Guys it seems that when using an FMC planned route, it is almost impossible to get IFR clearence or if you just ask for clearence straight out they give you a different runway then the one you program into your FMC.Its cool using the FMC in 737NG, but it seems like I'm breaking all kinds of laws by taking off without clearence and landing without clearence.How do you guys do it; that is using ATC and your FMC programed route. I would guess maybe creating the plan in the fs9 planner then somehow converting it to be used in your FMC.I'm new to the FMC side of things; and have just bought the 737NG stuff...while I'm definately no newby to flying GA thru big iron; I am new to the FMC type of flying.thanks for all of your input :)

Three ways you can do it:1. After they give you the runway, program that into the Departure screen on the FMC, and if any diconnects pop up, get rid of them in the normal manner. 2. Take off VFR if Possible and then File IFR once on your way, using your original route.3. Join Vatsim and deal with a real live controller. This is what I have done in the last 6 weeks, and I love it. I can't imagine having to deal with FS9 ATC again.......

Thanks Bob, I'll give those 3 suggestions a shot.

Start by forgetting your FMC and go back to your GA flying. The same rules apply. Supply FS9 with an IFR flightplan, ask clearance, go to the runway FS9 allocates and take off. The same will apply as far as FS9 is concerned irrespective of the fact that you can now fly with a FMC.Of course the way of getting around your problem is to figure out which runway FS9 will give you for both takeoff and landing.You probably know that the rule is that FS9 will always give you the longest rwy pointing as close as is possible into the wind. Sometimes without careful checking it is possible to get the wrong runway. For example at EGLL you have 9L and 9R without a careful check you might not be spotting that 9L is 12776 feet long and 9R is 11978 feet long so assuming the wind is coming from 90 degrees you will always get 9L. Without first checking those rwy lengths you might be programming the wrong runway? Pretty straight forward at the start of a long flight perhaps? You could manually tune into ATIS of course which will tell you which rwy to set for takeoff or wait for ATC to advise you before setting your rwy for takeoff.At takeoff you probably won't be sure which way the wind is blowing at your destination because it might have changed by the time you get there if you are using real weather with updates (ASV or FS9 weather).Two choices for destination. You can avoid automatic updates find the weather at your destination and figure out which rwy will be the active or wait until you get closer to the end of your flight, keep updates running and only then tell your FMC which is the active rwy. To find the weather at your destination within ASV you can tune to the ASV weather channel or if using FS9 real weather with 15 minute updates tune COM2 into the ATIS at your destination, listen in on both COM1 and COM2 and set your FMC when ATIS comes into range (assuming that ATC don't tell you the active before you hear ATIS which I doubt). If you feel you must set a destination rwy before takeoff then do so but be ready to change it if needs be. If you do not want to wait for ATIS go to a weather site and check the winds at you destination, set active rwy on your FMC and hope it is indeed the active according to FS9/ASV weather.Phew, my fingers are getting sore ;-)I now wait to be told I am wrong :-) If I were to use a FMC I would be on IVAO ( www.ivao.org ) with "live" ATC. There you can often get your active runways before filing your flightplan so you can take your time setting up the FMC for takeoff at least and the FS9 Flightplanner can be ignored (quick plug for IVAO).Did I mention filing an IFR flightplan with FS9 when flying offline? Doesn't matter VFR or IFR both OK. Nice thing about VFR sometimes is that you can let the FMS handles the SIDS, STARS, Climb and Descent without those annoyances from ATC.BTW when the next person posts to tell me I am completely wrong please take it easy on me :-)Andrew Brownhttp://www.gordiusfs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

Thanks for taking the time to explain some things to me; as I'm a newbie to FMC flying ONLY. :)

The way I get departures to work is:1) There is a program called Traffic Look which comes with FSUIPC which will tell you which runways are being used for departure.2) Use FS Navigator (payware I'm afraid) to create the flight plan, then export it to FS9 and to the FMC for your aircraft. There are modules out there to allow it to export to PMDG 737 and I think 744, the Level D 767, the Flight1 ATR and the PSS Airbuses.3) Load the flight plan into FS9 flight planner and your FMC and, provided the wind hasn't changed, you are away!That has your departure sorted, but it won't help you with arrivals I'm afraid! Maybe in FS10.....

Thanks...lots of good info; keep it coming guys all of your individual work arounds and experiences will help me get to a solution that works well for me

Just get your clearance sitting at the gate.Then contact ground and find out which runway is active.Programme FMC as normal, put in any Arrival and runway at your dest.Once you get close to your dest, amend your FMC to the correct runway when your vectors are announced, if different. Clear discos and you may have to adjust to a new descent profile, since this info usually all comes in during descent.That's all there is to it really! No stress.Max.

I'm concerned with this question aswell. I listen to ATIS before I programme the FMC (PIC ERJ145) to find out the departing runways. If you chat with FS9 ATC after clearance you also have the possibility of selecting a different runway for departure (e.g. 4L/4R).However, for the arrival airport I have a question. I use a little plugin "In-Flight METAR Tool" found at AVSIM library that replaces the keyboard commands displayed in the kneeboard with a handy command line to enter the 4 letter ICAO code. It looksup METAR information in the internet. I wonder what are the decision rules for FS9 to open/close a runway? I know it depends on the wind directions, but is there, say a "formula" to know which rwy is open after the wind direction? And what means "circle to land"?