Flight planning software

[MattM1121 1]

Greetings,I was wondering if anyone used flight planning software. And why do you use it? Also what software is available?I usually fly around the greater NW area, but have been thinking of broadening my horizions and trying different areas. Once concern I have is using FS2004 for flight planner management. It's not the best, but it works. I use Radar Contact, FS Flight Keeper, FS2004(FSX sometimes but rarely), ActiveSky 6.5/ASE, and the Flight1 ATR72-500. I would need something that can easily be imported into those applicatons. I'd like to hear your suggestions on this.Thanks,-Matt

[pschlute 37]

Greetings,I was wondering if anyone used flight planning software. And why do you use it? Also what software is available?I usually fly around the greater NW area, but have been thinking of broadening my horizions and trying different areas. Once concern I have is using FS2004 for flight planner management. It's not the best, but it works. I use Radar Contact, FS Flight Keeper, FS2004(FSX sometimes but rarely), ActiveSky 6.5/ASE, and the Flight1 ATR72-500. I would need something that can easily be imported into those applicatons. I'd like to hear your suggestions on this.Thanks,-Matt

http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/ To plan the route... eg KJFK-KMIA (untick SIDS/STARS) press find route.Copy the line at the bottom JOANI J79 VILLS J209 SAWED J121 ORF J174 DIW AR19 JENKS M201 BAHAA AR15 HIBAC AR17 VKZ (excluding airports and DCT)Paste int the "route" section, after having keyed in your two airports where required on this site http://www.simroutes.com/fb2/ParseRoute.aspxPress "generate route" and then you can download a ready made FS9 flightplan. Just reread your post.... cannot download in ATR flightplan format ( you can for PMDG737), sorry.

[psolk 3,037]

http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/ To plan the route... eg KJFK-KMIA (untick SIDS/STARS) press find route.Copy the line at the bottom JOANI J79 VILLS J209 SAWED J121 ORF J174 DIW AR19 JENKS M201 BAHAA AR15 HIBAC AR17 VKZ (excluding airports and DCT)Paste int the "route" section, after having keyed in your two airports where required on this site http://www.simroutes.com/fb2/ParseRoute.aspxPress "generate route" and then you can download a ready made FS9 flightplan. Just reread your post.... cannot download in ATR flightplan format ( you can for PMDG737), sorry.

Been using FSBuild for years and wouldn't dream of being without it... Even shows fuel burn, required fuel etc...Paul

[Ray Proudfoot 8,931]

Hi Matt,I use vRoute. Excellent freeware flight planning software that contains thousands of plans. The premium version includes a fuel calculator and enhanced features for a modest fee. Plans can be exported to FS9 format which RC4 and FS Flight Keeper can read. If you decide to go with vRoute bear in mind that it's helpful to subscribe to Navigraph so the flight plans available to you are up to date. Not essential but highly desirable.I also use FSNavigator which remains an excellent piece of software. It can also be kept up to date with AIRAC data from Navigraph. Pity no-one has written a FSX equivalent.

[Chuck_B 2]

Here's another big thumbs up for FSBuild. There is a bit of a learning curve, but once you get past that it more than makes up for it's cost by time saved and fun gained.

[onurksn 1]

Vroute is great for detailed flight plans and routefinder is very practical when you're in a hurry.

[Geddy_2112 8]

And one more for FSBuild.Although I generally grab the real world route online and export it using FSBuild.

[MattM1121 1]

Ah yes, FS Build. I remember that now. I actually purchased that back in 2004. My computer had to be rebuilt. I went to simMarket to download it again, but the link had expired and they wanted another $10 bucks to replace it. Something about the cost of disk space or something. I was madder than a double peckered billy goat during mating season. So I refused to dish out the extra $10. Not that it was going to break me. What can I say?. :( Off a whim I just went back and the download link for FS Build 2 and the 2.3 update were active. Thank you very much simMarket.I've installed it and remember now that I had a very difficult time with it. Not intutitive at all. Anybody have some quick tips for building flightplans with FSBuild?Thanks,-Matt

[Guest philby]

