Hello,Just downloaded some SID/STAR data for NZ from the VATNZ website. I unzipped the file and placed the .txt documents under the PMDG/sidstars folder. When I input one of the included airports into the route, I get a rwy unavail message in the CDU scratchpad and there is no runway/ approach/sid/ star in the dep/arr page for the airport in question. I am using the newest navigraph cycle but added this file due to many airports in NZ not being included. Whats going on? Thanks!Reed

The airport has also to be in the airports.dat file I believe and if the runway length is less than is set in the pmdg options then it wont show up.IE if the runway is 5500feet and options are set to 6000feet then no joy.John Ellison

Is there a tutorial out there for creating SID/STAR charts? Opening the SIDSTARS folder, then opening a particular airport text document I can get somewhat of an idea on how to add to it so that whatever changes you've made will show up on the FMC. It would be nice to know exactly what I am doing however. There are a lot of airports that show up on the FMC with no SID/STARs' when in real life there are some. I have added a SID/STAR to a particular airport or two and through trial and error have been somewhat successful but it would be nice to have somthing to refference when adding info to these airport text documents..Thanks,Chris Porter

A 'how to' is available at http://www.planepath.com/html/pmdg_utilities.html - Terry's site or from a link in the Terminal Proceedurs forum next door.Charts would help for the airport and a sectional one if available.John Ellison

Is there a tutorial out there for creating SID/STAR charts? Opening the SIDSTARS folder, then opening a particular airport text document I can get somewhat of an idea on how to add to it so that whatever changes you've made will show up on the FMC. It would be nice to know exactly what I am doing however. There are a lot of airports that show up on the FMC with no SID/STARs' when in real life there are some. I have added a SID/STAR to a particular airport or two and through trial and error have been somewhat successful but it would be nice to have somthing to refference when adding info to these airport text documents..Thanks,Chris Porter

Hi Chris,The best thing to do is to go to Navigraph's Website and download the PMDG Cycle. Each cycle is only 2

Hello,Just downloaded some SID/STAR data for NZ from the VATNZ website. I unzipped the file and placed the .txt documents under the PMDG/sidstars folder. When I input one of the included airports into the route, I get a rwy unavail message in the CDU scratchpad and there is no runway/ approach/sid/ star in the dep/arr page for the airport in question. I am using the newest navigraph cycle but added this file due to many airports in NZ not being included. Whats going on? Thanks!Reed

Generally, the navdata and sidstar information should be of the same vintage. If you have current navigraph (navdata and sidstars) then perhaps the sidstar from the VATNZ site is not current, or there is a simple error in it. If you are using the MD11, an error in the file will not cause an error message like the 737/747 do but it will just have blank pages.The tutorial already mentioned from Terry Yingling is the best source for learning the syntax.

Hi Chris,The best thing to do is to go to Navigraph's Website and download the PMDG Cycle. Each cycle is only 2

If you're not really into charts and seasonal changes then you can live happily with the same cycle for as long as you want. FS isn't getting any changes it's just charts and navdata. Sometimes there are fixes to certain runways, but I have gone a lonnnng time without updating it and as long as I'm going off the older charts then it isn't a problem (actually, I never had any problems with older charts, except for one misunderstanding).

There isn't an easy way to find all the changes globally. The data cycle is 28 days but every other cycle (56 days) is considered the major update and this year the major cycles are the even numbers such as 1004. Cycle 1005 will have very few changes except at military bases, who update during the off-cycle. The hard copy charts from NACO are issued on 56 day cycles too.

Hi,If you fly on VATSIM -- which you have already said you do, they will usually issue NOTAMs when there is important changes to airspace. If in one of these NOTAMs they mention the change of airways, SIDs/STARs or runways, it would probably be a good time to update your AIRAC cycle.

Thanks all,that helped and gives me what I need.Chris Porter