I have some newbie questions about FlightPlan and Navigation.I have PMDG 737 NG and I want use the built in FMCto navigate the airplane.There is a lot of difficult flight-charts and regulations.I have already spent 50 hours reading etc, and I want to be in the air this year, but however still fly under accurate rules. In my first flight I intend to do as following:- I use the link http://rfinder.asalink.net to get the route.- I fill the FlightPlan with or without SID/STAR dependingif they are available or if I just want chose ATC-vectors.- I use Manuel's Airport charts.- I find out transition FL and barometer setting.- I limit my speed to indicated 240 knts when under FL180.Q1Should 737 be set as "Heavy" ?Q2What Equipment (Suffix) should be set due to my navigation usage/equipment ?Q3Can I chose to get vectors from ATC or to use SID/STAR by how I fill the flightplan ?Q4Is it OK/legal to navigate as above, without flight-chartsand more additional regulation info etc. ?Q5Is there a simplified speed-limit rule that can be applied most all-over world ?Q6How are airplanes separated in vertical during climb/descend.I mean the descend could start 150nm before target, do I needpermission from ATC (if available at that point) before start descend ?Q7Is following route the correct to send in FlightPlan without SID/STAR ?KLAX DCT FIM J1 OAK DCT KSFOQ8Is following route the correct to send in FlightPlan with SID/STAR ?KLAX SID RZS J501 BSR STAR KSFOQ9Is it OK to send a FlightPlan with directed SID/STAR, and then answer ATC negative on the instructed STAR, if the instructed STAR is notavailable in my database, and instead request vectors ?Lennart Vedin [email protected]

Lennart, first off welcome :)I'll try and fill in what I can for you. What ever I miss some one else will pick up.Q1Should 737 be set as "Heavy" ?No, from what I have been told "Heavy" is for aircraft with 250+ seatsQ2What Equipment (Suffix) should be set due to my navigation usage/equipment ?Some one else will have to fill us both in on this one, never have understood all this, and in 6+ years of on-line flying never had to worry about it.Q3Can I chose to get vectors from ATC or to use SID/STAR by how I fill the flightplan ?Some times this will be up to the ATC. In Toronto if you file the STAR you'll get the STAR, if you do not file it we will vector you. We and most give you a SID with your clearance if you do not have that chart its up to you to let ATC know. Or just file Vectors Please in the coments area of your FP.Q4Is it OK/legal to navigate as above, without flight-chartsand more additional regulation info etc. ?Most do not like it, FSNav has a good SID/STAR database but could be out of date. If you do not have the Charts I would suggest letting ATC know this. Most FIR/ARTCC will have charts you can download for the main airports in their airspace.Q5Is there a simplified speed-limit rule that can be applied most all-over world ?Below 10,000 feet 250kts max, above 10,000 feet no unless ATC request it.Q6How are airplanes separated in vertical during climb/descend.I mean the descend could start 150nm before target, do I needpermission from ATC (if available at that point) before start descend ?YesQ7Is following route the correct to send in FlightPlan without SID/STAR ?KLAX DCT FIM J1 OAK DCT KSFOYup that will workQ8Is following route the correct to send in FlightPlan with SID/STAR ?KLAX SID RZS J501 BSR STAR KSFONot all SIDs cover all runways, so asking for one may not always get you that SID based on the active runway.STAR (BSR.BSR2) that would be Big Sur two arrival in to KSFO, that showes you have the charts and can read them. Unless you have just copied the FP from some where else but thats a whole other thing.Q9Is it OK to send a FlightPlan with directed SID/STAR, and then answer ATC negative on the instructed STAR, if the instructed STAR is notavailable in my database, and instead request vectors ?When I fly, I have FSNav with the SID/STAR database, but if I don't have the paper chart I don't file the STAR.Hope I answered everything for you, check out www.vatsim.net/prc it covers things like this to help get you in the air with few problems. I would suggest unless you understand the PMDG 737 NG 110% don't make your first on-line flight with that aircraft. Grab something a little more simple to fly and control. Like the 737 that comes with FS or even a small prop aircraft. And make some short hops somewhere ATC is online, until you get the hang of what goes on in the on-line world.

Hi Lennart and welcome,You got a good bunch of answers above. But just to add some of my cents to Q8. There are differences in how you file a flightplan in North America and Europe. Your suggested flightplan:KLAX SID RZS J501 BSR STAR KSFOWould be fine in Europe (except Germany where they want you to file specific SID/STARs) as most terminal procedures (SID/STARs) are runway and thus weather specific. You will get clearence to current SID at the gate The STAR clearence will be given enroute or on the descent before you enter the terminal approach area (TMA).In North America however, I understand that most terminal procedures are not runway specific and thus can be filed in advance without taken to current weather conditions.Hope it helps,

Thank you both, I got a lot of usable answers, and I also got understandingeverything is not black and white how to file and fly.I will use smaller airports and vectors in beginning.I certainly has read www.vatsim.net/prc in repetitions.Still my considering is the need of charts.Vatsim Resources "IFR Enroute Charts" and "Terminal Area charts"are not practical to read at screen, and I think it needa high quality printing works house to print them out readable.> Most FIR/ARTCC will have charts you can download for the main > airports in their airspace.I'm sorry, I don't know how to find this.And however anyway I wonder, if having database as PMDG 737 FMC or some clever navigation application, the only need of charts is when you missing a FIX or STAR in you database actually instructed by ATC.When this is the case in fact, I don't dream that I currentlywill be able, flying as a single pilot, during a STAR approach,at same time in realtime count some new courses and distance from a paper-map for each fix using pencil and calculator. I will need to tell ATC "FIX or STAR not in database, please use another or give vectors" or I have to click "Disconnect" and go to bed stupid that night.Possible I'm wrong, I haven't fly Vatsim yet, but I don't know what for or how to use the paper-charts in practical.Lennart Vedin SAS202

Charts are easy to find for the USA go here http://www.myairplane.com/databases/approach/index.phpEnter the airport code and you can download all the charts for free, in one zip file.For the rest of the world to www.vatsim.net and on the right side for the screen you can find links to the divisions, then you can find each control zones website from there.