do you just ignore atc? any tips would be great, ciao!Brian S

Well, the only way to do that would be to file VFR. FS9 ATC isn't intelligent enough to do DPs and STARs.

For SIDS, I just put them into the flight planner. ATC will then expect you to follow them.For STARS, in some cases when ATC directs you to an approach, go to "select another approach". Some airports will have alternative approaches, some will be close to actual STARS which ATC will then clear you to. You can preview some of those approaches on the GPS. Not all airports have them so in some cases you can cancel IFR and then just request flight following and continue on your STAR, eventually contacting the tower for landing.Are you totally confused now? :-)Lee

actually no, i was just thinking along the same kinda thing, i get so tired of zigzagging back and forth, that i might try just thatthanksciao!Brian S

You don't with Mr. Gate's ATC! The closest thing you can get is to export from FSNAV including the SID's and STAR's and hope ATC doesn't fly you into a mountain or anything. I would respectfully recommend that you try VatSim.

I just ignore them once they start vectoring me to approach. I am usually flying the PMDG 737, so the FMC tells me when and where to go anyway. The only reason I keep ATC there is to find out what the active runway is at my destination. Once they tell me that, I switch to VFR.