I use FSC. Never tried FSBuild but I like FSC. I guess its just what I'm used to

FS Commander by far. Although I can't seem to recall a list of features relative to either product, I remember FSC having far greater functionality. Now, however, I use Aivlasoft EFB, which blows both FSC and FSBuild out of the water.Trevor

Definately FS Commader is the best in my opinion. However FSBuild is a lot easier to use. But if you just take the time to learn FS Commander its well worth the time and for all the extra features its worth every penny.DVR2W DVR UL9 KONAN UL607 FERDI UN873 TOLEN HELE2R if you want to do Runway 8RYou always want to take off into the wind. So whatever the wind direction is will dictate what runway ATC gives you if they are on. So it is important to have an accurate weather program. I always recommend Activesky cause it is the best you can get.

Many thanks guys, very much appreciated. I'll check out FSC and EFB. Are there any rules to choosing transitions (assuming you don't have these planning programs)? Is there a document that stipulates *which* transition goes with *which* STAR for a given airfield?

No. In FSC, you chose your transition, then when you try to chose your star, it only provides the ones which are available through that transition

Have any of you tried the Fsopen weather engine?? I love it.. I use REX textures, but it adds some realistic visibility settings and more accurate depictions based on the Metar.... It's free for UK residents.. Give it a shot, if you don't like it, easy to delete.. I'm going to have a look at all three of those flight planning programs.. Thanx

Aivlasoft EFB all the way. Check it out. Totally worth it.

Aivlasoft EFB all the way. Check it out. Totally worth it.

I just did, looks awesome... Fully functional 30 day trial.. Sweet...

Looks expensive too! I already have FSBuild s I think I'll check out the trial before buying. I'll also look into FSC as well. Is route any good in Europe?

I'm still getting used to the FMC (first aircraft I've used with an FMC believe it or not), and have managed to get everything set up fine.. until it's time for the approach. I take the whole STAR thing from the tutorial and whatnot and use it for whatever airport I'm coming in to, but I get this labyrinth of routes coming up that the plane tries to follow, one time I even had a route that took me back to the previous waypoint only to come back where I started for the approach.. if I even manage to make the approach. You could say my question is how to know which STAR/transition to use? I've read the manual.

There are a number of sources like VATSIM, Eurocontrol and sometimes even countries publishing SIDs STARs and AD diagrams for the airport you want.With those charts you can see what SID / STAR there are available and which you (want) can fly. Your flight plan should be that the first waypoint of the enroute section is the end point of the SID (when taking off) and the starting point of the STAR (when landing) ideally.You know what airport you start from, you know where you want to land at, so logically one would choose the shortest routing possible and so you can see what SID or STAR to use that closest match the direction of your routing. Hope this helps a bit