David is right, navdata and sidstar files should be of same cycle and because runways get runumbered and new ones added it is a good idea to keep current within at least two cycles. The major updates this year are the even numbers. The latest US Collection can be found by using expanded search in the AVSIM library and search for author = dan downs then sort the result by date. The newest will be on top. Current cycle is 1004, next one is a "between cycle" update due on 6 May. I've already done the work for 1005 and can tell you that there are very few changes.As for the no-name that thought customizing the procedures would violate some FAA rules, I assure you these are to be used for flight simulation only. If you happen to be playing with an ATC service such as VATSIM or RadarContact you'll select the unmodified version of the procedure for use with ATC vectors. There is an extensive read me with the collection and each sidstar file has a detailed header with all procedures listed with notes. This head can also be used as an aid in picking the best procedure for your route.

All you do is copy all the text files into your mainfsdirectory\pmdg\sidstars and overwrite the old ones.You also might want to update the entire nav database by purchasing the navigraph.com fmc update. It runs in an autoinstaller on its own.

Would you expand on your explanation a bit please David?Let's say I want to fly from KLAX to KSFO. I found KLAX in the path of FSX\PMDG\SIDSTARS and attach the beginning of the page. How do I make use of this information to find the relevant STARS for KFSO?(Incidentally my Navigraph info is uptodate.)Cliff

Cliff, you've lost me. David mentioned how to install customized sidstar files and you come back asking how to use navigraph sidstar files to select an arrival for KSFO by looking at KLAX?? Huh?The route from KLAX to KSFO is pretty standard, look at flightaware.com is the easy way where you will find VTU5 RZS J501 BSR BSR2If you downloaded my US Collection, which is what I thought David was referring to, then you could look on the head of my KSFO sidstar file and find that the star with a transition starting at BSR is infact BSR2:

//  ARRIVALS//  FAA Filename	  Procedure Name/Date//	Enumeration	 Landing		 Vectors or IAP//  00375BIGSUR	   BIG SUR TWO ARRIVAL 07298 S (BSR)//	BSR2			28L/R			 Vectors//	BSRx.28L		28L			   ILS28L//	BSRx.28R		28R			   ILS28R

The BSR2 arrival is provided both 'as published' where vectors to final are required or connected to the final approach fixes for either ILS 28L or 28R. Maybe you can clarify what your are trying to figure out here Cliff. Also, you are getting pretty far from the original topic in this thread. If you are trying to figure out sidstars you might consider a new thread.

Cliff, you've lost me. David mentioned how to install customized sidstar files and you come back asking how to use navigraph sidstar files to select an arrival for KSFO by looking at KLAX?? Huh?The route from KLAX to KSFO is pretty standard, look at flightaware.com is the easy way where you will find VTU5 RZS J501 BSR BSR2If you downloaded my US Collection, which is what I thought David was referring to, then you could look on the head of my KSFO sidstar file and find that the star with a transition starting at BSR is infact BSR2:

//  ARRIVALS//  FAA Filename	  Procedure Name/Date//	Enumeration	 Landing		 Vectors or IAP//  00375BIGSUR	   BIG SUR TWO ARRIVAL 07298 S (BSR)//	BSR2			28L/R			 Vectors//	BSRx.28L		28L			   ILS28L//	BSRx.28R		28R			   ILS28R

The BSR2 arrival is provided both 'as published' where vectors to final are required or connected to the final approach fixes for either ILS 28L or 28R. Maybe you can clarify what your are trying to figure out here Cliff. Also, you are getting pretty far from the original topic in this thread. If you are trying to figure out sidstars you might consider a new thread.

1. First off Dan you're, of course, right that opening the subject of SID STARS is straying from the subject of this string.If I try to take it further I'll start a new string.2. I understood from David's note that that I should "copy all the text files into your mainfsdirectory\pmdg\sidstars and overwrite the old ones". And by "copy" I did understand that he meant your collection. However I wanted to try and understand how to use the contents of the folder "mainfsdirectory\pmdg\sidstars" before overwriting it with your collection. 3. David helpfully mentioned that "you also might want to update the entire nav data base by purchasing the Navigraph.com fmc update" and I simply noted that it is in fact up to date.Regards......................Cliff

The BSR2 arrival is provided both 'as published' where vectors to final are required or connected to the final approach fixes for either ILS 28L or 28R...

