Can someome explain how to convert "real" geographic coordinates, into FS format?I understand that FS uses a different format of coordinates than those as published on real charts.Comments appreciated. Regards, Marcelo

Hi,FS also uses real coordinates.However there are 2 ways for the notation, maybe you are refering to that:- In Deg/Min/Sec- In Deg/DecimalsFor example:N52 30' 00" = N52.50 (52 + 30/60)

Yes, I believe that is the information I needed!Thanks!Marcelo

I think the answer could be more complex and probably not very helpful.There are a number of different coordinate systems. This is because individual countries did their own surveying and established their own national coordinate systems that are still in use. When satelite navigation systems come into general use there as a need for a global coordinate system and the Word Geodetic System was created in 1984 (WGS84). Its is based on an ellipsoid to represent the earth. It is the coordinate system used by GPS receivers.Coordinates in WGS84 will differ from the national coordinate systems and there are algorithms available do do the conversion for different countries. In the UK for example the local coordinates used on maps are based on the Airey 1830 ellipsoid and so don't agree with WGS84 coordinates. In the UK the difference in position between the various coordinate systems is less than 500m.Individual countries have been converting the aeronautical charts etc to WGS84 but I'm not sure that all countries have yet do this.I don't know what coordinate system FS uses. I guess it's whatever coordinate system was used by its original data soures when FS9 was being developed - mainly WGS84? Also, the background of general charts (1:250,000 and 1:500,000) are probably still in national coordinates.If you need more information about coordinate systems the UK Ordnance Survey has published a useful booklet which has some general informationhttp://www.gps.gov.uk/guidecontents.asp

On charts coordinates are often presented as:505906N = 50 deg 59 min 6 sec north0001130W = 0 deg 11 min 30 sec westNote that there's an extra digit in the west coordinate.

FS9 uses two different coordinate systems, but for this discussion, the system used is unprojected (geo) using the WGS84 datum. Internally, FS uses meters from the equator for latitude, and "pseudo-degrees" for longitude. It's a little less clear what vertical datum is expected, other than altitudes are given as meters above "sea level". But, for user purposes, FS uses conventional D/M/S format:Latitude=N019

Thanks.As far as airports are concerened I guess FS uses the published heights. For example, at London Gatwick (EGKK) the height of both thresholds on runway 08R/26L shown on the airport chart is 196 ft which is the the height in FS. (The threshold heights for the adjacent runway 08L/26R are 195 ft.)

Hi!There is a free program, made by Carmel Grech, to convert coordinates.To be found here in AVSIM. Do a search with this name.Jean-Pierre