Do you intercept airways anywhere along the path or must you join them at an intersection? Just curious how there really flown.

You would normally depart on a Standard Instrument Departure SID, which, I believe, would include the intersection for joining the appropriate airway for your course.I'm sure someone here will elaborate on this though, or tell me I'm wrong.

ATC if they are vectoring your departure, they would normally clear you to intercept an airway and it need not be at an intersection.

With an ifr certified gps I have hardly flown an airway in the last 5 years. However, when flying them atc can vector you-or you may just be told to join it. I don't think I have ever been given an intersection to join one.Flying direct-you are often sent to a fix and then cleared direct.http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/1b5baf...b9f427f694g.jpgMy blog:http://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

Depends. When airborne, as already discussed, ATC will give a heading to intercept an airway rather than a vector to a fix on the airway. When filing, again it depends; most computer-based systems (such as the DUATS I use or a FMC onboard the aircraft) will required a fix on the airway to join it but ATC may accept a plan without a fix-to-join especially if there's no SID. An example of this is KBUF-KMDW filed by SWA as V115 JHW DJB J60 GSH GSH3... in this case ATC provides departure vectors to intercept (there's no standard DP routes) and the plan is in the computer without a fix-to-join. I think this works because V115 includes the BUF VOR on airport.. but I'm not sure. I know I have to enter BUF V115 ... if I were to file this in DUATS.

Yes and no:You are correct for most major high density departure airports.However, many other airports including quite a few with commercial traffic and full ATC have no SIDS and/or STARS. Respectfully:RTH

To the original question, join em anywhere you want. SIDS/STARS are for jet aircraft.

There are also Turbo Prop SID/STAR's for some airports.Remember, everything you read on charts are ALSO..."as published" or "as depicted". :-)

... as well as SIDSTARs for non-turbine aircraft only (pistons).

Just to shorten what Dan and Geoffa said:If you are vectored by ATC...you can be told to fly direct to a fix along the airway to join that airway...or you can be told to fly a heading to intercept the airway from or to a navaid on a given radial; depending on the equipment you have filed with and/or your FAA part operations required for navigation. :-)