Hello, I am getting back into FSX after a couple of years of focusing on other hobbies. I have the deluxe edition of FSX recently installed on a Dell XPS 410 comp with 4GB Ram, Quad core proc, nVidia 8600 GT Card. Running at 1680 by 1050 resolution, getting 24 FPS.What I'm looking to do is fly a couple of flights that I'll be taking in May. One is from KCMI to KORD, second leg is KORD-EGLL, and then EGLL-EGPF.I'm trying to figure out realistic flightplans/altitudes/approaches. I know how to use the MSFS flight planner to find routing, but I'd like to go as prototypical as I can. I have a very basic understanding of NAT tracks for the transatlantic portion of the trip.Thanks for any help!David PaulAmatuer Radio N9RZF

Hi David,When I am trying to find real world flight plans between different airports I go to Flight Aware. This doesn't give preferred routes but it does give the flight plans other aircraft are filing. All you do is type in your origin and destination and flight aware will show you aircraft that will fly or have flown between those destinations and what their route was. Here is the link:http://flightaware.com/live/findflightHope this helps!Mark

Hello, I am getting back into FSX after a couple of years of focusing on other hobbies. I have the deluxe edition of FSX recently installed on a Dell XPS 410 comp with 4GB Ram, Quad core proc, nVidia 8600 GT Card. Running at 1680 by 1050 resolution, getting 24 FPS.What I'm looking to do is fly a couple of flights that I'll be taking in May. One is from KCMI to KORD, second leg is KORD-EGLL, and then EGLL-EGPF.I'm trying to figure out realistic flightplans/altitudes/approaches. I know how to use the MSFS flight planner to find routing, but I'd like to go as prototypical as I can. I have a very basic understanding of NAT tracks for the transatlantic portion of the trip.Thanks for any help!David PaulAmatuer Radio N9RZF

That's wonderful, Mark! Thanks.

Try simroutes.com

Hi David,When I am trying to find real world flight plans between different airports I go to Flight Aware. This doesn't give preferred routes but it does give the flight plans other aircraft are filing. All you do is type in your origin and destination and flight aware will show you aircraft that will fly or have flown between those destinations and what their route was. Here is the link:http://flightaware.com/live/findflightHope this helps!Mark

Just be aware what flightaware reports is not reliable. I file all my flights direct and get them 97% of the time.I took this flight two days ago:http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N7345RNotice for route it has na which usually means direct. However just west of Albany I was given a route clearance with the explanation that you can't fly over Albany vor at low altitude (I was at 9000). I was given 2 vor's to fly to,an airway,and two fixes. Once past Albany I was given direct to the final fix and landed in a presidential tfr. None of this appears on flightaware, though you can see it in the track.

Duplicating a real airlines flight, you don't get direct-to like GA pilots do, ATC loves keeping the smaller planes out of the big irons way

Just be aware what flightaware reports is not reliable. I file all my flights direct and get them 97% of the time.I took this flight two days ago:http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N7345RNotice for route it has na which usually means direct. However just west of Albany I was given a route clearance with the explanation that you can't fly over Albany vor at low altitude (I was at 9000). I was given 2 vor's to fly to,an airway,and two fixes. Once past Albany I was given direct to the final fix and landed in a presidential tfr. None of this appears on flightaware, though you can see it in the track.

P.s. I also see flight aware lists my tas as 180 even though I file 186 and my actaul gs was 210/220...other than that it is right on :)

Duplicating a real airlines flight, you don't get direct-to like GA pilots do, ATC loves keeping the smaller planes out of the big irons way

My point is that flightaware is not reliable for routings. I have been given full routings that appear on flightaware, then cleared direct or a completely different clearance once in the air-rarely does what flightaware show match up.

Well for someone who just wants to duplicate a real flight plan, flightaware is perfect. Sure you can get a direct-to, or cleared to another waypoint. But that is stepping into another level of realism the sim can't duplicate

The only thing I'd take from flightaware as reliable is the actual flight track.

The only thing I'd take from flightaware as reliable is the actual flight track.

