website with the '402' SID/STARS to the PDMG-folder in the FS9 folder on my HD... so everything should be updated?But when im trying to fly the 737NG tutorial I cant find the CIVIC star at KLAX AP? I have a lot of other choices but no CIVIC as mentioned in the tutorial... therefor Im guessing that my NAV data is not up to date?My installed version of the 737 is the latest from january 2004.any help?thx, walle

Walle,Your Navdata is slightly out of date. Go to www.navdata.at and download the 0313 AIRAC cycle for the PMDG/767 PIC plane. Run the installer and point it to the root FS directory, and it will update your navdata.Your SID/STAR database is currently the most up to date, so just watch out for the next update which will be coming soon I imagine.

Hi Fred.Thx for your reply - I think it's your tutorial that Im flying. It's good! I now have a basic understanding of the FMC and how it works with the aircraft. And the NAV data is up to warp-speed:-)But - yesterday I was trying to fly from ESSA to EKCH (Arlanda/Stockholm-Kastrup/Copenhagen) and I discovered some questions that I couldn't find the answer for my self. Maybe you have the answers?1) If you do not have charts for the aiport you are flying to or from then you do not know which of the multiple SIDs or STARs that the FMC shows you that you are going to use... or is their a way around this?2)On flying out of Denver in the tutorial you have COAT as the first direct-point after KDEN but why/how did you choose that one? When flying out of ESSA I could not choose VOR DKR for my first leg after ESSA... and on arrival to EKCH I was not allowed th choose VOR SVD as entry point before my STAR... I had downloaded SID/STAR for both airports?I hope theses questions is not to stupid. And thx for taking time to answer them.cheers, walle

WalleWith respect to charts for Danish and Swedish airports, these are available on line from www.ead.eurocontrol.intSince the site is to say at the least unhelpful, this is how you do it.a) OK "Important Legal Notice":( Click "GO" at bottom of front page.c) Despite the note on Windows 2000, XP works.d) If you don't have the Java Plug-in or Acrobat Reader download and install accordingly.e) Go through "Grant" procedure.f) Go to very top and click EAD-Logog) Arrive at EAD Explorer Data screen.h) Double click on "PAMS"To find charts in Denmarki) Click on "Authority Code" arrow and select "EK"j) Leave "EN" alone.k) Click on "Refresh" and wait until right hand side updates.l) Open "Charts"m) Scroll down to required chart say EK_AD_"_EKCH_ILS+DME-12.n) RIGHT click on selected line.o) Click on "View" or "Download" as required.You can print it through the Acrobat screen if you have viewed it and want a hard copy. All the SIDS and STARS are there as well.David.

Hi David.Thx for your reply - but I do not need the charts since I already have them. My questions were more - do I still need to have charts when Im using the FMC?And what made Fred choose COAT after take off from KDEN as the first point in his tutorial? By finding that answer I hope to understand which points I should choose when Im programming the FMC with my own flights:-)Ohhh, by the way - Here is the direct link for all officiel charts over EKCH:http://www.slv.dk/Dokumenter/dscgi/ds.py/View/Collection-344And you can fin all swedish here:http://www.sweden.vacc.nu/Pilots/charts.phpcheers, mads

Mads,You really don't need the charts in your hands when you fly; however it is not a bad idea. I actually didn't choose COATE ;) FSBuild did. What I do for a typical flight is to have FSBuild create a FP with a SID/STAR. Then when I program the FMC I step through each waypoint to see if it makes sense. Like if FSBuild chose a transition other than COATE, and it had me 20 east(as opposed to west) of the airport, then maybe I need to think about another transition :)I hope my example is clear enough...

Fred,I got it now...:-) except I just spend 35 euros on the wrong navigation program - FS Navigator. I can't use that program unless I start up the flightsimulator first. As I understand you I would be able to do that with FS Build?Mads

MadsI am sorry to have given you a whole lot of unnecessary information about how to access the EEC air navigation database but I inferred that you had insufficient data to answer your question. The available data is first class but several people have not been able to find their way round its system. Published SID/STARs do give you start and finish points if you know the route in the middle.Before flight planners your only solution was high and low level maps from Aerad or Jepperson but now there are solutions in both FSNavigator and FSBuild.FSNavigator is map driven and FSBuild runs on clearance flightplans i.e ESSA NOSLI UN850 REKMO EKCH. I use both programs and build the route in FSBuild without the SIDs and STARs and export it to FSNavigator.When I have started up FS2004, I find out which runways FS2004 is using through Tools and check the airport winds in my case via AS2004.With this information I can then adjust the SIDs and STARs in FSNavigator. The flightplan can then be exported to both FS Planner and PMDG737 for its FMC.Advantages of FSBuild are that it has a whole lot of flight plans which you can call upon and that you can work outside FS2004. Do not think however that your Euros were wasted on FSNavigator since its map is far superior to FSBuild.I hope that all this thread is not superfluous.David.

Hi David,Don't be sorry:-) I really appreciate that you are taking your time to try to help me by answering my question. I have made the conclusion that I will either way need maps in electronic or printed form to do a proper planning. And since I won't print (it will cost me a fortune in inq) all those maps - that you can download for free from different websites - I have decidede to buy the semi-electronic version: FS Build.I hope - but I havn't tested it yet since I just downloaded it - that it will be enough for building routes. And I should be able to export them into both FS Navigator and the PMDG-FMC:-)I guess what Im trying to say is that Im very greateful for all replys to this post. It cleared up things and convinced me that I was on the right track when I feelt that I missed charts in some kinda form to do the proper planning before programing the FMC...cheers, Mads

Mads: One way I sometimes enjoy is to choose a SID or STAR from the FMC and see what it draws on the ND. You can see very easily if it looks attractive or not, i.e. going/coming in/from the direction you want. If you don't like what you see, just de-select it and try another one. This adds a little bit of time to your pre-flight, but I find it fun and very educational.Also, I use FSBuild and like it very much. However, there are some great sites on the internet that generate flight plans. Do a search on avsim for 'plan' or 'planning' and 'sites', subject-field only. Good luck.sjKEWR

Okay - thx all who answered for showing me the light, the nav-light:-) cheers, mads