OK, I know I have asked this sort of question before, but am still struggling to understand.  First, I have found a way to update the waypoints in the FSX planner for free.  I sort of have the idea of including common points in the plan.  But there are certain SIDS and STARS that require a certain direction to take off or land.  An example SID could be the KLAX HOLTZ9.  This SID only uses the westerly runways for takeoff.  But the problem is, before I start the flight, I don't know if KLAX is taking off west or east. And this SID is only for taking off to the west.  Now a STAR example could be the KLAX RIVVR2 arrival. This arrival is also for the west runways, but again KLAX could be using the east runways.  Here are some other issues I have.  Some STARS, including this one have no description of what to do.  For this STAR, there really is no description other than the waypoint this STAR ends at is RIVVR.  That is also the IAF for all the west runways.  Another thing is this, the default GPS cannot fly approach procedures.  It sort of can, but most of the approaches are outdated.  Updating them is not practical.  So what will I do then for approaches that have procedure turns or where you fly the approach charts? I hope you can help me out with this, since I pretty much am stuck.

try the free flight planner simroutes search page. You can make your own route or use one already created and download it into your flight planner. the sid,star waypoints will be there. I like to get the route from flight aware create it if it's not already there. Simbreaf.com is another free planer you can down load from but much more detailed.

try the free flight planner simroutes search page. You can make your own route or use one already created and download it into your flight planner. the sid,star waypoints will be there. I like to get the route from flight aware create it if it's not already there. Simbreaf.com is another free planer you can down load from but much more detailed.

Yea, I know about simroutes.  But is that all I have to do though?  Do I just use RC radar vectors for arrival?  

I don't use any ATC myself. I just fly the route and monitor the default sector I am in. Other wise they will take you of the star. Been a lot of fourm discussion about add on atc if you want more realistic procedures. Every time I get tempted to buy one it seems like extra hassel. Already have to start five different programs now. A good NGX flight takes at least 45 minutes from boot up to wheels up. Sorry if I wasn't much help.

I don't use any ATC myself. I just fly the route and monitor the default sector I am in. Other wise they will take you of the star. Been a lot of fourm discussion about add on atc if you want more realistic procedures. Every time I get tempted to buy one it seems like extra hassel. Already have to start five different programs now. A good NGX flight takes at least 45 minutes from boot up to wheels up. Sorry if I wasn't much help.

It's OK.  Usually one of the support guys for RC come in.  I hope they will.  Thanks.

But the problem is, before I start the flight, I don't know if KLAX is taking off west or east. And this SID is only for taking off to the west.

 

If you fly an aircraft that has a CDU then you have some control over the waypoints for your plan including those for the approach.

 

Do you have a flight planner? if you do and it can't link to a weather program it's not very useful. If you want to get serious about your flights then you need a serious planner. The best I've seen is PFPX and at present Aerosoft have a 15% discount until Sunday. You can get it for around $40.

 

It works out all the take-off and landing runways based on current weather and knows all the SIDs and STARs. So it takes the guesswork out of the equation.

 

You're serious about your flying as you've bought RC4. Time to adopt the same attitude to the planning phase. :smile:

 

And once you reach 40DME from arrival you can choose RC vectors or you can fly the STAR given in PFPX. It's an easy job to insert the relevant STAR to your CDU and fly the exact approach.

Just try taking vectors to a point that joins your desired airway (transition). Otherwise look at the METAR expected and plan your route for those runways. Just be careful ai and specify your runway in RC either preflight or after ground request another runway.

 

Admittedly, LAX is very messy for preflight planning.

If you fly an aircraft that has a CDU then you have some control over the waypoints for your plan including those for the approach.

 

Do you have a flight planner? if you do and it can't link to a weather program it's not very useful. If you want to get serious about your flights then you need a serious planner. The best I've seen is PFPX and at present Aerosoft have a 15% discount until Sunday. You can get it for around $40.

 

It works out all the take-off and landing runways based on current weather and knows all the SIDs and STARs. So it takes the guesswork out of the equation.