Hi Geofa,Flight Aware does have its limitations when looking at the planned route, but it's still something of a guideline. I agree with you that the actual flight track is the key. I had not heard of simroutes.com before (mentioned in an earlier post). I will check it out. I use FSCommander and it's a great flight planning and tracking tool but one frustration I have with it is that it doesn't necessarily give a realistic flight route if I select High Altitude Airways. So finding a route to make is the key. I thought someone in a post awhile back had mentioned something about a website that listed ATC preferred routes between destinations, but I haven't been able to find it. One nice thing about FlightAware is that it's easy to use.Mark

Hello, I am getting back into FSX after a couple of years of focusing on other hobbies. I have the deluxe edition of FSX recently installed on a Dell XPS 410 comp with 4GB Ram, Quad core proc, nVidia 8600 GT Card. Running at 1680 by 1050 resolution, getting 24 FPS.What I'm looking to do is fly a couple of flights that I'll be taking in May. One is from KCMI to KORD, second leg is KORD-EGLL, and then EGLL-EGPF.I'm trying to figure out realistic flightplans/altitudes/approaches. I know how to use the MSFS flight planner to find routing, but I'd like to go as prototypical as I can. I have a very basic understanding of NAT tracks for the transatlantic portion of the trip.Thanks for any help!David PaulAmatuer Radio N9RZF

Here's a plan from flightaware. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/EGF4129Embraer ERJ-145 (twin-jet) (E145/Q - track or photos) Origin Univ of IL - Willard (KCMI - track or info) Destination Chicago O'Hare Intl (KORD - track or info) Route PNT V227 PLANO (Decode) Date Saturday, Apr 03, 2010 Duration 35 minutes Status Arrived over 4 hours ago. (track log) Departure 04:30PM CDT 04:44PM CDT 04:34PM CDT Arrival 05:00PM CDT 05:16PM CDT 05:09PM CDT Speed 396 kts Altitude 16000 feet

My understanding was that flightaware reports the filed route, not the cleared route, so if you file direct, and get a rerouting enroute, flightaware will show the correct radar track, but the route they have wont change. I may be wrong about that, though. It's the first place I go for domestic routes, though.

My understanding was that flightaware reports the filed route, not the cleared route, so if you file direct, and get a rerouting enroute, flightaware will show the correct radar track, but the route they have wont change. I may be wrong about that, though. It's the first place I go for domestic routes, though.

I think what flightaware reports is the route the antiquated FAA computer thinks you are gonna get.This flight I flew a couple days ago:http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N7345R/...1325Z/KPTK/KRSTI filed direct and 186 kts.Before I left flightaware had my route as:dunks v170 leasy LAN rst, an airspeed of 180 kts (a b55 must be in their database that way), and a time in route different from what I filed. Clearance gave me direct, atc gave me direct, I flew at my tas and my flightplan- not flightawares. Upon landing-flightaware in this instance did change the routing info-but more often then not it does not.In any case-since the op asked about "real" flightplans-I would look at the flight track and see what route was done from that. On my iPhone, my flight tracker allows you to look at the track over an ifr sectional-there you can pick up the actual real route/waypoints that were used.

From the first leg of my flight today-since I tookoff from Beverly, Mass and there is a Beverly 6 departure I filed the following for my trip to kgkj hoping to get it right:Glyde Ctr direct...Flightaware showed this as the route also-so far so good and my clearance from clearance delivery was exactly the same-great!:http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N7345R/...1520Z/KBVY/KGKJSlortly after takeoff was told to proceed direct to Barnes vor (baf).Then I was told they had a full route clearance for me-but since it was so long could I stand by...(nice to hear)...When 15 miles from Barnes I called the controller and mentioned I was waiting for my clearance and did not know what I was supposed to do after Barnes...He stated-stay on V292--I'll get back to you...After passing Barnes-he did:V292 sages v408 Lake Henry v58 Fqm v226 etg v232 fkl direct to gkj. The nice controller spelled everything phonetically after Lake Henry which made entry (and readback to the controller) into the gps less time consuming then having to hunt every fix on the chart-especially when unfamiliar with this area of the US. However before getting to Sages we were told proceed direct to Lake Henry....and before reaching lake Henry we were told proceed direct to gkj-our destination...and the route ended up thus fairly direct which is what I originally filed. Now I have found in this part of the country (near New York) you are going to have something like this happen-and you can't "plan" for it....in the Midwest more likely to just get direct..one area you button push and then never go where all the work and button pushes went and the other you don't button push and you just go.Flightaware shows none of this..of course...Just shows the improvement imho to fs atc is we need modified clearances in the air which can be much feared/anxiety producing especially if going to the New York area where you will get a modified clearance over and over. None the less-the helpful controllers usually get you going direct as soon as they can..

The proper thing to do after you cross BAF is cancel IFR, descend to pattern altitude and land. :( Great restaurant on field, and they are seriously some of the nicest folks around.(Also, I didn't realize that VFR flight following goes in, too. I can see my flight to and from Block Island this morning on there! I'd put a link up, but my tracking of the VOR left much to be desired :( )