I've been away from Flight Sim for a couple years and am now getting back into the routine.I use Radar Contact, and PMDG products (FMC).When I last was involved, I used FS Build2 for flight planning. Are there new (better) planners that have emerged?What are you guys using that can export to RC, PMDG, and FSX?Thanks for your input.Don

Although I use FS9 FSBuild 2.3 (release) and 2.4 (beta - adds navigraph subscription compatibility) meets your requirements for your stated formats of FSX, RC 4.3, and PMDG as well as many other formats.Here's a hint document I drew up: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 Auto Generate will use a stored route if found by default and most are out of date with old waypoints and terminal procedures.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. (Now off by default in version 2.4.)**REVISED 12/31/10** 3. Starting soon in 2011 FS Build database updates will be exclusively released through navigraph.com. It should be part of the FMC data line. For those not familiar with Navigraph each subscription term (cycle) includes multiple format downloads at no additional cost. This is very convenient for aligning FMC/navigation equipment databases with the flightplanner so among other things ATC data and your nav equipment data should match as you send a plan to ATC and then load it including terminal procedures into your FMC. The 2.4 upgrade includes the thirteenth cycle of 2010.4. 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. Note that the SID and STAR dropdowns may follow the chosen runway in certain areas.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.Be sure to check the FSBuild forum for updates.

Thanks Ron for your very complete and helpful ideas about FSB.Have you used, or do you have any thoughts about, FS Commander?Thanks,Don

I think one of the planners only searched scenery folders under AddOn scenery rather than use scenery.cfg as its reference (which would include paths to any FS installed scenery in any folder). It might not offer the airport diagrams correctly when taxxing and showing AI if that is a feature. It was in a thread somewhere but don't take this as gospel. This also might affect its moving map which is a feature I would not use anyway as I have the proper add-on navigation equipment and do not depend on the FS GPS which has its own database.Search this and the FS forums about it.For the route planning when you export a route to FS and RC, and probably your FMC/GPS/RNAV in the proper format (for import into the FMC/GPS/IRS) FSB expands the SID/STAR waypoints as do some others. This is important so RC, maybe a weather application such as Active Sky to print out a report for your waypoint data and winds aloft, and any FS route dependent applications match. I, being an FS9 user, have Active Sky 6.5. FSB is one of the very few planners that does fuel burn estimates and connects to Active Sky weather. Some others only can connect to FS downloaded real-time weather. I always use archives for the Z time of my saved flights and set FS for FS time of the flight, not system time. This allows time of day effects (solar convection, etc) to be correct for the time of day in the time zone of the flight.FSC 9 was recently released and reviewed in Computer Pilot magazine. I'd browse their support forum and also see if they have an FAQ and documentation to browse.I find that between the AS65 reports and the FSB reports it contains most of the route based data as might be issued by a flight dispatch office for airline fuel planning and weather contingencies or what a commercial pilot might prepare preflight. Therefore I never looked further.I would search the regular FS forums for comments on flight planners.

Thanks again Ron.Where do you live in Minnesota? I spent the first half of my life there. I'm in San Diego now, for the last 27 years.Don

I've always enjoyed Vroute Premium as it's like a one stop shop, but only if you find a route in the database. FSbuild is definetely a main stay for getting the job done. I hear word that Topcat has something coming down the pipe as well. IdealFlight 10 has a unique way of generating flight plans also, like pulling a prepared flight plan from a grab bag and go.

I'm now (last 35 years) in recently renamed 'City of Nowthen' ten miles north of Anoka about forty miles north of KMSP. Warmer in San Diego, isn't it. :)I received my private pilot and commercial pilot training at KANE, Anoka County Airport, (also known as Janes Field) in the middle 1970's.

Thanks again Ron.Where do you live in Minnesota? I spent the first half of my life there. I'm in San Diego now, for the last 27 years.Don

Thanks for the input. I'll check those out.Don

I've always enjoyed Vroute Premium as it's like a one stop shop, but only if you find a route in the database. FSbuild is definetely a main stay for getting the job done. I hear word that Topcat has something coming down the pipe as well. IdealFlight 10 has a unique way of generating flight plans also, like pulling a prepared flight plan from a grab bag and go.

Ron,I have to tell you, I thought you were putting me on there. I had to google Nowthen as I've never heard of it.I lived in Wayzata... not that far away. Been to Elk River many times but not Nowthen. I'm not sure I ever head of Burns either. :)I went to school at Gustavus and was at the U of Mn during the 70's.Can't say I miss the weather. I am still a big Gopher fan though...football and basketball. It's been several tough years saying that.Don

I'm now (last 35 years) in recently renamed 'City of Nowthen' ten miles north of Anoka about forty miles north of KMSP. Warmer in San Diego, isn't it. :)I received my private pilot and commercial pilot training at KANE, Anoka County Airport, (also known as Janes Field) in the middle 1970's.

Try EFB from Aivlasoft. An excellent flight planner plus much more.Terry