(If you dont care to read the whole darn thing, skip to the last sentence)Now, flightsimming has been a part of my life since 95-96, so ive done this for a very long time. I`ll never forget back in 05, when Fspassengers came out for FS9, for me that was a blast.But after so many years of this, I actually felt that, when I installed and flew the NGX, the realism is so high in the spectrum of aircraft, scenery, weather and texture add-ons, that I feel likethere is a really important thing missing to make it perfect... Fspax is not up to it for me anymore, and ive tried other add-ons that are similar, but what I really would like to see is a more integrated "I am airline pilot"-addon.. U know what I mean?Like the add-on that gives you a position at an airline, typerating, a roster to follow, different crews for different flights, and where you have to show up for flight planning at the office before goingout to the airplane, do walk around and preflight checks.Yes, FS2Crew is superb, but an airline pilot starts his shift by checking in and meeting up with the crew.. It would have been so nice to have that ultimate addon, to complete everything.. Its justnot that great anymore to load the aircraft and find yourself suddenly sitting in the cockpit at the gate and doing the flight planning from there..Hmmm.. Maybe I should just become a pilot...Folks, I`d appreciate your thoughts on the subject and would like to know how you do your flightplanning, whether it is B744 flights or J4100 commuter hops..

I just enter a couple of ICAO's into the FMC and fly off.I agree, an airline pilot add-on would add some realism, but I think that most people would rather fly when they want without a roster to follow or type rating etc. Have you thought about joining a VA? IIRC, most have a schedule, but they don't have type ratings etc from memory.

It would have been so nice to have that ultimate addon, to complete everything.. Its justnot that great anymore to load the aircraft and find yourself suddenly sitting in the cockpit at the gate and doing the flight planning from there..

I might be interested in a deeper, more thorough preflight routine if it were a combat sim. But for civilian flight simulation, nah. I'm fine with the flight simulation element alone, and don't feel a need to simulate anything prior to preflighting the aircraft.Flightplanning and getting everything running already takes long enough.As Kevin suggested a VA can provide a lot of the structure you described.

take routes from flightaware, or fsbuild generated routes, route finder online. program into fsbuild then write down and punch into the fmc.

To the OP: as has been said, I think you would probably get what you're after from a VA, more than from a program.

To the OP: as has been said, I think you would probably get what you're after from a VA, more than from a program.

+1 I found with the right VA you get the most accurate flightplan in terms of ARR/DEST, ALT Airport, FL, DEP/ARR times, Day of operation, Equipment, Gate used, load, and of course...the flightplan.

but an airline pilot starts his shift by checking in and meeting up with the crew.. It would have been so nice to have that ultimate addon, to complete everything..

I personally would not want that concept in flight simming and would never buy it even if someone created it. For me, flight simming is a learning process where I can learn how to program a flight from A to Z via flight management and how to control a complicated aircraft from a cold and dark setting and learn all the procedures in between to a destination. I would like to see more interactions with a co-pilot though as it is very difficult and unrealistic to operate a complicated aircraft like the 737NGX, the PMDG 747X, the LevelD 767, etc., by just one person - the Captain. I know there are some programs that allow more interaction with a co-pilot like FS Crew, but I would like to see a lot of it done automatically. The LevelD has that programmed in their 767. When you take off, the co-pilot automatically raises the gear and lowers it. It's a simple task for just a Captain but realistically, the co-pilot normally raises and lowers the gear at takeoff/landing. After getting to 10,000 feet, the co-pilot should turn off the landing lights and turn them on automatically when descending. Stuff like that. Best regards,Jim

Have you thought about joining a VA? IIRC, most have a schedule, but they don't have type ratings etc from memory.

Just recently it entered my mind. I guess im putting more into this than most simmers do? I gotta check out the VA`s out there

I might be interested in a deeper, more thorough preflight routine if it were a combat sim. But for civilian flight simulation, nah. I'm fine with the flight simulation element alone, and don't feel a need to simulate anything prior to preflighting the aircraft.Flightplanning and getting everything running already takes long enough.

Really? Well, no doubt, going into combat you most certainly gotta have a thourough brief before getting into action, thats for shure, but you would not prefer that for commercial flying?

I know there are some programs that allow more interaction with a co-pilot like FS Crew, but I would like to see a lot of it done automatically.

Spot on for me. I do love the FS2CREW concept (have yet to try voice commander, but im not able to use it properly with my kid in the neighbour room, cause most of my flying is after his bed time :( )I would really love a co-pilot to interact with, without too much hassle..BUT folks: Just give me a little insight to how you put up your commercial flights!

vRoute /char

Ideal Flight may just be different enough to rekindle your FSX spirit:http://www.codelegend.com/default.htm