Fly With ATC

If you want to test it out yourself, go to SFP and insert a random waypoint somewhere, called TEST. Create a flightplan that passes though TEST, and export that to default FS9 .pln. Convert that to .rte using the utility, and open the new .rte in notepad - it includes the new TEST waypoint (that is not in the PMDG internal database). Import it into the FMC - on the legs page it'll show you the TEST waypoint too.But if you are going to use current charts etc for planning and you want the current database to match, it's quite easy. What we're going to do is convert all the navaids, fixes, airways etc from PSS and convert it to a .sfd that SFP can import. This doesn't contain airports though, so we'll then make another .sfd which contains only the FS9 airports. We'll finally merge both the .sfd files to make a single .sfd for SFP that contains all navaids, fixes, airways, AND airports. Ok here we go:From www.navdata.at download the latest navdata for PSS. Once downloaded, install it - it should install to FS2004PSSNavData.In your main SFP folder, run the file "spftools.exe". Click "Convert Airic Cycle", make sure the path points to FS2004PSSNavData. Make sure all checkboxes are ticked, and then Convert. It'll ask you to save in SFP format, so call it something like "Converted_From_PSS.sfd". That'll go ahead make the .sfd with all navaids.Now to make the .sfd with only the airports. Run the file "sfpdbwiz.exe" also in your main SFP folder. Make sure all areas are ticked (top half), and in the bottom half tick all except VOR, NDB, Intersections, and Airways. (These navaids are the new ones from the PSS datbase). The remaining Airports, ILS, Markers, Aprons, Strip Duplicates, should be checked, and click Convert. That'll ask you to save a new .sfd - call it somethin glike "Converted Airports.sfd".Now run "spftools.exe" again, "Merge SFD Databases", click "Add", select both the .sfd files you just created, and "Open". They should appear in the box. Now click "Merge". It'll ask you again to save a new .sfd (call it "Converted_To_Use.sfd or something).Now when you go to SFP, all you have to do is open the "Converted_To_Use.sfd" and all your FS airports, as well as the latest AIRIC database (which will also be the same as your latest PMDG database) is available to use in flightpanning in SFP.Note that you don't have to convert the airports database all the time a new AIRIC cycle is out. I only included it here as a first-time-run only. You can always merge your old airports .sfd with each new converted AIRIC cycle.Also don't forget to download the PMDG database everytime you do this otherwise it defeats the purpose of 'staying current' ;o)Regardless of if you plan to download and convert each new AIRIC cycle as it becomes available, remember you can always just export to a .pln file, then convert that to .rte. This will ensure both ATC (RC) and 747 (PMDG) knows what you plan to do when you get in the air.And finally, I believe the entering of each induvidual waypoint into the FMC is unrealistic as normally a company route is entered into the ROUTE PAGE which then loads all the waypoints automatically. This is replicated nicely for us simmers, by exporting a .pln/.rte from your flightplanner (SFP) and inputting that into the FMC as if it were a company route :()Subin