Trying to do realistic flights

[Subferro]

Ok, Im new to the whole flight sim thing, and really want to try and to some realistic flights in FSX.  However, I can't find anyway to get good help from the ATC unless I file an IFR plan.  Is it normal for airliners to file all their plans IFR, regardless of conditions? If not, how do I know when to decend, and turn? I can sort of guess with gear and flaps(but only when getting other directions from the ATC via IFR), but direction finding, even with the GPS is guesswork at best.

Thanks, Tom

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

It is normal for airliners to fly IFR...They do not fly VFR AFAIK...It's best to be in touch with ATC when you're rushing along at 30K+ feet...Much safer don't ya think?

[Mobius]

Airspace above 17,999 ft MSL and below 60,000 ft MSL is Class A airspace, which is instrument flight only, and most airliners fly in Class A airspace.

[BAW0343]

As far as IFR, thats been answered. For the gear and flaps, you just need to learn what speeds you can extend them at. There are alot of factors involved in makeing a real flight. Are you useing the correct deparure routes? Useing correct arrival routes? the right jetways? ect...  ;D tis fun

[gilly_is_alive]

I am also interested in this as i should be commencing commercial pilot training in a year and a half.  are there tutorials available in FSX to teach users how to intercept and stick to vectors, set up and use autopilot for landing etc?  I usually (in FS 2002) just take off, fly around manually and try to land manually but i would love to learn how to nter paterns and stick to realistic departure routes

[Subferro]

As far as IFR, thats been answered. For the gear and flaps, you just need to learn what speeds you can extend them at. There are alot of factors involved in makeing a real flight. Are you useing the correct deparure routes? Useing correct arrival routes? the right jetways? ect...  ;D tis fun

I think departure and arrival routes are my problem, I just listen to the ATC and fly a GPS course, I dont really know how to find the right routes or jetways.  And the speed thing works, I just dont know when to be at a certain speed :-?

Oh, and by the way, thanks for all the replies so far.

[Mobius]

I think departure and arrival routes are my problem, I just listen to the ATC and fly a GPS course, I dont really know how to find the right routes or jetways.  And the speed thing works, I just dont know when to be at a certain speed :-?

Really all you do is follow what ATC tells you, unless they put you in a situation that you know endangers yourself or your passengers.  If you're flying completely IFR, ATC will still tell you what to do, but there are published approach plates for each airport, and ATC will have you fly according to them.  I think there's a place on the internet where you can see approach plates, but I'm not quite sure where.  But even then, you still follow what ATC tells you to do.  As for gear and flap extension speeds, check the manuals for each aircraft, they should have all those speeds, as well as the approach sped.

[BAW0343]

As far as IFR, thats been answered. For the gear and flaps, you just need to learn what speeds you can extend them at. There are alot of factors involved in makeing a real flight. Are you useing the correct deparure routes? Useing correct arrival routes? the right jetways? ect...  ;D tis fun

I think departure and arrival routes are my problem, I just listen to the ATC and fly a GPS course, I dont really know how to find the right routes or jetways.  And the speed thing works, I just dont know when to be at a certain speed :-?

Oh, and by the way, thanks for all the replies so far.

One site: http://www.airnav.com Search any airport, scroll down and it has charts for the airport. Very usefull site

[Brett_Henderson]

Sit down and plan each flight thoroughly. You can use real sectionals or low-altitude IFR charts.. or fire up the sim and use the FS map.. or goto this site

[Subferro]

I can sort of do VORs, Im still practicing with those, but can't seem to get the autopilot to work with them. Im having trouble getting good with the VORs in the lesson, because when I get on the right heading, but am not lined up on the VOR, if I turn to line up, Rob gets mad because Im off heading and ends the lesson. Also, I have no idea what intersections are when I do a flight planner and it adds those.

But yeah, Ill start flying VOR courses instead of GPS.

Oh, and PS, I cant ever seem to get those markers to light up, even when I do the ATC's approach, no beacons. I finally figured out where to find ILS frequencies.  I will fire it back up and try your suggestions, thanks. 8-)

[Brett_Henderson]

One of the best new features in FSX is sharing a cockpit. I think this could be a marvelous way to do "instruction" flights.

I'm going to work up a lesson plan... a good flight incorporating all types of nav aids.

When I get it all tested, I'd be happy to host an online session where this stuff can be "seen" first-hand.

[skysurfer2010]

In real life, ATCs sole responsibility is the separation of traffic. When you're the PIC (pilot in command) it's your responsibility to fly the plane and know how to land (how to enter a pattern, when to turn your legs, and when to start your descent) when flying VFR. when flying IFR< ATC expects you to comply with IFR rules and to follow the correct procedues all the way down to the runway.

Flying VFR ATC will typically give you specific directions like how to enter a pattern, but when to turn certain legs, when to start your descent, etc., for the most part is up to the PIC.

[Subferro]

Ok, so I did a VOR-VOR short flight, and it went pretty well, managed to not use the GPS for finding my way.  But I still cant seem to figure out how to use NDB, which might have helped, because once I hit the last VOR, I flew the outbound radial until I was close enough to request landing, at which point they tell me to enter a right base for runway 36.  Im SW of the airport, and while I think I know what they want me to do (Turn West for my base leg before turning North for final), I dont know when to do this.  So I had to cheat and use the GPS to start my West turn, but then I was able to use the ILS localizer(/visual looking) to figure out when to turn back north.  I still cant really figure out how to enter the pattern before I can definately see the runway.  So I guess setting up approaches in the air is still my main challenge.  

Any advice on how to use the NDB, or even the approach plates?

[skysurfer2010]

an NDB isn't going to help you unless it's located on the field. i don't know of many that are. usually NDBs located close to a field is used as a compass locator for an instrument approach. using this and/ or an approach plate isn't going to help you with a VFR "pattern". trying to learn how to fly an instrument approach is like learning how to swim in the deep end before you've ever gotten your feet wet in  the kiddie pool.

a standard VFR pattern will have 3 legs when entering from a cross country. you enter on the downwind leg (parallel to the landing runway and opposite of the direction you'll be landing). you'll enter the downind leg on a 45 degree angle in the middle of the runway at traffic pattern altitude. try to keep your plane within guiding distance of the runway in case you have an engine failure at pattern altitude. pull your carburator heat out if your plane requires it and announce your entry in the pattern if the tower requires it.

as you fly downwind, compensate for any crosswinds by crabbing the nose into the wind so you parallel the runway. when you pass the end of the runway pull your power out to roughly 1700rpms for most GA aircraft, let the plane slow down into the white arc for flaps, and then put in your first notch. you can let the nose settle down into a 500fpm descent while keeping your airspeed in the white arc. if above the white arc, pull some more power out. once the end of the runway is roughly 45 degrees off your shoulder behind you, then it's time to turn your base leg.

once you turn your base leg, add in your second notch of flaps if you're flying a cessna. remember to compensate for crosswinds with a crab angle and keep your 500fpm descent. use your judgement when to turn final.

on final approach, add in your last notch of flaps. remember to compensate for that pesky crosswind with a crab! when you get close to the runway, start pulling power out to idle while adding back pressure to raise the nose. your mains should be skimming over the runway within inches. you want to hold the wheels off the ground by keeping your nose up until it stalls onto the runway. remember, you should be within inches of the runway. as the wheels make contact, keep the backpressure to allow the nosewheel to settle to the ground by itself. also keep that crosswind correction in to keep from getting blown across the runway.

[Brett_Henderson]

That was a great primer for pattern entry and pattern