Need help, silly question......

[Guest NWB009]

Greetings Gentleman,After years and years of sim flying I am now a real world pilot, and have now begun working on my multi-engine rating. I need help though, I have been so busy flying real world I have forgotten some easy things.Namely, when I am in the PIC767 at say KATL and using real world navigation to fly to KJFK. How can I properly select the correct runway and STAR's...it seems when I get within range and check ATIS at 60 NM out, the info provided has changed and makes it difficult to select and fly the proper runway and STAR without all sorts of last minute changes in the LEGS pages of the FMC..When a real 767 flys and is provided specific flight planning, they can enter the info from the start. I have tried running another copy of FS2002 on another computer to check ATIS so I can 'sync' up with what the expected runways will be....and still seems to not work so well....What the heck should I do ?

[teropa]

HelloReal world 767s don't get such info when they depart that they can be absolutely sure about the arrival STAR and/or runway. It is common, everyday practise to swap runways, STARs, approaches before starting the initial approach into airport.There is no "easy solution" to these situations. When you do need to change the arrival data, just go to DEP/ARR and select another runway / and STAR / and approach, it will automatically be updated to LEGS page and it will also remove the earlier arrival information there. But always be sure to check the LEGS page for any route discontinuities after making modifications (to be exact, you should be aware of such possibly forming WHEN you are making the changes).Tero

[Guest geoffwilson]

There's also a problem with FS in that the ATIS details change as you get closer (perhaps it's basing its earlier version on the weather where you were at the time?). A good weather program (FSMeteo, ActiveSky) allows you to 'fix' the weather details at a user-specified range (typically 60nm), so you don't have to go through last minute changes. They are worth the money; I remember once flying IFR into London Heathrow (400ft cloudbase) using FS ATC. I was vectored onto 10nm final, runway 09L, chopped to tower and was told to join downwind 27R !?!Anyway, hope this helpsGeoff

[crvm]

This is one reason one does not select a des rwy/arrvial when you program the FMC. At many airports one does not even use STARS or have any availible like at some Canadian airports. If vectors come late and are far off a planned routing I would assume one would just forget programing the FMC and use the ol HDG SEL etc....[h4]Best Wishes,Randy J. Smithhttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/betaimg.jpgAMD 64 3200+ | ASUS KV8 DELUXE | GFORCE 5700 ULTRA @535/1000 | WD SATA 80 GIG | 512 DDR 400 |

[Guest NWB009]

Thanks gentleman ! I do appreciate the help, furthermore I have found that flying online to be a superb expierence with the PIC, and VATSIM. I find it helps maintain profiency with radio communications and with overall ILS approaches with Jeppesen plates....I would very much like to be added to a list of upcoming PIC driver fly-in's on VatsimThanks again,Brett

[Guest Mark McG]

Brett,LFMN..OKTET.UM733.KOPOR.UY376.VESAN.UL613.DET.UN601.MARGO..EGPFIn the Above FlightPlan, MARGO is the last Waypoint before the STAR for EGPF. The LANAK1A STAR starts at MARGO. As this is the only STAR for EGPF that originates at MARGO, then it can be entered into the Flightplan and FMC before departure. When you have multiple STARS to choose from, it is best to check which ones start at the end Fix of the flight plan. HTH