I've used the FS9 flight planner to make several flight plans and found it OK but it does not include SIDS or STARS. I then tried FSBuild 1.4.3 which is good, but when I try to insert a SID or STAR, more often than not it produces a crazy routing that zigzags hundreds or even thousands of miles just to arrive at some point near where I start from. I then tried the latest beta of Super Flight Planner which seems almost as crazy when SIDS and STARS are inserted, though perhaps not such ridiculously long distances as with FSBuild. I also have problems importing FS9 flight plans into either of those i.e. nothing happens, so I assume that both of those planners may not be 100% compatible with FS9. So I was wondering if the best way would be to get the charts for the SIDS and STARS and just stick with the FS9 planner and manually insert the waypoints from the charts to complete a more accurate plan. I already have many of the charts that interest me most. I'm not looking for real world accuracy, just something believable. And since FS9 ATC isn't going to let me follow a plan exactly there doesn't seem much point in bothering to get it 100% right. Can anyone help and let me know if my idea is better than relying on freeware or even payware addon flight planners?

Hi Charlie,I don't know if you've tried RouteFinder yet (http://rfinder.asalink.net/free), but I believe that's the best freeware planner on the web. In almost all cases it gives a realistic routeing with a possible SID and STAR. And you can even plan on North Atlantic Tracks and let it warn for restrictions in Europe (be sure to check RAD, CDR and Use daily CRAM)... :)Cheers,http://home.planet.nl/~duijn181/cu2/koen.jpg

Hi Koen, Thank you very much for your reply. I have seen and tried RouteFinder but didn't know if it was possible to easily transfer the result to the FS9 flightplanner, obviously that is where it needs to end up. I have seen a few of the plans you have given to others and have always wondered how those plans are imported to wherever they need to go to be of use. I just got this example plan for Gatwick to Jersey from RouteFinder: EGKK SID SAM UN866 ORTAC STAR EGJJ I have a free downloaded utility that can convert this to a suitable format for pasting into FSBuild (it just inserts dashes between the waypoints, and thereby saving time) but as I said, FSBuild is only likely to make a mess of the SIDS and STARS. In this particular case there are plenty of SIDS to choose from in FSBuild but none of them produce a sensible plan when built. Also there are no STARS listed in FSBuild for EGJJ, among others. I have up to yet been unable to find out how to import the same or other plans in the format above into Super Flight Planner or FS9. So can someone please tell me how one should import such a plan into the FS9 routeplanner? This would seem the most logical thing to do so that the plan can then be modified further within FS9. Or even into Super Flight Planner first, as I do realise it is possible to import from there to FS9, and the Super Flight Planner map is good. Or is it only possible to enter all the waypoints manually into those? If that is the only way then I will do that.

Just to add to my last message, it seems that no one has a solution just yet. I am going away for 3 days so thanks in advance to anyone who has any useful tips. I will answer any messages when I return.

If you check fs2000 as one of the options in fsbuild, you can use the resultant flightplan in fs2004. You just have to move it to the My DocumentsFlight Simulator Files directory.I have noticed that some flightplans do not translate very well in fs9. For example, I tried one of the built-in flightplans KLAX-KATL and it resulted in some weird routing, where the GPS was routing the flight *back* 1,000+ NM after a certain waypoint. However, for most others, the results have been quite satisfactory.Probably a glitch in that particular flightplan's translation from 2000 to fs9.--Along the same lines, is there some way to validate a flight plan? I know Koen posted a website that validates flightplans to/from Europe, but I'm looking for something similar for US flight plans.

Hello>Along the same lines, is there some way to validate a flight>plan? I know Koen posted a website that validates flightplans>to/from Europe, but I'm looking for something similar for US>flight plans.AFAIK there isn

Thanks fyrestrtr, I have already found, as you have, that in the majority of cases the FSBuild translates pretty well to FS9. What I have done so far is to do one of two things: 1. Generate and build a flight plan in FSBuild and only use the SIDS/Stars that do not cause problems, then import to FS9. I can then open that same plan in Super Flightplanner for further editing by hand. 2. Use Route Finder to generate a plan, then paste it into FSBuild Assistant (nice little time saving freeware program by Graham Sumner) which then converts into a format that can be easily pasted into FSBuild and processed as above. However in either case the SIDS and STARS often need further attention and seems that the only way to complete the full plan is to edit by hand as I had already been doing. It takes a while, and I imagine that real flightplans can take a while too so I suppose that is real enough! I guess the only way to be sure that the SIDS and STARS are good is to check against real charts that show them.

I can't seem to get that search to return anything.I wanted to find out all routes between KDFW and KSAN (my two fav. airports). I entered DFW SAN as arrival and departure, and left all other fields blank, and it didn't return any results?Maybe I need to add more information, however, I'm still refreshing myself on all the navigation terms (I've been away from aviation and simming for almost a year) and have no idea what all the route descriptions are. I'm assuming H is for "heavy"? Any help would be graciously recieved.

Hi,It doesn't return anything for DFW-SAN, because there isn't a preferred route between those airports. Three frequently used routes for DFW-SAN are:WORTH3 ABI J50 ELP J2 IPL BARET4WORTH3 ABI J4 INK J50 ELP J2 IPL BARET4WORTH3 ABI J66 EWM J4 SSO J50 GBN J2 IPL BARET4The H is for routes through high altitude airspace (FL180 and above in the USA). :)Cheers,http://home.planet.nl/~duijn181/cu2/koen.jpg

Cheers Koen :)I can now print out the appropriate plates and practice these.H for "heavy" ... sometimes I just need more coffee :D

Can you post a link to this FSBuild Assistant? I can't seem to google it :(

http://library.avsim.net/sendfile.php?DLID=20232 :)Cheers,http://home.planet.nl/~duijn181/cu2/koen.jpg