I have purchased the Flight1 Meridian with its advanced avionics.Problem is it's difficult to use all the features when you use the ATC in FS.For example I file a IFR to Seattle. Since I have the Simcgart for Seattle I have waypoints and minimum altitude. I entered these waypoints in the Garmin GPS and used VNAV feature to reach FACTS at 5000 feet.But ATC soon give me instruction to divert from the programmed and according to the Simchart prescribed approach. So I had to abandonmy preprogrammed route. And finds me changing heading and altitudeaccording to ATC.I would like to know what you do who fly planes like the Meridian or others planes with advanced avionics? It disturbs me that I don't have to do any planning or thinking self but just follows instructions.

Frustrating isn't it? :-)You spend a considerable amount of time researching your destination, choosing an appropriate/likely STAR, transition and approach, program it all into your very realistic navigation computer, turn up only to be given vectors (sometimes via MiddleOfNowhere Approach or some such) from 80 odd miles out. It wouldn't bother me too much but they send me some 30/40 miles out (sometimes with a big diversion especially if I'm set up for a straight in) and I still end up in a pack of 4 for landing and are told to go around. I guess that until MS implements some sort of AI aircraft sequencing, the final approach part of ATC is of little use to people with the "good" nav kit.Personally I wait until I'm given the runway in use, set up the FMC (I'm a heavy iron sorta guy) for that approach and then ignore their incessant bleating as I fly the STAR properly. They cancel my flight plan so I call up VFR on finals. If the weather's bad and they refuse my VFR request, I'll just listen to the tower frequency and use TCAS to try and slot myself in with everyone; and land "sans clearance". I don't feel I've lost too much realism (as it is) by doing it, I get to fly a more expeditious route and they weren't going to tell me anything I didn't already know (or could find out) anyway.Just my take on things, although recently I found that if you follow their instructions until the first frequency change, do the ol' change frequency but don't check in trick, fly your STAR just maintaining the height you were given, when you get close (with respect to your height) give them a call and depending on where you end up you may just get cleared straight down and on an intercept to the ILS, no questions, no 30 mile detour.I share your pain,Take care,Ian

>(sometimes via MiddleOfNowhere Approach or some such) from 80>odd miles out. >Yes last time they vectored me away from my planned course when I wassome 40-50 miles away.>It wouldn't bother me too much but they send me some 30/40>miles out (sometimes with a big diversion especially if I'mNot to talk about when they start giving me instruction to fly zick zack.>properly. They cancel my flight plan so I call up VFR on>finals. If the weather's bad and they refuse my VFR request,What about reopen the IFR plan here? We do wan't the challange of bad weather sooner or later.>Just my take on things, although recently I found that if you>follow their instructions until the first frequency change, do>the ol' change frequency but don't check in trick, fly your>STAR just maintaining the height you were given, when you get>close (with respect to your height) give them a call and>depending on where you end up you may just get cleared>straight down and on an intercept to the ILS, no questions, no>30 mile detour.>I will try that