FSX-SE ATC & flight plan app

[Gaz]

This is a subject that is really getting to me about FSX, and I have spoken about it in the PMDG library, but I think it was a bad place to talk about it.

I need an app that will generate a flight plan for FSX:SE and make it so that I can import it into FSX:SE and a 3rd party aircraft such as the PMDG 737. I have tried SimBrief, but if I export the plan to PMDG and FSX, they don't match up, in that the aircraft flies a number of miles out of alignment. This causes ATC to have an issue, continually redirecting me: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mM11WHMFceHhwWLD3 ...

I need something that is good for my plan, and would be good for the other aircraft on the ATC.

I remember about 15 years ago using FS9, and building up loads of add-ons to make this work, but at the moment, I can't find anything that works with most other things.

Gary

[Bjoern]

http://onlineflightplanner.org/ ?

http://albar965.github.io/littlenavmap.html ?

[Gaz]

29 minutes ago, Bjoern said:

http://onlineflightplanner.org/ ?

That looks interesting, although I haven't tried it. Do you know what it is assuming when it comes to the payload weight? It doesn't ask that question. 

[Bjoern]

Random figures and you can obtain a rudimentary loadsheet, IIRC.

[nealmac]

Hi Gary,

The problem with trying to "match" your flight plan from the NGX to the actual sim, is that the sim is very limited in terms of what it can display. For example FSX doesn't support SID or STAR procedures. When I'm flying the NGX (or any payware aircraft capable of loading a flight plan) I never import the flight plan into the sim, because there's no need to. Once it's loaded into the aircraft that's all that's needed.

[vadriver]

gary

you may consider http://www.aero.sors.fr/navint.html to update fsx waypoints to the airac used by your boeing.

the other aspect is as neal mentioned fsx atc doesn't consider sids/stars... it is thus you avoid them in your plan for the boeng & rely on vectors if using fsx atc !!

[Gaz]

Thanks everyone. I have to admit, you've thought me a thing or two about SIDS and STARS.  It's a long learning thing I think... 

Gary

[Bjoern]

Default ATC can be used with STARs (SIDs aren't an issue) if you

• cancel IFR when receiving the initial vectors
• can live without clearances for altitudes
• can accept the risk of the tower denying your landing request when the airfield is IFR

Other than that, if the airport approach data (from the ADE/AFX/AFCAD file) matches the FMS' database, you can request your desired and programmed approach from ATC. It's not entirely foolproof (due to wind shifts and potential sidestepping), but it works.

[Gaz]

Using SimBrief, Ive been told to remove the SIDs from my departures, but I'm not quite sure how to do that?  If you look at the pic I've put a link in here to, you can see that after departure, my aircraft (with the autopilot on for this flight), you can see the PMDG is not going to a SID - because I didn't tell it to in the FMC.

 https://photos.app.goo.gl/LZAfrXmUwW1Bmv5w6

As you have said, it's to do with the SIDs in SimBrief. Flying out of Gatwick, I was told to fly LAM5W. This is fine for FSX, but I could not find it in the FMC. 

Any help?

Thanks, Gary

[nealmac]

The reason you couldn't find it in the FMC is probably because you have a different AIRAC to the one SimBrief uses. I don't use SimBrief so I don't know if it uses an up-to-date AIRAC. Basically, your aircraft and your flight planner should both use the same AIRAC in order for them to talk to each other properly. Until you update your navigation data, instead of selecting the LAM5W procedure, select the one that looks similar to it. It may be something like LAM3W for example. It will be close enough for simulation purposes. But the best way to do it is to make sure both your aircraft and your flight planner are using an up-to-date AIRAC. There is a fee for this. 

[Gaz]

2 hours ago, nealmac said:

There is a fee for this. 

lol - is that a fee for your advice, or for the up to date AIRAC!? 😉 

Your example of using LAM3W instead of LAM5W - I actually tried that and it fixed the problem for my EGKK - EGNT flight. My worry is that if I use another departing airport, it might be difficult to work out which SID is closest to the one FSX is using - it was easy with EGKK.

Another worry is using ProATC. I have bought it but before installing it, I've taken a step back because I think I'm just trying to learn too quick. So, in the future, I might hit this problem when using ProATC.

Thanks for your reply, Neal. I really appreciate it - I actually understood it!  🙂

Gary

[nealmac]

1 hour ago, Gary McCluskey said:

lol - is that a fee for your advice, or for the up to date AIRAC!? 😉 

Your example of using LAM3W instead of LAM5W - I actually tried that and it fixed the problem for my EGKK - EGNT flight. My worry is that if I use another departing airport, it might be difficult to work out which SID is closest to the one FSX is using - it was easy with EGKK.

Another worry is using ProATC. I have bought it but before installing it, I've taken a step back because I think I'm just trying to learn too quick. So, in the future, I might hit this problem when using ProATC.

Thanks for your reply, Neal. I really appreciate it - I actually understood it!  🙂

Gary

To be fair, most airports will have SIDs of similar names with differing AIRACs. So you shouldn't have much problems. However, like I said, the best thing to do is update your AIRAC cycle. There are 13 cycles in a calander year. You can purchase a single cycle for a small fee and that will allow you to update everything. You can also purchase a quarterly or yearly subscription. This works out cheaper in the long run, and you will always be up to date. To be fair, it's not being up to date that matters. What matters, is that everything is using the same AIRAC cycle.

 

Nah, I won't charge you for advice. Not this time anyway, lol.

[Gaz]

1 hour ago, nealmac said:

 

Thanks! I really appreciate that.

Gary

[Orinks]

Using Pro ATC with old data is a huge mistake. I did that for a while, but now I have new data and I really enjoy it. For those of us who are unable to use the FMCs in payware aircraft, the Pro ATC autopilot actually and fly the sids and stars. Pro ATC also has a flight planner that will insert sids and stars in generated FSX plans. I get my plans usually via SimBrief though. I'm not sure what I can do to plan flights for GA.