Hey guys,

 

In an effort to understand the aviation charts so that I can set accurate restrictions and get a better understanding of Sids/Stars/airways and Waypoints, could anybody recommend some reading? PDF form would be perfect so that I can print it off and work through it as I tend to learn better like that than using videos!

 

I'm basically just looking for a beginners guide to SIds/Stars/Charts if such a thing exists.

 

Thanks J

...beginners guide to SIds/Stars/Charts if such a thing exists

 

The FAA has several useful documents http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/ particularly the "Instrument Procedures Handbook" for your immediate needs.

 

DJ

I found this site very helpful in the early days. Not 100% sure its what your after but here goes anyway http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/index.htm

 

I know theyre videos but I did find these very interesting also;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrel4WB4KV0

 

For getting hold of the charts I subscribe to jeppesen to get the real world versions :)

Thanks guys - Are the Jeppensen charts accurate to FSX? What I mean is, will they enable me to make accurate approaches within the limitations of the FSX engine...If that makes any sense whatsoever!

...Are the Jeppensen charts accurate to FSX? What I mean is, will they enable me to make accurate approaches within the limitations of the FSX engine...

 

No - they are up to date charts and don't reflect the FS navigation database. However, if you update your 737NGX navdata they will reflect the content of the AIRAC and can be used for navigation regardless. Some navaid frequencies will have changed and you may run into that depending on what scenery you have installed but the NGX has an option to use what is there.

 

DJ

For the most part they will. Frequencies change in the RW, and they don't in FSX. Sometimes FSX will get the localizer beam wrong. But there aren't any virtual charts that would help with these issues. I use RW charts and almost never have any troubles. They work quite well usually.

 

I don't know where in the world you are, but you can get all the navaid info you need for free from a number of sources for the US, such as skyvector.com. And there are similar sources for other parts of the world. FSKneeboard is a great tool for organizing and displaying these if you have an ipad.

Hey guys, thank you. I am in the United Kingdom.

 

Other than Vatsim, what's the best way to get a system which works coherently. For example yesterday the FSX ATC really struggled (Switch to Approach, Switch to Centre, Switch to Approach, Climb FL 24, Descend FL16, Climb FL24 - to be fair the scenery around tenerife was challenging, but still..). Would using FSbuild 2 + Charts + Radar Contact give the most realistic approaches? also, are the flight plans generated by FSBuild2 extremely out of date and/or sync with real world routes due to the age of the software, or do all the waypoints and routes, stars and sid still exist?

 

Many thanks :)

Luke - Try here if you want UK Charts, I used it before I started getting the Jeppesen charts - they are 100% accurate and up to date with the real world and I never had any problems with them!

 

http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=6&Itemid=13.html

James - they are perfect, thanks so much :)

FSBuild generated routes are never up to date with real life because FSBuild simply generates the quickest route between two airports. It doesnt follow any rules or regulations. They will never follow letters of agreement, they will frequently have you flying the wrong direction on single direction airways, they will have you at the wrong altitude for different airways, FSBuild doesnt know about local procedures and letters of agreement etc. This is why routes generated with FSBuild will almost always be garbage, illegal routes that would never have been flown in real life