Is this a shortcut you're referring to by connecting 28L/R FAF to the BSR2 arrival or somethign I'm missing? Legally from the chart (http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/1004/00375BIGSUR.PDF) I do not see any way of connecting these two. In fact the chart even states "Radar Required". I understand if you're making a shortcut in the simulation. I'm just curious if I'm missing something about real life ops here.

ESzczesnaik: http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtopic=245586

Cairns to Brisbane (YBCS - YBBN)--Isaac Magalhaes

Manchester UK (EGCC) to Zurich (LSZH) in easyJet livery.Heathrow (EGLL) to Vienna (LOWW) in Austrian or Lauda livery.LA (KLAX) to Las Vegas (KLAS) in Southwest livery.Iain SmithRugby, UK

My choice is :London Stansted (EGSS) to Innsbruck (LOWI) in an A320 easyjet livery.

PHNL to PHMU in the J41. Other than that, it's all long haul. The only next shortest I can think that's a favorite is KSFO to PHNL but that's in Concorde (just under 2 1/2 hours).

My favorite 90min flight is KORD-KDCA when the winds favor landing on Rwy 19. The LDA/DME RWY 19 or the RIVER VISUAL RWY 19 approaches are probably two of the most demanding approaches for commercial operators in the US. This route is great for the 737 (it will be the first route I fly when the NGX is released :( ) but don't even think about the MD-11 or 747-400 unless you want to take a dip in the Potomac River (RWY 01/19 is only 6869ft long with water at both ends). Below is today's route for flight UAL610 and links to the ELDEE4, LDA/DME RWY 19 and RIVER VISUAL RWY 19 Charts. KORD MOBLE ADIME OTENS ANEWA RIEKE DJB J34 SHAAR ELDEE4 KDCAhttp://www.naco.faa.gov/d-tpp/1005/00443ELDEE.PDFhttp://www.naco.faa.gov/d-tpp/1005/00443LDAD19.PDFhttp://www.naco.faa.gov/d-tpp/1005/00443RIVER_VIS19.PDFMichaelKSEA

May I suggest using my US Collection of SIDSTARs for KORD-KDCA flight? I have a departure routed for the FMS from any runway to MOBLE and the ELDEE4 arrival is enumerated for landing either ILS1 or RNP19. Great flight.

Curveball comin' in.UNNT-USHH :( .

Curveball comin' in.UNNT-USHH :( .

OK... You made me look at my atlas :( . Now convince me why that should be the next flight I make when I boot up FSX tomorrow. :( MichaelKSEA

Well, All the "Right reasons" actually reside in FS9 :( So it's going to be a no go for you unless you get that bad boy installed.Here's why it's so great though.The first reason - Project Tupolev. These guys made the "Bad boy" of russian airplanes. Let's call them the PMDG/LDS of Russia. The Tupolev 154M is also free - That's a good reason to make it a favourite right there. ;)http://www.fs-proteam.com/products.html?op...talog&sop=2Realise, that this airplane has no FMS, it has a "Navigation Calculator" of sorts. Which counts how many kilometers you've traveled on what heading, and then when the Kilometer ticker hits "0" it switches you to the next leg. Beyond that you have VOR's (Of which there are not many in Russia) and NDB's (Of which are plentiful, Many american pilots haven't tuned an NDB in Years). The Compass is not slaved to a magnetic heading like you find in western airliners. It's slaved to Magnetic north on the ground at the departure airport, and then the pre-calculated headings are flown (Which neither show true north, or magnetic north, they only show heading as in relation to the departure airport) and then at the arrival airport, you have to set the Gyro's to show magnetic headings for the arrival airport. All the bells and whistles are there, Engine simulation APU, electrical, Pneumatic. The flight dynamics are simply the best done ever in Flight simulator. They took the FDE outside of FS and created a "FBW" of sorts the airplane feels Really Heavy, lots of inertia. It's also certified by the Russian CAA as a training aid :).If that's not reason enough.There are two Fly Tampa quality airports that are also free at both locations.http://www.avsimrus.com/f/fs2004-sceneries...v1-0-16136.htmlhttp://www.avsimrus.com/f/fs2004-sceneries...irsk-14344.htmlWhat could be more fun than doing something totally different in the FS world than what you're used to with addons that are exactly the same quality you've come to expect from the best developers, for free?Beats me :(

OK... You made me look at my atlas :( . Now convince me why that should be the next flight I make when I boot up FSX tomorrow. B) MichaelKSEA