chrispeel

Yes,in real life ATC do assign the STAR at most busy airports.And they are used almost all the time.Often at 200 plus miles away from destination.However this is frequently modified by vectors.In fact it is not unusual to complete the whole of a short flight in EU almost entirely on vectors with the occasional "direct to....".Not sure about elswehere.Just a few hours ago the Air New Zealand Flight 2 from Los Angeles to Heathrow was given a BOV2B to Heathrow when he was over 200 miles out..Thereafter he was vectored all over the place,more or less in the direction of London until he got a "direct to" one of the later waypoints in the STAR.I personally find that RC4 works well with STARS.Incorporate all the STAR waypoints in your flight plan and then take the vectors after contacting Approach or continue with the appropriate procedure

SobayaThis has been raised several times before.It seems the limitation is due to the AI in FS9 really, as in the real world aircraft are given their STARS much further out,often at 200 miles away.If there is likely to be a runway change they are usually told to be prepared for it.JD once told me about a very useful utility in FSUIPC called Trafficlook.Extract that and there's a chance you may be able to see what the AI are doing at your arrival airport.It can be very informative.Arrival ATIS broadcasts are usually receivable much further away than they are in RC4 ceratinly when up at high levels but it's the AI that dictate what's going on it seems.

Sorry Lorenzo I'm not totally conversant with the inner workings of RC4 but I guess he uses the runway that the AI are using,right or wrong.Like you I find that a "heavy" is not capable of taking off from some of the runways that are allocated but at multi runway airports I use the request another runway feature in the menu.It is always approved and sometimes avoids a long queue as well especially at places like Chicago or LAX

I haven't found a way to do this ExpressJetXE,but I wonder why RC4 should.You are the Pilot in command.If the viz is below what you are qualified or certified for then for then you shouldn't fly!Modern jets with a suitably qualified pilot and the right equipment can land in 75meters.You can take off with less but FAA/CAA rules on alternates have to be adhered to.I don't think Low Visbility Procedures(LVPs) are catered for in RC4.

You need to look at the pinned posts Rob.There's a lot of stuff in here about that topic.From what I can gather you can use RC4 for both.I have both but haven't used RC4 for FSX yet.

I like San Fransisco best for crazy AI.Landing in the Bay,overtaking on finals,a Beech 19 bound for Fresno skimming the waves.Almost like the real thing.

The short answer is no.The vectored approaches are not totally realistic.As Ron says they are standardised but do give a reasonabe feel.To be even more realistic they would have to take account of terrain,noise limits,departure flows as well as inbound traffic.I can't imagine what programming and computer power would be needed to achieve this.A point to remember is RC4 will not separate traffic if you go for an IAP procedure.Other addons may help, like AI Smooth, but you will sometimes see some crazy manoevres from aircraft around you.This is not RC's fault.Blame the AI traffic in MFS.Some of them could do with a chat with FISDO

This is a Flight Simulator Forum Subs,not a popular music forumHowever,I like your style!I like The Eagles too but won't be seeing them in the UK later this year.

In addition to Manfred's suggestion there are many other resources on the web where you can obtain current weather.In plain language sites like Wunderground are good,or in the usual aviation format via http://euro.wx.propilots.net/

I didn't know that, Neil Bradley, so thanks for the heads up.I agree that most ILS seem to be serviceable beyond thatI do find however that RC4 usually puts me on a good intercept for the ILS at pretty well every airport I ask him to and usually well inside the 27 mile mark too.Are many other users finding that not to be the case?Most airports I have visited in real life try to vector for something like 10 to 12 mile final,terrain permitting.I used to know a Neil Bradley many years ago.Racking my brain to remember where and when.

I usually do IAP approaches in FS9 but whenever I've asked RC4 for a vectored approach I find he usually puts me a correct intercept heading and at a suitable range to receive the ILS/Loc/Gs signals.In fact I don't think I've ever encountered a lack of ILS signal at that stage.Those workarounds suggested by Ronzie and Ubersu are also very useful if you are doing your own thing.

For me the P/D option only appears when I'm flying and doing the comms.If the co pilot is doing the comms he doesn't seems to get a P/D in the menu.The P/D option appears when you get your first descent intruction from a high flight level.Personally I always try to make sure I'm doing comms well before TOD as RC4 always wants me down well before my FMC or Rule of Thumb does.I've never yet had to ask for a descent as RC4 always seems to get in first.In real life you often hear requests for descent from high levels.

In the real world you NEVER enter a runway unless specifically told to.I adopt this approach in FS and RC4.When told to line up you do as you say.Backtrack and turn round.In a few places you may find that RC4 does not say anything to you when you hold short.In these cases you need to taxi closer to the runway,maybe over the hold line a little.

A very useful explanation of the thinking that goes on behind the scenes in the development of this program Pete.It is a tribute to RC4 that so many of the developers and beta testers come on here and offer up their thoughts.It must be very difficult to incorporate all the minutiae of the ATC process into the product.

In real world airways flying occasionally one hears pilots requesting confirmation of the last assigned heading, flight level or altitude.In other words a confirmation of the last instruction.I have been guilty of this in my time.I don't mean immediately after the instruction but somewhat later.Sometimes even airline pilots like to just make a quick check that they have dialled it into the controls or FMC correctly.I appreciate that RC4 gives us the CS/ keystroke option for a "please repeat" but that option only appears briefly and is gone very quickly I think.Is it possible to add such a feature in the next version?In simple terms it could just mean leaving the CS/ option in the screen for longer?Before an other instruction is given maybe.Maybe your ATCOs can confirm that this does sometimes happen.

Sorry to jump in before the developers do but I think this has been raised before and is probably considered to be a legal requirement.In UK it is done rarely and mainly in the circumsatnces you describe.

DarioI can't add anything useful but you should hear some Spanish chatter when overflying Spain.You'll hear it over the UK too.

That is a very useful tool JD.Thank you

Hello JDCan I ask what is this utility you mention?

No take off clearance until runway is clear.

Thanks for clearing that up PeteA comprehensive explanation of a conditional landing clearances.if you can get these into V5 it will be good.

Nadi,Fiji Islands.Should be pronounced NANDI?

IN UK they will tell you that it is OK to give an aircraft a "line up and wait" while one is still rolling after landing.I look forward to the new version of RC with this feature incorporated.If it can be done knowing that you have to deal with the AI as best you can.But in the EU you will never receive a landing clearance until the runway is totally clear."Continue approach,one to depart" or "expect late landing clearance,one to depart"is the usual message. In the US you will be cleared to land,even if you are number 2 or 3 it seems.

I raised a similar topic about runway utilisation a while back.It concerned aircraft being told to line up and wait while another is completing it's landing roll and another is at say 4 mile final(or whatever the controller thinks is appropriate)To JD,did you say you were considering this for V5.?I raised it earlier in this thread but never saw a reply.Pan Pan Pan raised a similar isue too.EGKK is a very good example in the real world.They pack em in.

LorenzoIt is a while since I read the instructions so forgive me if I was stating the obvious.It would seem that if you tell RC4 that you want an IAP approach he will leave you alone until on finals.However if your chosen STAR has a "vectors" line in it,then RC4 does not step in at that point and continue the approach.