Another hurrah for FS build and vroute :( :( :(

[ronzie 21]

FS Build provides free frequent AIRAC updates. I then use for US flying flightaware.com to get the bundled FAA terminal procedures (SIDs, STARs, IAPs, and airport diagrams) to and by right clicking on a flight of interest you can get the route which you can copy/paste into the FS Build route window. Occasionally you might have to change the version number of the SID/STAR.FS Build connects connects to your AS 6.5 weather which helps in fuel planning. Select your aircraft profile, add taxi, extra, and adjust the alternate time if needed and you can print a navlog that includes fuel planning. FS Build will autoroute picking the correct SID if it is runway dependent and will use the correct departure direction to join enroute. Just insure the SR data button is not enabled so fresh data is used.It exports to FS9 and several FMC formats as well as allowing you to save your built routes in its own format.Being so flexible there is a bit of a learning curve but I find between using the AS 6.5 navlog (with the route added) and the FSB navlog you have a lot of the data provided similar to what a dispatch office provides.If you work with a lot of freeware or "simple" payware aircraft the FSB developer has a line of gauges you can install:http://isgsim.com/?page=featuressome of them will import the fuel data from FSB. You'll notice in FSB an ISG export option among the many.FSB also supports FSX.I'm attaching a screenie of an FSB route I autorouted for another thread here from EGLL to LFPG.

[Chuck_B 2]

Anybody have some quick tips for building flightplans with FSBuild?Thanks,-Matt

Yes. Start using it today and READ THE MANUAL. No kidding! -- I kept trying to get it without doing that and you've hit the nail right on the head -- it's not intuitive at all. Not until I actually started using it and reading the manual did I start to realize it's full power.

[Glynn 405]

Ah yes, FS Build. I remember that now. I actually purchased that back in 2004. My computer had to be rebuilt. I went to simMarket to download it again, but the link had expired and they wanted another $10 bucks to replace it. Something about the cost of disk space or something. I was madder than a double peckered billy goat during mating season. So I refused to dish out the extra $10. Not that it was going to break me. What can I say?. :( Off a whim I just went back and the download link for FS Build 2 and the 2.3 update were active. Thank you very much simMarket.I've installed it and remember now that I had a very difficult time with it. Not intutitive at all. Anybody have some quick tips for building flightplans with FSBuild?Thanks,-Matt

Hello MattSimmarket no longer charge to re download your purchases, log in to your old account and they will all be there ready to download

[MattM1121 1]

Hello MattSimmarket no longer charge to re download your purchases, log in to your old account and they will all be there ready to download

Hi Mad Dog,I did check earlier and I was very pleased to see that they got rid of that policy. It didn't stop me from using simMarket, just the application. I'm happy with simMaket again. :(

[ronzie 21]

