Alright guys, I'll admit that I'm a novice at best and don't understand all the terminology(maybe 60-70% of it) used both in the real world and the game.  Anywho,

Using an IFR flightplan, say from KLBB(Lubbock) to KDFW, I seem to encounter a common occurrence.  For example, during my approach the ATC assigns me a runway(say 36R) BUT I personally find that 13R(I usually use VOR approach for some reason) would be more suitable as fewer adjustments would have to be made and I don't have to do a 'massive' half circle to line up on my assigned runway.

So, I request the change in runway(or is it approach?) to 13R.  I can't recall the exact message given by FSX but, its something along the lines of them acknowledging my request and proceeding to give me a new heading.  However, they always seem to still fly me in to the originally assigned RWY.  If I can get FSX to cooperate this morn, I'll try to provide the exact ATC messages. 

I run through the FSX glossary and help menu everytime I have an honest question but, sometimes it comes up rather short.  That or I just don't know the exact term to look up.  Are approaches assigned based on wind direction?(along with traffic density I assume or traffic in general) 

Weather: Calm, little to no wind.
Aircraft:  Fairchild C123 - in fact, any of them.
AddOn:  Running MyTrafficX 5.2, if it matters.

And two more:

At times, when I request a change in RWY...say from 35R to 36L, I'm told to follow ILS 34R, sidestep 36L.  Now, I figure I'm just being told to perform a "lane change" once the runway is in sight?  If this were the case, would they not request I use ILS for 36L provided that it were available?

Last one - I've noticed at busy airports such as KORD, 80% of the traffic seem to come in on the same darn runway as assigned by the ATC.  Is this a fault in FSX or am I just missing a real world cue here?

Thanks in advance fellas!

This stuff gets into ATC nuances that FSX just can't replicate...

That aside, there are too many variables to answer these questions in relationship to "realism".

For example.. A VOR approach under VFR conditions can be executed as a "circle to land".. meaning, ATC will still vector you per your original flight plan and original runway, and then allow you to land on the runway of your choice. Even under non-VFR conditions, if certain visibility minimums are met, ANY instrument approach can end up as a "circle to land".  This information, if applicable, is on the approach plate. Regardless of runway.. ATC can only clear you for an approach.. the Tower clears you to land.

Now.. if visibilty dictates a full instrument approach, and the only published approach would have you landing with unsafe tail-winds.. that airport is effectively closed.

At towered airports... especially big, busy airports.. published approaches are nearly meaningless. You will never be left on your own to fly an entire approach.. you'll be vectored right up to your landing clearance. I can't imagine a scenario where KORD tower would allow you to choose your runway,  even under perfect VFR conditions. Assuming (for FSX purposes) that you could tell them where you wanna land.. again, it would be a "circle to land" deal. You enter the airport environment as planned (or as they wanted you to), and then get cleared for the runway you chose. Under instrument conditions, that would never happen.

Brett_Henderson wrote on Aug 30^th, 2009 at 11:37am:



Alright, got ya.  Thanks for the quick responses!  Yeah, "circle to land" is often what I'm asked to do...even at a single rwy airport with little traffic.  I come in from the East and could potentially just fly straight in but, am asked to come in from the West.

I suppose that would make sense if the airport had a designated direction for T/O and Landing?

Thanks again!

Sometimes in FSX, depending on the airport, after ATC tells you to expect a certain approach to a certain runway, you have the option of acknowledging, or requesting a new approach and/or a new runway. Keep in mind that if you request a new approach but not a new runway, you will still be told to land on the original runway.

BFMF wrote on Sep 1^st, 2009 at 3:17am:


This about sums up my confusion.  Somehow, I was confusing the assigned approach with the assigned runway...as in they were practically one in the same.  After reading a bit more in the FSX help files, I found I was poorly mistaken!

Thanks

rmacttu wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2009 at 7:49pm:


Glad I could help...

With an ILS approach to one runway (31) with a circle to land on the other end (13), they must not be using (13) for departures otherwise there'd be a head-on situation.  If the wind is 10 kts or more, favoring 13, then that's why you're circling off the ILS to 31 and, of course, the weather has to be good enough to allow a circling approach.  The runway being used for departures must not interfere with 13 arrivals and is probably sufficiently aligned with the wind to allow it's
use.  Weather which requires an instrument approach with a circle to land is not only difficult for the tower, it's a real burden for pilots as they maneuver in usually marginal VFR conditions.  A missed approach while actually circling usually involves a fix which is part of the ILS.  You can imagine the excitement in the tower.  

That makes sense, the confusion is that for the few years I have lived here and been at the airport I rarely see any aircraft go to 31. FSX always uses 13 in IFR conditions, but  31 in 0 wind and clear sky's and real ATC seems to rarely use 31 even in perfect weather.

I will put on the tower frequency and see what runway they are actually using.

EDIT: Based on Flight Aware Radar and ATC they are using 31 today. Nvm, but thanks for clearing up the circle and land issue, I will try that next time and see how it goes. Sound like a challenge with 3 mile island  .

Once Flight Sim's ATC had selected a runway, they will not let you land using from the opposite direction. You can select a different approach, but you will always be directed to land on the original runway.  Think of a controlled runway as a one way street, with the tower controlling the direction, which in flight sim is usually based on wind direction.