Trying to sort out my pre-flight procedures i.e. flight planning and ATC
I was hoping to use littlenavmap for planning so made a simple route including a departure parking ramp and departure / arrival runways etc
Exported it as an msfs .pln file and imported into the sim, then i loaded my plane and imported into the CJ4 FMC - it seems it ignores runways/ramps etc ?? So when I pressed “Fly” I was hot and ready on the runway instead of cold/dark on my desired ramp.
Does this sound normal or did i miss a few steps?
Does flightplanning in Pilot2ATC work any better or the same?
If I understand, you need to set parking spot in the World. Map to spawn in cold & dark. Once you do, you can retrieve the flight plan on page 2 of the IDX function of the fms.
Ok, that seems sensible but it also ignored runway choices as well, seems like it only imports waypoints and nothing else??
May want to take a peek at the manual.
Flight Plan Synchronization Between the Game and FMS
- You can still “file” your flight plan to ATC by entering it in the world map of MSFS and it will remain visible to ATC/VFR.
- To load the plan into the FMS you can either enter it manually or use the FPLN RECALL (GAME/SB) option in IDX → PAGE2 → ROUTE MENU
- Due to the increased accuracy and capabilities of the FMC managed flight plan, you may find that the sync to the game does not always work as expected or does not reflect the FMC flight plan.
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In the LNM map, point your mouse to the green parking stand at your departure airport and right click, In the context menu, look for the Set (parking location) at Airport (airport name) as Departure option (the location and airport name will be filled in for the parking stand you select). A yellow selection ring will surround your starting parking spot on the map.
Then export your PLN file (File|Export Flight Plan as MSFS 2020 PLN…) and the parking location will be imbedded in the PLN file. The sim will populate this parking location in the world map when you load your PLN file and you will start cold and dark at your parking spot when the sim finishes loading.
If I forget the parking location step in LNM, I can still add the parking location when loading into the world map, before starting the sim.
I use Pilot2ATC and SimBrief for my CJ4 flights. I let Pilot2ATC manage my runway selection and taxi instructions. My workflow is to plan the flight in SimBrief. Click the Generate Flight button to generate the briefing package. Go to Pilot2ATC, select FP Import from the right-side menu, check that your SimBrief PilotID is entered, then click the Import SimBrief button. I have Import Procs checked on the optional items to the right of the Import button.
The flight plan will populate into the main Pilot2ATC window. Click the Export button at the bottom, check that you have set the MSFS 2020.pln location. At the bottom of the Export window, click the option boxes you want, then click the Export button. The PLN file is ready to open in LNM to add your starting parking location and any other changes you wish to make, then export the PLN file for MSFS.
If not using LNM, load the exported PLN into the MSFS world map and make changes on the world map screen, primarily choosing your parking location.
I am using the AAU1 beta for the CJ4 and it no longer allows importing plans from the IDX button (no longer an active button). If you are using the AAU1 beta or after the AAU1 releases, this will be the procedure to enter flight plans.
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Unfortunately, allot of that is going to stop working in a couple weeks when the Beta comes to full release.
Read my post above, I am using the AAU1 beta and my workflow is working for AAU1.
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Well i tried a longer flight plan tonight, planned in LNM and imported into MSFS, however, it seems to have created two flightplans from the one file?
Anyway, I loaded it into the FMS and indeed it had created a mess, there was a pointless loop near the destination, I deleted and corrected that enroute just for practice, then added my arrival once i had ATIS online.
Then I played with ATC(built-in) and realised you cannot use VNAV with ATC it seems as the descents do not match and ATC gets all shirty about it, confirming my view about dumping the FS ATC, it requested I descend from 21000 cruise to 14000, then almost immediately requested me to descend to 16000 and expedite 
its a joke really.
Anyway the flight was a success, the passengers were happy and it was also the longest CJ4 flight to date for me. I cannot start the trial of Pilot2ATC yet as other matters mean I do not get much spare time so the trial would end before it started 
Edit:- Just looked at the plan in world planner picture and the notes i took directly after importing into the FMS - the odd loop was created by the FMS not the world planner import. The manual does state odd things can happen when importing.
In Pilot2ATC is it possible to create the whole flightplan or is an external app needed - Simbrief/LittleNavMap etc ??
Just for fun, this was the original flightplan as exported from LNM, as you can see, it bears no resemblance to the one that was shown after import into world planner, sort of makes it all a bit pointless really.
