I have FS Navigater and Active Sky 2004. I like to create my own flight plans with FS Nav with my own Sids and Stars, exporting the plan in FS9 format to import into AS2004 so it can adjust weather enroute. Then I can the flight plan enroute based on real world weather conditions as presented by AS2004. Enroute I'll use ATIS to check the active runway at my destination then edit my FS Nav accordingly for the approach phase. All of this works fine. As I near my destination, I choose the airport from the Nearest Airports list, and then get clearance to land. However, when it's IFR conditions, FS9 won't let me take off unless I've filed an FS9 IFR flight plan. So I import the FS Nav one and then I can get IFR clearance. But FS9 takes over at this point, and all my work creating the FS Nav flight plan goes down the drain, it's like FS9 dosn't recognize it--I get sent all over regardless of what I've put into the FS Nav flight plan. Should I cancel the FS9 flight plan as soon as I'm airborne then use the FS Nav one, then load it again when I get close to my destination so I can get landing clearance, or is there a better way to integrate them? Ideally, I'd rather not use the FS9 flight planning at all, it's pretty cumbersome compared to FS Nav, but I have to at times to get clearance. Or is there a better way (both easier and more realistic) to handle this given the addons that I'm using?billg

hmmm... let me try... even though i'm not sure it answers your question at all...i use no electronic add-ons for planning. i fill out standard faa/icao forms, collect notams, weather, navaid and airport information using web services and public databases, plot tracks on sectionals and tac's, and take it from there. papwerwork rules!:-lolcheers!vilkps.keep them coming folks, good question and i'd love to see some answers, too. thanks.

Hi,Yeah, its a very interesting question, but I fear that there is no "simple" soloution.When it comes to SIDs,STARS etc and the FS ATC, then the FS ATC is a pain in the butt.To this end I have started to look into radar contact as an alternative, weather this will solve these problems, I have'nt figured out yet.In 2002 you could just file a VFR plan and cheat a little, but now with the "new improved" ATC it wont let you take off or land when the airport is below VFR minimums, which is correct, but it makes it a pain to use plans from FSNav and the like.So my question is would radar contact help in this situations?.CheersDan.

My work around to the ATC flight plan/clearance problem is to file your flight plan but do not "Open" it till you are airborne and have completed your SID. At that time your can click on the "Open" an IFR flight plan window and then make sure you select the button on the right side which I believe is "No". What this will do is open your flight plan but allow you to pick it up from your "Present" position. If you select the button on the "Left" the FS2004 program will start you back on the ground and that would not be fun.As for your clearance to take off, you will just have to listen to your ATIS and select the runway you need. It would be nice if FS2004 worked correctly but we can only hope this problem will be addressed in the up coming patch from Microsoft. I believe it will be called FS2006. : )Terry

There aren't any great solutions to your problem. We're all basically in the same situation. The two options are to either:a) Determine the current active runways for takeoff and landing based on current weather conditions. Plug these values into your IFR flight plan right away, and just hope the conditions don't change at the destination airport. or :( Just file a dummy IFR plan, takeoff, then just cancel IFR with ATC and just manually fly your own flightplan yourself. You can file an IFR flightplan with the destination and arrival airports the same. You can even re-open a new IFR flightplan when you get closer to the destination airport.