Understanding Approach Charts

[Alpha Floor 237]

 

 

Everyone does things different, even real world so I think things are getting ridiculously serious here for a sim forum

 

Fully agree.

 

People see a pilot once doing one thing, then they think it must ALWAYS be done that way. There's flexibility in real life, even more so in the simulator...

[nealmac 260]

I was always under the impression that filling out a STAR before departure depended on certain factors mainly such as company SOPs and what part of the world you were flying into. Some parts of the world require the STAR to be entered as filed. If circumstances change mid-flight, then you just change your arrival. I definitely wouldn't have thought it was "bad practice".

[Orlaam 329]

I was always under the impression that filling out a STAR before departure depended on certain factors mainly such as company SOPs and what part of the world you were flying into. Some parts of the world require the STAR to be entered as filed. If circumstances change mid-flight, then you just change your arrival. I definitely wouldn't have thought it was "bad practice".

 

Again, my choice of wording was likely incorrect.  I don't have enough time to go back and read my posts at this moment, but my opinion is simply that one shouldn't get hung up on SID/STARs or approaches.  Especially entering an approach to runway X, only to find out mid-descent that runway Z is in use.  What a hassle to alter the FP in the GPS or FMC.  Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not. 

 

And I don't want sim pilots to think just because an airport has a STAR(s) that is must be used.  Flight plans are sometimes direct for GA and others are just waypoints to an airport.  A lot of new people come on to support forums for a commercial jet and think they have to use a DP and STAR.  So many things can't be simulating as much as we try to achieve realism. 

 

So enter the STAR in use, if it's in use at all, and then pick the actual approach to the active runway when you see what runway is active.  You'd be surprised how often runways are closed for various reasons.  You'd also be surprised how many GA pilots land/takeoff on the reciprocal into uncontrolled airports despite what everyone else is using.  Same for Mode C on TCAS.  So many times pilots won't have Mode C on.  Scary, lol.

[nealmac 260]

Again, my choice of wording was likely incorrect. I don't have enough time to go back and read my posts at this moment, but my opinion is simply that one shouldn't get hung up on SID/STARs or approaches. Especially entering an approach to runway X, only to find out mid-descent that runway Z is in use. What a hassle to alter the FP in the GPS or FMC. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not.

 

And I don't want sim pilots to think just because an airport has a STAR(s) that is must be used. Flight plans are sometimes direct for GA and others are just waypoints to an airport. A lot of new people come on to support forums for a commercial jet and think they have to use a DP and STAR. So many things can't be simulating as much as we try to achieve realism.

 

So enter the STAR in use, if it's in use at all, and then pick the actual approach to the active runway when you see what runway is active. You'd be surprised how often runways are closed for various reasons. You'd also be surprised how many GA pilots land/takeoff on the reciprocal into uncontrolled airports despite what everyone else is using. Same for Mode C on TCAS. So many times pilots won't have Mode C on. Scary, lol.

sorry mate. wasnt necessarily having a go at you. just throwing in my 2 cents worth and stating it as i understood it to be. im anything but an expert when it comes to aviation. i dont take it the slightest bit seriously. i just like flying on a computer screen lol.

[Orlaam 329]

sorry mate. wasnt necessarily having a go at you. just throwing in my 2 cents worth and stating it as i understood it to be. im anything but an expert when it comes to aviation. i dont take it the slightest bit seriously. i just like flying on a computer screen lol.

No you're good.  I was gonna post anyhow to clear my words to make more sense.  I work graveyard when I posted that, so I was tired lol

 

And regarding NOTAMs as I mentioned about so many things being dynamic in real life.  Here's just a snippet for everyone from my phone app for KPHX:

 

 

 

Runways closed, SID and STARs not authorized.  It's impossible to simulate all this stuff.  Just have fun, that's what the hobby is about IMO.

[DaveCT2003 1,820]

This has turned into a nice blog.

 

There is one thing that I didn't see in the posts, so I'd like to add it.

 

While there are exceptions to most rules, for the most part European STARs are runway dependent, thus wind and condition dependent. Flying in the US and airspaces that follow the FAA convection, STARs are not runway dependent and can apply to more than one runway.

 

The above certainly affects flight planning and FMS entries to one extent or another, thus it's helpful to become proficent at modifying FMS flightplans while enroute.

 

The only other thing I'd like to add is a recommendation to use charts over using automated tools, at least when first learning. Sure, real world there are dispatchers and the use of automated tools has become wide spread, but not learning to use charts first can result in some major gaps in one's level of knowledge and those gaps related directly to our abilities on the flight deck.

 

My very best wishes to all, and thanks to the contributors to this thread.

 

Happy Flights!