After checking out the RC3 web page I am looking forward to a new ATC system over the MSFS2002 default ATC. I use MSFS2002 to keep my real life instrument skills from going stale when I am not getting any actual instrument time. Most of the time I create a flight plan and fly it as filed including the full approach without using the ATC feature in 2002. A realistic ATC system will be a fantastic add on to a great pc-simulator. After reading the info on the web page I have a few questions...1. What flight planning software will best work with RC3? I have only used the default MS planner. Is there one out there that will allow you to file alternates to take advantage of RC3? 2. Will RC3 ATC assign a hold? Or can a hold be requested? Random hold entries assigned by ATC would be great for practice.3. What will the final price be for RC3? (For first time buyers)Thanks,Looks like you are doing great workDouglas

1) any planner that supports exporting to fs2002 .pln format will work. the filing of alternates, is done at the time of flight plan loading. if you are flying klax-ksfo, today you might want your alternates to be koak and ksac. tomorrow you might want krdd and krno as alternates. no point in keeping the alternate information in the flight plan.2) version 2 does holds. version 3 is the same. plus, in version 3 after missed approaches, you can hold as published :-)3) we're working on the pricing now. as soon as we're happy with the pricing scheme, we'll announce it

Geez you guys really have thought of everything! I have never used previous versions, but I am very much looking forward to V3. Can anyone throw out the names of some of the better add on flight planners? I dont see any mentioned in the avsim review section.Thanks

Douglas,For overall functionality and use, FSNav is by far the best planner. For a freebie planner, you can't go wrong with Nav. FSNav is integrated into FS, Nav is external. One item Nav has over FSNav is that it displays the AI traffic.The RC Center boundaries are based on the FSNav ones which are displayable on the FSNav map.Both are leaps and bounds over the FS planner and both export FS2000 plans. They both have plusses and minuses and it's worth checking into both and deciding what you like best.(Additional)Besides selecting Alternates for missed approach, you can request Change of Destination in flight. You select the airport from a keypad display (entering the ICAO code), and you'll be vectored for a perfect landing.With emergencies, you can select to return to your departure, go on to your destination, have RC display the 30 closest airports that can hadle your aircraft, or have RC give you the closest airport period. It's also great practice.And there just is no more fun than being put in a hold and are low on fuel. You can declare minimum fuel, and it'll be granted, and you'll get priority handling, and you'll get to spend some quality time with our favorite FSDO. What fun, and good practice to boot.It's all about as real as you can get without footing the cash for the real thing.

i just updated http://www.jdtllc.com/faqs.htm with that information

JD,You may want to reword that question in the FAQ about which flight planners to use with RC. The way its worded now it gives the impression we still don't want you to use FS2002's built-in planner.Here is a suggestion:What flight planners can I use besides the built-in FS98, FS2000 and FS2002 planners?

"The way its worded now it gives the impression we still don't want you to use FS2002's built-in planner."That was I was thinking. If the FS2002 planner is ok to use I would stick with that. I looked at FS Navigator and it looks spiffy enough, but its more than I need or would use. The built in MSFS planner though dull and clunky does allow me to create a realistic practice IFR flight plan easily enough.Thanks for all the great info...

Rick,Still sounds as if the built-in 2k/2k2 planner is a no-no.How about:Q: What flight planners can I use for Radar Contact?A: Any planner that exports or saves as FS2000/FS2002 plans, including the default FS2000/FS2002 planners.

Douglas,Amazingly, that's what everyone says until they get FSNav, then they (like me) can't live without it. ;-)

Scott,JD will have to change it. He lets me do a lot but nobody touches his web pages.

Boy, don't I know it! ;-)

FS2000/FS2002 was added to the list of flight planners. i cut and pasted the list from version 2.2sorry for the confusion

Well the flight planner question is solved! It looks like I can use Jeppesen Flightstar which I have access to. Groovy!

to use flitestar, you will need to go to http://www.schiratti.com/dowson.htmlscroll down until you see the little utility pete wrote that sucks the flitestar flightplan into radar contact.looks like there is also a runways database to go with it