Hi there...Just looking for some help - not sure if the answer is obvious!! Keep trying to get a routing across atlantic (eg. EGLL - KJFK, KLAX - EGLL, EGKK - KMCO etc etc) using "high altitude airways" but flight sim doesnt seem to be able to plot any sort of useful route. Trying to really avoid using Direct GPS for realism! I know that the real world tracks across the atlantic change daily but i'd happily settle for a fixed one as long as it resembled something realistic! Not sure if there is a change I need to make to the program or any realistic flight plans out there to download???Any help much appreciated!!!

The default database lacks the required waypoints and NAT tracks.You can create the flights anyway using an external flight planner like FSBuild 2 (which will also use the dynamic NAT tracks if available), which will create custom coordinates just for your plan in the correct place).

That is because there are no airways over the atlantic.There are so-called north-atlantic tracks which change every day depending on the weather.For detailed information Look here:http://www.natroutes.glideslope.de/On the central north-Atlantic there are no waypoints. Those trackpoints are entered in the FMC of modern aircraft by there coordinates (North/west)Guy

Hi There,I fly the Atlantic often, EGCC - KSFB and EGCC - KMCO. I always use the following link:http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/I create my plan on there and then replicate it in FS9. Its amazing how accurate the plans are. To try it out one day i picked a Mytravel flight from EGCC to KSFB. I followed the real world flight on http://www.aeroseek.com/webtrax/ ( Data about 10 minutes behind Real-Time) all the way and i will tell you i was not that far away from their line.Anyway hope this helps some.

That sounds good.... Just gave it a bash.... One question - How do I put the NATS waypoints into the FS9 flighplan?? ie. 54N020W ??Cheers

That's a great link, thanks!

Hi,You can edit and combine several flightplans to one with NATS.You only need Notepad to edit the files in "...doc/fl sim files".Say: from Boston to st.Johns and Shannon to London.Then paste the Nats in between:example:Plan to YYT:waypoint.11=CY, YYT, , YYT, V, N47* 29.12', W52* 51.13', +000000.00, J575First NATS waypoint:waypoint.13=CY, 5040, , 5040, I, N50* 0.00', W40* 0.00', +000000.00, etc.Plan from Shannon:waypoint.18=EI, SHA, , SHA, V, N52* 43.26', W8* 53.11', +000000.00, etc.Hope it helps,Jan"Beatus Ille Procul Negotiis"

>Hi,>>You can edit and combine several flightplans to one with>NATS.>You only need Notepad to edit the files in "...doc/fl sim>files".>Say: from Boston to st.Johns and Shannon to London.>Then paste the Nats in between:>example:>>Plan to YYT:>waypoint.11=CY, YYT, , YYT, V, N47* 29.12', W52* 51.13',>+000000.00, J575>>First NATS waypoint:>waypoint.13=CY, 5040, , 5040, I, N50* 0.00', W40* 0.00',>+000000.00, >etc.>>Plan from Shannon:>waypoint.18=EI, SHA, , SHA, V, N52* 43.26', W8* 53.11',>+000000.00, >etc.>>Hope it helps,>>Jan>>"Beatus Ille Procul Negotiis"I agree with the above and sometimes do it this way, however if i cant be bothered i will go to the "Flight Planner" in FS9 load an old plan, switch on Display/Hide airway intersections (LITTLE PYRAMID) Zoom in on my line and follow it, you will come across Intersection Pyramids (Pink Triangle). This will still get you close to what you want.

