I am starting to use the FMC for the first time and should be glad of some assistance.Assuming I want to fly from Heathrow to Liverpool, I presume I select/create this route in MSFS in order to get to my aircraft to start of with. Apart from the MS route plan, where else can details of flight routes/waypoints be obtained? Jim Challis

Using the FMC the route might be EGLL sid WOBUN DireCT WELIN T420 TNT star EGGP - jusr a suggestion anyway. You can find routes using vroute or from http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/ both work very well. For US flights www.flightaware.com perhaps or Skyvector.John Ellison

FSbuild 2 works well and will export to msfs and Pmdg.

I am starting to use the FMC for the first time and should be glad of some assistance.Assuming I want to fly from Heathrow to Liverpool, I presume I select/create this route in MSFS in order to get to my aircraft to start of with. Apart from the MS route plan, where else can details of flight routes/waypoints be obtained? Jim Challis

Hi Jim,Unless I misunderstood your question, it seems to me that you are headed in the wrong direction.With a default, GPS-equiped MSFS plane, creating a route and saving a flight plan will result in tranfer of the said flight plan :- into the plane GPS (the plane will follow the flight plan)- to ATC (ATC will give you the corresponding instructions)With any sophisticated, FMC-equiped plane such as PMDG's 737, there is no GPS and any plan created in MSFS will only be used by ATC.Therefore, you need to :1- create the flight plan directly into the FMC2- either import or duplicate this plan into MSFS so that ATC can handle your flight (or at least the first part since MSFS ATC is notoriously bad at handling approaches)So, if you really want to fly your 737 the way it is flown in real life, you should :- read the FMS/FMC documentation (and one of the many tutorials available on the net)- learn to create a flight plan directly in the FMC- learn to either import or duplicate (recreate) the flight plan into MSFS if you want ATC to give you proper directions (you can also choose to disregard ATC...)It can be overwhelming initially but after a (short) time, you'll understand it all and you'll be surprised at the level of realism and the quality of the learning experience.There are many utilities that will help you create a flight plan. They are not absolutely necessary but they help. I use FS Navigator, which is (very unfortunately) not available anymore but there are plenty of other utilities (FS Build among others) that will help you create flight plans and import them into the PMDG FMC and into MSFS (unfortunately, to my knowledge, there is no way to import an MSFS flight plan directly into the 737 FMC but some of these utilities will allow you to do it the other way aroud).Hope this helps,Have funBruno

Hi Jim,Unless I misunderstood your question, it seems to me that you are headed in the wrong direction.With a default, GPS-equiped MSFS plane, creating a route and saving a flight plan will result in tranfer of the said flight plan :- into the plane GPS (the plane will follow the flight plan)- to ATC (ATC will give you the corresponding instructions)With any sophisticated, FMC-equiped plane such as PMDG's 737, there is no GPS and any plan created in MSFS will only be used by ATC.Therefore, you need to :1- create the flight plan directly into the FMC2- either import or duplicate this plan into MSFS so that ATC can handle your flight (or at least the first part since MSFS ATC is notoriously bad at handling approaches)So, if you really want to fly your 737 the way it is flown in real life, you should :- read the FMS/FMC documentation (and one of the many tutorials available on the net)- learn to create a flight plan directly in the FMC- learn to either import or duplicate (recreate) the flight plan into MSFS if you want ATC to give you proper directions (you can also choose to disregard ATC...)It can be overwhelming initially but after a (short) time, you'll understand it all and you'll be surprised at the level of realism and the quality of the learning experience.There are many utilities that will help you create a flight plan. They are not absolutely necessary but they help. I use FS Navigator, which is (very unfortunately) not available anymore but there are plenty of other utilities (FS Build among others) that will help you create flight plans and import them into the PMDG FMC and into MSFS (unfortunately, to my knowledge, there is no way to import an MSFS flight plan directly into the 737 FMC but some of these utilities will allow you to do it the other way aroud).Hope this helps,Have funBruno

Dear,If you want to make a big step ahead in your sim-flight hobby, you should go fly online. IVAO is -for example- a good network.There you will find an enormous amount of routes, training aid etc....FORGET about FS Navigator and other likewise "add-ons" because they are nothing what reality could bring you. It only gives you confusion....Best Regards,Bert Van Bulck

Dear,If you want to make a big step ahead in your sim-flight hobby, you should go fly online. IVAO is -for example- a good network.There you will find an enormous amount of routes, training aid etc....FORGET about FS Navigator and other likewise "add-ons" because they are nothing what reality could bring you. It only gives you confusion....Best Regards,Bert Van Bulck

Hi Bert,I disagree with you : I think what Jim needs to know first is how to use the FMS. One step at a time.As I mentioned, add-ons like FS Build (or the old FS Navigator) may help but are not strickly necessary.And as for IVAO and on-line flying, it's certainly a very good idea in due time but it is useless for somenone who is stil learning the basics.A beginner needs to learn to walk before trying to run !Bruno

I use FS Build 2 along with Active Sky 6.5 (which FS Build connects to for fuel planing and timing). Combining the navlogs of those two performs a function similar to an airline dispatch office which presents these plans to the pilot. Airline dispatchers also file the plans with ATC. Seems fairly realistic to me.This should work with on-line controllers (when available) if using real world weather. I prefer not having the time constraints of scheduling with on-line ATC. I use the weather archive for the time of the flight loaded so time of day effects are considered for the locality.A pilot needs to be confident and competent in maneuvering the aircraft at the demands of ATC. In my opinion that is easier in off-line ATC since the pace can be at the users discretion and reduces the pressure of worrying about criticism if mistakes are made. It is difficult in complex airliners to act as co-pilot and pilot simultaneously so some freedom of pace is necessary in my opinion.Once competent to efficiently perform the needs of dispatcher, pilot, and copilot then certainly exploring on-line ATC as an experience would offer an additional challenge.

Dear,If you want to make a big step ahead in your sim-flight hobby, you should go fly online. IVAO is -for example- a good network.There you will find an enormous amount of routes, training aid etc....FORGET about FS Navigator and other likewise "add-ons" because they are nothing what reality could bring you. It only gives you confusion....Best Regards,Bert Van Bulck

Hi Bert,I disagree with you : I think what Jim needs to know first is how to use the FMS. One step at a time.As I mentioned, add-ons like FS Build (or the old FS Navigator) may help but are not strickly necessary.And as for IVAO and on-line flying, it's certainly a very good idea in due time but it is useless for somenone who is stil learning the basics.A beginner needs to learn to walk before trying to run !Bruno

I see your point but -for example- you get rid of the route-finding thing, because correct routes are already available on these networks...Bert Van Bulck

Thank you for your responses, which I shall digest over the next few days. One immediate problem! On my FMS keyboard, the '0' key returns a '9;'. This is making it rather difficult to imput a meaningful flap setting or altitude.Jim

On the PMDG FMS you need to stretch it vertically, go to the bottom of the FMS and right click and drag down. Then you will get on the scratchpad what you typed.

Ah, the white heat of technology..............Thanks.

On the PMDG FMS you need to stretch it vertically, go to the bottom of the FMS and right click and drag down. Then you will get on the scratchpad what you typed.