Simviation Forums

Hi all..

I have been flying online and it was great, communicating with real-person virtual controller.

Recently I always fly offline with my AI buddies. Is it possible to fly via SID and STARS with AI controllers on? because they are always so keen to give me vector to final.

Being addicted to SID and STARS, i just turn the AI controller off, and pretend they have just directed me to fly via SID and STARS.

Any idea...?

Heya Faztech,

Flying ILS with the FS 9 default ATC will vector you to your destination using (what seems like to me) a series of 45 deg. turns.

Let's examine my "home" airport (KDAL) the STARs map for Bowie Eight, for example.  In the Bowie Eight map it gives you a distinct heading, VOR, or waypoint route to fly at a series of specific altitudes for each leg.  In my experience the FS 9 ATC has never even been close.

I have never flown ILS in FS 9 where the default ATC route even remotely resembles any established FAA STARs plan I've ever seen.

Wow

Do you have any idea how much work it would be to program all existing SIDs and STARs into the sim? You would have to physically examine every single approach and departure chart in the world, note and create every real and virtual approach and departure waypoint in the world - in 3D because there's also the altitude element as well as position. Then you'd have to program every single one into the sim (bear in mind you're talking about a program that runs on a desktop PC here).

Anyone who expected this in a program costing under $50 is - how can I put this gently - I can't, so I won't. You see what I'm saying  ::)

If you're that worried about it and think that the fantastic approximation to real procedures that the programmers have devised is not good enough, well don't sit there moaning. Do what the guys did who started PAI - get a group together and do it yourself.

If you get hold of the FS9 XML Scenery SDK you will see that you can exactly program any approach/missed approach/departure leg plus any type of transition that you want for any airport in the world.

But be warned. It's a time consuming and difficult procedure that few people have mastered - myself included. But it can be done - provision has been built in. You just have to do it yourself and not expect someone else to do it for you.

Somehow I suspect that this time next year not too much will have changed....

And besides, doesn't the ATC get you on vectors for "90 to final" and isnt this used in real life sometimes?  I remember reading a post about this a long time ago a pilot said that the way ATC brings you in is often used, setting you up for a "90 to final" turn, much like the base leg of a traffic pattern.

I'm not sure how the real things go on up there. But based on my random observation, as I stay at an airport proximity, there are times the real approach is similar like the virtual one.

In FS, sometimes, instead of requesting vector to final, I prefer those approaches with transitions, DME arc and the like. But I notice, most of this kind of apporaches, they require me to fly (low??) over the destination airport, make turn and land; which I have never seen around my reality place here. Although I have ever seen some approach plates that requires similar approach, i.e. flying over an airport, turn and land.

those are called procedure turns (180 degree course reversal), and are quite common.
EHAM is one place where it is used frequently.