FSB tips:1. Include this line in FSbuild.cfg:NAVCHKDUPDIST=100This decreases the chance of using the wrong duplicate named local (to the airport) waypiont from a nearby airport. Local waypoint names are not exclusive. It decreases the database search when it is named in the route to within a 100 nm radius of your airport. You will find these in terminal procedures such as "D" number something within a SID or STAR to define a merge or turning point.2. When doing a Auto Generate (Route) be sure the SR (Stored Route) button next to it is "up" that is not highlighted. Auto Generate will use a stored route if found by default and most are out of date with old waypoints and terminal procedures. Having Stored Routes off forces it to search a path with fresh data.3. Take advantage of the frequent AIRAC updates at the FSBuild site for the greatest possibility of matching current charts and real world flight plan procedures and waypoints.4. Where an airport uses specific runways for different terminal procedures select the runway using an estimate based on weather and if the runway fits your aircraft requirements before doing the Auto Generate. This helps select the correct SID and STAR for the runway and direction of departure and arrival.5. After the Auto Generate and/or first build look at the map created to spot any obvious errors. In the route grid look for any sudden non-sensible changes in direction or extremely long legs not in the correct direction creating a zig-zag in the map. (See item 6 following to correct).6. Be aware there is an option you can set for each session titled "Build Route from Grid Table". It does not stick between sessions. This lets you build from an edited route grid that you may have modified without recreating the table with the same error on your next build/export. For example you might wish to drop an errant waypoint when proofing the map and rebuilding.7. Sometimes the name of a procedure (SID/STAR) does not match the name exactly in a published route and the procedure will not expand into its plan waypoints in the grid table. You can click on the arrow in the SID/STAR box to see what close name is in the FSB database. (Another reason to keep up with AIRACS.) For example KMSP has a current real such as this one:http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/KMSP/DP/WAUKON+TWObut the FSB database only has UKN2. (It does have UKN3 now with the latest available AIRAC update). If so in the route line just change UKN3 to UKN2 so it will expand. Here's a real route from flightaware.com for KMSP to KMDW:KMSP UKN3 DBQ CVA MOTIF3 KMDWthat can be pasted into the FSB route line. If UKN3 or MOTIF3 does not expand in the route grid to individual way points look in the upper part of FSB in the airport section dropping down the SID or STAR box to get the available version and substitute that label in the route line and rebuild.8. Sometimes it takes a second build to get the map to move and/or magnify. The mouse scroll wheel lets you magnify. Just click on the portion of the map you want to center on and scroll to magnify.9. If you click on a line in the route grid table to highlight it, the waypoint on the map will turn red. This is useful for finding errant waypoints that cause an error in the path. That line can then be edited or deleted and a rebuild accomplished with the build option to build from the route grid table.10. If you are running a weather program such as active sky, first build the route in FSB exporting to FS9 using an anticipated cruise altitude and specify the nearest aircraft profile. In AS get the weather you wish to use. (I always get the weather for the zulu time of the departure in FS since time of day affects weather characteristics). Import the plan into AS via the new route button, check the altitude and choose an appropriate true airspeed in knots (this is your no wind ground speed). Process the route. When it is finished click the button to print a hard copy of all. Use this AS navlog for METAR data at both ends and winds aloft and temperature aloft that can be used for FMC data. (You'll also get your estimated average wind at your specified altitude - handy for FMC data.) Leave AS running. Now go back to FSB and your chosen aircraft profile. Enter the surface temperature from your departure METAR, then estimated total taxi time, hold time, and extra time (sometimes called discretionary fuel). Now turn on again your FS9 export along with any FMC export you might use. Rebuild and you'll see the messages regarding the export completion. On the route selection on the left which brings up your route window select the navlog tab and click the .pdf to save the navlog in a file or the print button to get a hard copy so you can easily reference the estimated fuel and other data. This estimated fuel has now taken into account your winds aloft data - no need to enter it in FSB. Now that you have the hard copy and exported your route, you can first optionally save the plan by selecting flightplan window, then clicking the category tab, then select user category. Now click file, save from the menu bar. The name you might want to embellish. Click Save Route To User Flight Plans. For another session, you can recall this working plan and just build.11. If you are using an aircraft with nav equipment that has its own terminal data procedures in its nav equipment (think FMC) you might wish to use step 6 above to take out the waypoints of the terminal procedures keeping just the transition points and build and export with just them. This easily in most cases lets you select the SID and STAR assigned by ATC on your nav equipment by providing a clean legs list in your nav equipment. If you need ATC to monitor the waypoints of the terminal procedure than just export all. To keep ATC and you nav equipment in sync, you might consider importing the full plan into your nav equipment and not using your nav equipment procedure database.This is kind of long but through experience I've described some tricks I've used watching out for any pitfalls.There is a later update for 2.3 not linked from simmarket. From the fsbuild forum that link is:http://www.fsbuild.com/dl/Fsbuild2376_2Upd.exeInstall that if you have a lower version number after your 2.3 update from Simmarket.

[jerryuscg 1]

When I first bought Radar Contact 4 I thought I had to have a flight planner (?), and I bought FS Build to "import" my flight plan into RD4. I bought an updated version of RD4 a few months ago and have learned to use it without using FS Build at all. Now I dont use FS Build for anything and I'm thinking of uninstalling it from my computer. Am I missing something? jerrycwo4PS Later down on this link a lot of uses were given. I probably still will not use it but it's there if I ever want to.