>>I'm not a real pilot but it does seem strange that you have a descent plan & STAR etc built into the FMC but you cannot routinely fly it!<http://www.jdtllc.com/images/rcv4bannerbeta.jpg

Give a listen here if you want to hear how it's done in real lifehttp://atcmonitor.com/

I'm getting this in the en-route phase not approach.I usually have waypoints at less than 150 mile intervals too but not too close together.As I'm off to Socal and elsewhere for real very soon(hope the rough weather has gone by Wednesday afternoon!) I won't have time for any more experimentation for a while but in the meantime many many thanks for chipping in and a Happy New Year to all.

Cheers Pete that makes a lot of sense, and thanks also to Bob for the link to ATC.

Hello thereI have the same experience in a different way in two flights in a row.One was from KMEM-KJFK and from KTPA-KBWI. The flights are made in FSbuild and checked OK as well as in the FMC using Plan/Step.After I pass a certain waypoint in the flight(lets call it point A), and two or three wayoints after that (B & C), RC controller insists on my turning 180 degrees to go back in flight course towards point A.Point A also shows up again in the ADVDSP window.Of course I get scolded, reprimanded and reminded that he wishes that my driving is not like my flying.Any IdeasThanksBill

you're missing your checkpoints. sounds like the fmc is making too sweeping of a turn and not coming anywhere near the checkpoints. you have to come within 5 miles of each checkpoint.can you tune the fmc to come a little close to the checkpoints? what type of checkpoints are you missing? vor/ndb's or intersections?what planner are you using? we found that if the planner is supplying the info with 3 decimal accuracy, it messes up the fmc, and the fmc thinks the checkpoint is one place, and rc thinks it is another place. was it super flight planner?jd

Hi JDI am using FSBuild for planning. Actually, I am mostly copying/pasting real flight routes from Red One Aviation into FSBuild, then of course send them off to FS9, LDS767, PMDG etc.I am almost certain that my turns are within 5 nm range. The two flights I mentioned were almost straight lines where this occured, meaning there were no significant turning.And I was asked to turn back flight heading 175. I was heading NNE to JFK from MEM. Same thing from TPA to BWI. I was asked to turn heading 183 or something close to that.Forgive my lack of knowledge here, How do you tune FMC to checkpoints.Not to change the subject, just before I was replying to this message, I filed a flight from KORD_MMMX. Again, this is a real flight of Aerovias De Mexico flight no 1683 that leaves Chicago at 00:04, the route checked OK on FMC. RC directed me to depart from rwy32R, then asked line up and to hold short, then the dialgoue switched to 2.Abort T/O and left me there for ever. Pressing 0 to get back to menu did not do anything. I had to abandon the flight altogether.Thanks JDBill

i'm not an fmc guy, so it was probably a bad idea for me to ask if you could make the fmc work better.are you warping? flying 2x, or 4x, or 8x? by any chance?on your last note, abort t/o only appears when you have been cleared for takeoff, and your ground speed is over 20.you probably should have taken off (assuming you missed the clearance to takeoff), and see what happens. i imagine you would have been handed off to departure.jd

Thanks JDon the first note I may have been at 2x at some point in the flight.Not necessarly when the controller asked to turn back.On the second note, The controller just ignored me or should I say forgot me. Last I heard is to hold short for an incoming aircraft.Anyway, I will try a few more flihgts and see. I like RC. I am a veteran RC user since the beginning. Bill