Dan Downs - AIRAC Cycles & FSBuild2

[jordanal 70]

Hey Dan,Quick question; do you by chance use FSBuild2 for flight-planning purposes? Have you ever compared Ernie's monthly AIRAC updates to your cycles? If they're quite different, I was just wondering how hard it would be to port your monthly releases to a SID-STARS update in FSBuild2?I have a nasty habbit of soley relying on FSBuild2 for planning and not referncing any charts. Then when I get to the FMC, the SID-STARS choices become much more elaborate for your airports (thankfully).Just a thought...Regards,

[downscc 1,327]

I use FSBuild, but more for the utility of exporting pln & rte files than its route generation ability. Once I have the plan in the FMC I always redo the departure and arrival segments to "refine" the route. I don't worry about getting the exact same route into ASX.I like using the FSBuild link to routefinder, or pasting an actual route from flightaware, rather than using autogenerated routes. Because of my particular interests, I keep a copy of every terminal procedure chart for every airport I support on my harddrive but you don't have to do this because they are so easily available (in the US). I keep the airport diagrams, departure, arrival and approach charts open in the acrobat reader during my flight for quick reference. This is probably due to my habit of always having the terminal procedures booklet in my lap while flying real world within 100 nm of the destination even if I'm VFR.Thanks for the sidstar compliment.

[zachlog 18]

>>I keep a copy of every terminal procedure chart for every airport >>I support on my harddrive but you don't have to do this because they are so easily available (in the US).>>I keep the airport diagrams, departure, arrival and approach >>charts open in the acrobat reader during my flight for quick >>reference.Dan...what's the best source for the above ? Is it something like SimPlatesX ? A graphical, easy to acces view of the above is key. I want to head in the same direction.Thanks,Zach

[downscc 1,327]

With a little organization, I find the free online charts from the FAA real easy to use: http://www.naco.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=naco/online/d_tppI've got a shortcut to from my desktop to Charts. The Charts folder has a zip folder for each airport, and charts go in the zip. There's no space savings from compressing a pdf but I do it this way. I keep all the terminal charts but you really only need the often used ones.A little organization really comes in handy during cycle updates. I keep all charts for 66 locations up to date with a process that works for me... the key is finding a process that works for you to prevent this from becoming a needless timeconsuming chore... I don't like chores. Find the changes is the first step, I include a list of revisions for those 66 locations in each cycle to help you along. I include all revisions even if they are not used in the sidstar file, such as airport diagrams.After doing this for almost two years, I'm convinced the FAA office workers issue revisions to justify their jobs. At least 80% of the revisions do not change anything that has to do with flying the procedure (fixes, altitudes, speeds, etc.). Anyway... different topic for a different place.

[ronzie 21]

Hello, Dan:I find the FAA airport bundled .pdf of charts from flightaware.com easier to reference since they have already bundled the charts for each asirport in that .pdf.A little less work :)Different strokes . . .

[zachlog 18]

We are in synch...exactly ! Thanks for the FAA site link. Any ideas how to obtain this information for overseas airports ? I am really beginning to feel comfortable with the PMDG 747-400 so I am now starting to work on precision.You have been of great help in this and prior posts !Zach

[downscc 1,327]

Ron has a good suggestion. Doesn't work for me 'cause I need the new cycle data at least a week earlier than flightaware, aopa, or others put up the new cycle; the FAA has it about 2 weeks early. But otherwise, the bundle packs from aopa or flightaware is a good idea.I have no ideas how to get non-US charts, at least to support my sidstar hobby. I've seen a few posts in the last year on this, but haven't pursued it.

[zachlog 18]

Ron...thanks to you too.... do you have a site for overseas airports ?Also, can you please post the Radar Contact URL, I am interested.Thanks,Zach

[Jockos 6]

Zach, These sites may assist.Australia: http://www.airservices.gov.au/publications/New Zealand: http://www.aip.net.nz/Singapore: http://www.caas.gov.sg/caas/en/Regulations...rome/index.htmlHong Kong: http://www.hkatc.gov.hk/These are the relative government sites offering charts similar to FAA. No doubt there are more throughout the world.For some ready made procedures, especially for Australia browse: http://www.austscene.com/ in the PMDG section. Of course Navigraph are producing procedures for some of these airports as well.RegardsJock McIntyre (YMML)

[ronzie 21]

http://jdtllc.com/or just click on my banner.

[ronzie 21]

For europe try the VATSIM chapter at:http://vateud.org/default.php?section=1⊂=0going to the listed chapter (not contact page) and follow the links to charts.http://www.vatsim-uk.org/index.php?page=charts for the UK but you'll have to register (free) on the UK AIS site.Other area may have what you require off their main site - right hand side:http://www.vatsim.net/I have from a couple of years ago Simplates 2004 which included many but not all charta (most from 2003) for many international airports. Now there is a new product reviewed here:http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/review/simpx.htmwhich I do not have . . . yet. Their airport list of 30,000 is here:http://www.dauntless-soft.com/products/SimPlates/and click on the airport list.These are not Route charts, just terminal procedures and airport information. In the 2004 version they had FAA preferred routes but these are online now at the FAA site.International route charts I bought from various r/w sources for $$$ before I used an auto routing flight planner. There are details included on these of interest at times. You don't want to know what I invested.There are two volumes of the US/MEXICO and EUROPE/NORTH AFRICA of the Free Flight Atlas which show topography and navaids plus some waypoints. Search for these as they are hard to find. You can always fly between these navaids and waypoints and the topography can clue you in to scenic and challenging areas.