Hi,Is there any way to input or program an approach? I don't like the way FS ATC vectors to final, so can one (perhaps through AFCAD) assign an approach (well, some of the airports do have them)?Thanx!!//Michael

Since this is the PMDG forum I assume you know you actualy need 2 programmed approaches-one for the FMC and one for MS Flight Simulator. I also assume you know you can cancel your IFR flight plan with FS ATC if your destination is VFR. Then you can fly any approach path to the cleared runway. You also can clear your destination weather. But if you need to remain IFR then when ATC calls you to start vectoring, there are alternate runways and approaches/transitions that can be selected from the ATC menu. If you have the charts handy you may recognize a waypoint from the FS approach and a real STAR or IAP. Also note 4 files posted here recently by John Hambly that show up also on the ATC menu that are STARS for KSEA.I'm with you FS ATC vectoring is unpleasant-sometimes make a flight 30-45 minutes longer than it should be.Now if I could just figure out how to keep FS from popping airliners just in front of me on short final, making me get a go around order. Dumb MD80 couldn't have been using the ILS. Too close.DanS

Hi Dan!for a moment there you got me confused as well....it is the general forum after all....:)My question had to do exactly with those files. the problem with canceling IFR is that FS will allow you to contact your destination airport only when you are very close to it. The problem being, that at this point tou are already comitted to a certain approach, very annoying at this point to get clearence to the opposit runway for instance....I'm sure we have all been there.....Now, the way I remember it, with files like J. Hamblys you are "let off the hook" at the transition fix....so, back to my original question....how do you go about creating such files....Thanx again//MichaelP.Sreduce that traffic percentage before you start your final....easy on the frames - easy on the go arounds...:)

MichaelYou askIs there any way to input or program an approach? Yes. You can write any type approach using Charts and translate into XML which is the way MSN does it. FS9 has only one approach for AI Traffic and that is the Vectors to Final Transistion if the FP is IFR. This is the simplist of approaches written and is a hard code in the program. VFR has a different hard code. It does not matter if ATC gives the AI Plane a ILS/GPS/LDA approach they all are to the IAF of the runway with some limited spacing.Any approach that you write with XML is a Transistion Approach to the runway FAF and only the user aircraft can use this type approach directed by ATC. There are no STAR's in FS9 that ATC understands. All approaches for the user aircraft are Transistions to the Initial Approach Fix (IAF) and then a transistion to the runway (FAF). There are no Transistions to a STAR in FS9 coding.AFCAD does not have the ability to write an approach. AFCAD will add a ILS to a runway but FS9 cannot see this new ILS. ATC cannot direct you to this new ILS and only the user plane instruments will see the ILS.Hope this helps

Jim,Thanks for the response.What I'm actually looking for is some kind of way to get rid of ATCs vectoring. All my questions are with respect to the user aircraft.What I'm looking for, basically is the following scenario:about 40-50 miles from my destination ATC would normally assign a runway and would start its "turn heading xxx" that will take me to another continent....instead I would like to choose from the ATC menu another approach, through a transition fix, and thats available at some airports, and from there continue to the assigned runway without ATC sending me to its IAF located so far off.and if we are on that issue....is there a way to actually CHANGE the assigned runway without getting sidesteps or "circle to land" for the initial runway assigned by ATC?Thanx again!//Michael

>and if we are on that issue....is there a way to actually CHANGE the assigned runway without getting sidesteps or "circle to land" for the initial runway assigned by ATC?http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpg

At bigger airports,>ATC offers published approaches whose transition points>sometimes coincide with the STAR entry point. From the>transition point you will be cleared for the approach, and ATC>will leave alone until final, when you'll be handed off to the>tower for landing clearance.Yes!! that is exactly what I want. so, how does one go about inserting such approaches into FS scenery or wherever they are encoded in case they don't exist at my airport of choice....this is what I termed "inputting"...not the greatest wording, I agree...Thanx//Michael

"I'm with you FS ATC vectoring is unpleasant-sometimes make a flight 30-45 minutes longer than it should be."Or worse... sending you right into a mountain or hill.Roger

GostaYou said that ATC offers published approaches whose transition points sometimes coincide with the STAR entry point.Could you please list a couple of examples that you have. I have been looking through all the Jepp charts in the research I am doing and still have not been able to find an Initial Approach Fix (IAF) for a published approach (in FS9) that coincides with the Transistion waypoint (entry point) from enroute to a published STAR. Thanks in advance@MichealIf you want to write approach data for a runway then a good place to start is with the BGLComp SDK that MSN has available.