Mxsmanic
Usenet Poster
mxsmanic@gmail.com
Posted on:
Nov 9, 2007, 10:51 PM
Post #2 of 12
(59 views)
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SnareMV17@yahoo.com writes:
> First of all, it seems to be nearly impossible to get a sid/star
> flight plan to work with FS ATC.
Correct. They are two entirely different animals. MSFS ATC has absolutely no
concept of SIDs and STARs. You'll always be vectored by the built-in ATC.
> Should I expect not to use FS ATC?
It's hard to use it in any useful way with something as realistic as the PMDG
aircraft. You might consider VATSIM instead.
> Also, I've never used VATSIM before but is it worth it?
It's free! And yes, it's worth it, if you want realistic ATC.
> It seems like there are several steps and it isn't easy to get started.
Not really. You join, you install a simple add-on that lets you connect to
the network, and you're in. Of course, it takes time to learn how to
communicate with ATC, but if you want real air traffic control, VATSIM is the
way to go.
> Also, I'm having a real hard time programming the flight plans
> into the FMC. I can get the SID loaded, and the intermediate waypoints,
> but how on earth do I get the STAR to work?
What's not working about it? You enter your route, then you enter your
departure SID and arrival STAR (although both are optional). In the U.S., you
do this in advance of the flight; in Europe and other places, you often wait
for ATC to assign a SID when you actually depart and a STAR after you're
already in flight.
> In real life, do commercial pilots fly according to SIDs/STARs or do
> they get vectors from ATC? Which is more realistic?
SIDs and STARs are the rule by far where they are available (not all airports
have SIDs and STARs), for large aircraft. Small IFR aircraft may or may not
choose to use them. They are not required, but they are routinely used by
airline operators.
To really work with SIDs and STARs, though, you need to forget the built-in
ATC and either fly without ATC or fly on VATSIM.
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