Dude, airnav.com. Charts for all US airports

Kyle has a video on youtube that's called "A guide to routing" I think you should watch that.

 

Ah! Good call! I got so focused on answering the SID/STAR question that I forgot the big picture. I'd agree with that. SIDs/STARs will make a lot more sense when viewed in the big picture.

I did a pair of more flights in the past few days.

KBOS-EGLL (777), very nice SID, but an "8"-shaped STAR.

EGLL-LEPA (NGX), nice beautiful SID and STAR.

 

...but yes, this is not the way. It's good to play with it to have a taste of it but it is a headache plus unrealism, I will be referring to websites for SID/STAR reference so I could select the proper ones.

I see one being noted airnov.com, there were also mentioned few others I cannot remember... Time is the problem. I have some free time right now and trying to decide here, (1) shall I try random SID/STAR with Airbus-X, (2) should I go examine the websites for SID/STARs, or (3) should I devote a little more time to J-41 which is still in the process of being learned. I already figured the systems but it takes minimum several flights until I am comfortable with a new aircraft and this J-41 takes more flights still, very untypical aircraft and software.

I often hear about Navigraph, is this the most common source of SID/STAR data used by simmers?

Ok, the problem I am having now, is finding a relationship between charts and SID/STARs. Those I found on airnav.com don't mention the SID/STAR names.

I just need to grasp the physical (not conceptual) idea, and the rest (including the concepts) I will learn my own.

Those I found on airnav.com don't mention the SID/STAR names.

I just need to grasp the physical (not conceptual) idea, and the rest (including the concepts) I will learn my own.

They do mention names, right next to the link that opens the pdf file, and again at the top of the sid/star page. Don't move too fast, you'll miss the little things

Ok we have a major break through. A video by Froogle explains how to select sids/stars with FSCommander, where it is possible to preview it in advance.

Tried it, did a flight with Airbus-X, perfect!.

Now, I am sitting here trying to find a "crosslink" between SIDs in FSC and the charts on airnav.

First thing, airnav is offering charts for US/Canada airports only, butt hat's ok for now.

So, I opened up a Commander and made a flight KBOS-KSFO (random).

I'm looking at runway 04R for departure runway (just trying...). The best SID from 04R is BLZZR2. Then I go to airnav and find a chart BLZZR2 which is there indeed.

There is a pattern matching that given by FSC (NHANT, HURBE, ORRR, CHWDH etc...) Huray! breaking thru....

 

Now I need to gain some experience by practice time. 

So one SID-name (BLZZR2) is a set of minirouts for each runway, and if going by the charts, I must select a chart with a SID that suits best my flightplan starting with a given runway. So if I was going north, still taking off from runway 04R, I would need a SID - HYLND3 or LBSTA3. For all of them I see a chart at airnav.

Now I see how you fly a SID with a 707/727/DC-9 lol! You don't need an FMS. I'm not there yet however.

Alright, I'm going to check our KJFK now. If things go well, perhaps by next summer (within half year) I'll be ready to fly on Vatsim, I'd like to hope. We have to study transitions next.

 

_______________________________________________________

 

KJFK, complicated indeed.

FSCommander is showing very chaotic stuff, so let's try the charts.

Runway 31L:

If going west (KLAX, KORD etc...), the only chart that goes well with the plan is SCORR3, correct?

If going north (Canada, Europe), taking off from 31L again, things start to be more complicated now. Most charts would do, they all take me opposite. I think taking off rnwy 04 would make better sense, the vectors are nicer but all of these have no waypoints, just vectors, it's like... "just get outta here!". I have to print it to see closer what they want me to do there, what's not clear is how to integrate/input this into the aircraft's FMS.

alexander

 

a good read here about KJFK ..........http://nyartcc.org/wiki/index.php?title=JFK_SOP

Alexander, As Kyle mentioned, JFK is probably the worst possible place to learn about SIDS.

 

As a beginner in the world of SIDS and STARS, you would be better served by picking almost any other airport for practicing departures and arrivals other than JFK.

 

With only a couple of exceptions the real world departures at JFK are done almost entirely by ATC vectors. The depicted runway 31 departure routes are designed only to get your aircraft established on an initial heading right after takeoff, in an initial climb. From that point on, the rest of the SID will consist of a series of vectors given by ATC controllers which will eventually lead you to one of a couple dozen possible enroute waypoints, and the specific vectors you receive will vary greatly from one day to the next, or even one hour to the next, depending on the weather, and amount of other arriving and departing aircraft in the airspace around New York City. The FMS would not be used for a JFK SID in a real aircraft - those SIDS are not RNAV departures.

 

The only way to fly a JFK departure in FSX the way it would actually be done in real world ops, would be to use an online ATC service like VATSIM or IVAO.

 

If you want to practice r/w SID procedures where you can use the FMS to guide you completely from takeoff all the way to your enroute transition waypoint, then airports like Dallas (DFW) or Denver (DEN) would be much better choices than JFK.

I understand.

Actually I just manneged a good take off from JFK and I feel a major satisfaction.

JFK-EGLL, MD-11 (spent over an hour before the flight just to familiarize myself with every button there is and the sequence of operation).

The SID I chose was a SKORR3-YNKEE, it indeed fit well into the plan/track.

All went ok, one issue I had on take off was a config - "all bleeds are off" message, I wonder what that was. It was gone on rotation. 

Ok, enough with long flights and JFK, I needed to fly MD-11 once more to have the sequences thru my brain and stay there. I have one last minor question on MD-11 I will address under MD-11 support.

 

@vadriver

I'll read it.