Further to this if you are interested. The following is an actual flight plan from an actual holiday flight to KMCO:[flightplan]AppVersion=9.1.40901title=EGCC to KMCOdescription=EGCC, KMCOtype=IFRroutetype=0cruising_altitude=33000departure_id=EGCC, N53* 21.82', W2* 16.76', +000256.00departure_position=GATE 206destination_id=KMCO, N28* 24.95', W81* 19.32', +000095.00departure_name=Manchesterdestination_name=Orlando Intlwaypoint.0=, EGCC, , EGCC, A, N53* 21.82', W2* 16.76', +000256.00, waypoint.1=EG, FI24R, EGCC, FI24R, I, N53* 24.21', W2* 10.32', +000000.00, waypoint.2=EG, ROSUN, , ROSUN, I, N53* 40.13', W2* 20.95', +000000.00, waypoint.3=EG, FN10, EGNH, FN10, I, N53* 46.37', W3* 9.26', +000000.00, waypoint.4=EG, MULLA, , MULLA, I, N54* 11.22', W5* 44.85', +000000.00, waypoint.5=EI, CFN, , CFN, N, N55* 2.64', W8* 20.36', +000013.00, waypoint.6=CY, DOTTY, , DOTTY, I, N50* 38.00', W55* 35.00', +000000.00, waypoint.7=K6, TOPPS, , TOPPS, I, N45* 20.41', W67* 44.32', +000000.00, waypoint.8=K6, BGR, , BGR, V, N44* 50.51', W68* 52.44', +000000.00, waypoint.9=K6, ENE, , ENE, V, N43* 25.54', W70* 36.81', +000000.00, waypoint.10=K6, BOS, , BOS, V, N42* 21.45', W70* 59.37', +000000.00, waypoint.11=K6, PVD, , PVD, V, N41* 43.46', W71* 25.78', +000000.00, waypoint.12=K6, HTO, , HTO, V, N40* 55.14', W72* 19.00', +000000.00, waypoint.13=K6, HTO15, , HTO15, I, N40* 43.69', W72* 32.07', +000000.00, waypoint.14=K6, RIFLE, , RIFLE, I, N40* 41.40', W72* 34.91', +000000.00, waypoint.15=K6, GEDIC, , GEDIC, I, N40* 8.77', W73* 12.12', +000000.00, waypoint.16=K6, ZIZZI, , ZIZZI, I, N38* 56.44', W74* 31.74', +000000.00, waypoint.17=K6, SWL, , SWL, V, N38* 3.40', W75* 27.84', +000000.00, waypoint.18=K6, SAWED, , SAWED, I, N37* 32.01', W75* 51.49', +000000.00, waypoint.19=K6, ORF, , ORF, V, N36* 53.51', W76* 12.02', +000000.00, waypoint.20=K7, WEAVR, , WEAVR, I, N35* 51.23', W77* 8.06', +000000.00, waypoint.21=K7, ISO, , ISO, V, N35* 22.26', W77* 33.50', +000000.00, waypoint.22=K7, JMACK, , JMACK, I, N33* 59.31', W78* 58.00', +000000.00, waypoint.23=K7, CHS, , CHS, V, N32* 53.66', W80* 2.27', +000000.00, waypoint.24=K7, SAV, , SAV, V, N32* 9.63', W81* 6.75', +000000.00, waypoint.25=K7, CARVL, , CARVL, I, N30* 27.10', W81* 29.99', +000000.00, waypoint.26=K7, CRG, , CRG, V, N30* 20.33', W81* 30.60', +000000.00, waypoint.27=K7, BARBS, , BARBS, I, N29* 18.45', W81* 24.53', +000000.00, waypoint.28=, KMCO, , KMCO, A, N28* 24.95', W81* 19.32', +000095.00,

I was looking at the route finder and noticed that it asked for EGLL rather than LHR. What is the difference between the two? What symbol would they need LGW? I assume they would need KATL, instead of just ATL. What is the difference?Thanks,RH

EGLL is the 4-character ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) code which is used for charts, flight plans and similar. LHR is the 3-digit IATA (International Air Transport Association) code used on baggage tags.Generally the first letter of the ICAO code define the region. E is Europe. The second letter defines the country. G is Great Britain (UK).The US and Canada uses K (P for Alaska and Hawaii) and C respectively as the first letter followed generally by the IATA code. The 4-character ICAO code is used by GPS to avoid conflicts with three-letter nav-aid codes.The ICAO code for Gatwick is EGKK. The IATA code is LGW.

Thanks a lot for that info. In fact, I am going to print it out and keep it as a reference. What can I find a list airports based on ICAO so that I can use the Route Finder?Thanks,RH

http://www.airport-technology.com/icao-codes/Have fun,Mike T.

Try visiting the The Flight Plan Forum here at AVSIM. You'll find real trans-Atlantic routes and you won't have to fool around with the built in planner!Bruce

Thanks Mike!RH