 

You're serious about your flying as you've bought RC4. Time to adopt the same attitude to the planning phase. :smile:

 

And once you reach 40DME from arrival you can choose RC vectors or you can fly the STAR given in PFPX. It's an easy job to insert the relevant STAR to your CDU and fly the exact approach.

What I do is go on flightaware, and plug in the waypoints in the FSX flight planner.  I also use the default GPS and 737.  I don't want to have to buy anything else to go with RC.  It would be nice to use RC with the default planner, GPS and default 737.

Just try taking vectors to a point that joins your desired airway (transition). Otherwise look at the METAR expected and plan your route for those runways. Just be careful ai and specify your runway in RC either preflight or after ground request another runway.

 

Admittedly, LAX is very messy for preflight planning.

I could do that.  What about the RIVVIR2 STAR into LAX?  It's only for the west runways.  

Also, on some STARS including the RIVVIR2 where no vectoring is required, how can I fly this with the default GPS?  Because the default GPS has all outdated procedures for the approaches, I'm not sure what to do.  Thanks.

 

 

What I do is go on flightaware, and plug in the waypoints in the FSX flight planner. I also use the default GPS and 737. I don't want to have to buy anything else to go with RC. It would be nice to use RC with the default planner, GPS and default 737.

 

The GPS is never going to be as convenient as a CDU when it comes to adding approach waypoints. Do you add the STAR waypoints to your plan at the start of the flight or later on?

 

Of course you can use RC with the default aircraft but it will just be a little more difficult if you have to amend your plan assuming you want to fly actual STARs and not accept RC vectors.

 

 

Also, on some STARS including the RIVVIR2 where no vectoring is required, how can I fly this with the default GPS? Because the default GPS has all outdated procedures for the approaches, I'm not sure what to do.

 

Fly the vectors given by RC. :wink:

The GPS is never going to be as convenient as a CDU when it comes to adding approach waypoints. Do you add the STAR waypoints to your plan at the start of the flight or later on?

 

Of course you can use RC with the default aircraft but it will just be a little more difficult if you have to amend your plan assuming you want to fly actual STARs and not accept RC vectors.

 

 

 

Fly the vectors given by RC. :wink:

Yes, I choose the takeoff and landing runways before I fly.  If the SID is runway specific, I will include the waypoints for that runway and the rest of the SID.  For the STAR, it's the same.  If the STAR is vectored, I include points up to 40nm.  If the STAR is non vectored, I will include the whole STAR in the plan, and also include the approach in the plan since the GPS is outdated.  Just one more thing.  On the vectored STARS, isn't that what I should do?  Just take vectors from RC?  And then IAP on non vectored STARS?  Thanks.

 

 

On the vectored STARS, isn't that what I should do? Just take vectors from RC? And then IAP on non vectored STARS? Thanks.

 

Really, you can do as you wish. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the Approach phase. I nearly always choose the IAP option and fly my approach using that shown in Electronic Flight Bag. It uses data from Navigraph so will be close to reality.

 

I found the downwind, base and final legs of RC a little predictable and very similar but I appreciate a lot of people like verbal guidance to a safe landing often in unfamiliar areas.

Really, you can do as you wish. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the Approach phase. I nearly always choose the IAP option and fly my approach using that shown in Electronic Flight Bag. It uses data from Navigraph so will be close to reality.

 

I found the downwind, base and final legs of RC a little predictable and very similar but I appreciate a lot of people like verbal guidance to a safe landing often in unfamiliar areas.

So does that mean even though some STARS don't connect to the IAF, you can still look on the approach chart and start from an IAF?  Or do you vector yourself?

 

 

So does that mean even though some STARS don't connect to the IAF, you can still look on the approach chart and start from an IAF? Or do you vector yourself?

 

I have no real world experience as a pilot so I can't answer your question, sorry. Maybe if there is someone with RW experience reading this they can help.

I have no real world experience as a pilot so I can't answer your question, sorry. Maybe if there is someone with RW experience reading this they can help.

Actually, what I was trying to ask is how you fly every STAR with an IAP approach.  I put the question that way since, I'm just not sure how you can fly every STAR that doesn't connect to an IAF.  I'm kind of lost on this.