OnCourse Software

ATC said continue on SIERRA TANGO does that mean continue on star? I was still cruising? What did this mean

I started my descend but atc said climb and maintain fl310

If you want a bash at it here it is -

EGPH EGBB

Sid GOSAM1D

Star CHASE3B

Cruise 31000

I used navigraph for altitude rest.

Oh good luck

The reason i changed that to 2000 is for the ILS it says it in the manual?

driver170 wrote:

I think thats where i had gone wrong putting 2000 in the last waypoint?

That in itself is not a problem. What is the problem, is not altering the previous waypoints to lower altitudes as well so that you get a realistic and achievable descent profile.

driver170 wrote:

So what altitude will i actually put in for the last waypoint if it doesn't have a hard restriction?

That depends on how far from the airport it is; any obstacle clearance considerations; and what the expected ILS G/S intercept altitude is.

Assuming the G/S intercept altitude is 2000/2500 feet, and no obstacle clearance considerations:

if last waypoint is 20 nm from airport then 4-5000 feet

if last waypoint is 40 nm from airport then 6-9000 feet is a good guide.

Why go higher to 4000 5000 etc isn't that high or am i missing something?

Whats bugging me is when do i set the FAF alt and TRANS alt in the sids and stars page can i just leave it out?

You wrote this

I am doing a westbound flight into EGLL. I want to be vectored to finals from the last waypoint in the STAR LAM3A. When i create my flightplan prior to compiling in PFE I include all the waypoints of the STAR including the last one LAM. I then compile, and in PFE I then make sure the altitudes at the STAR waypoints are adjusted to reflect the STAR altitudes. I DO NOT tick the box on SIDS/STARS page to enable STARS (cleared to finals). I DO NOT select a start of STAR in the waypoints page.

At the bottom you mention I DO NOT select a start of STAR? I've been selecting a start of star if am flying a STAR?

driver170 wrote:

Why go higher to 4000 5000 etc isn't that high or am i missing something?

Take EGLL for example. If you are approaching from one of the main holds BIG/BNN/LAM/OCK you will be at 7000 feet. No-one wants aircraft 20 nm from the runway to be flying at 2000 feet deafening everyone living under the flightpath.

driver170 wrote:

Whats bugging me is when do i set the FAF alt and TRANS alt in the sids and stars page can i just leave it out?

It is optional. If you put nothing then PFE will decide. But if you are flying into an airport with obstacle clearance restrictions then you may want to at least put a FAF alt in. If the ILS calls for a g/s intercept height of 5000 feet, you dont want to start your approach at 3000 feet !

driver170 wrote:

You wrote this

I am doing a westbound flight into EGLL. I want to be vectored to finals from the last waypoint in the STAR LAM3A. When i create my flightplan prior to compiling in PFE I include all the waypoints of the STAR including the last one LAM. I then compile, and in PFE I then make sure the altitudes at the STAR waypoints are adjusted to reflect the STAR altitudes. I DO NOT tick the box on SIDS/STARS page to enable STARS (cleared to finals). I DO NOT select a start of STAR in the waypoints page.

At the bottom you mention I DO NOT select a start of STAR? I've been selecting a start of star if am flying a STAR?

Read the following two lines also...

" I set up my FMC so that LAM3A is my STAR, and I will get ATC guidance as to altitude all the way to LAM at which point I will be vectored to final.
As an alternative if I wish, I can select a start of STAR in PFE for waypoint LOGAN or CLN. In this case I will be told to fly my STAR at that point and I follow the STAR procedure as to altitude. At LAM I will get vectored to finals."

So, selecting a start of STAR is optional. If you do, then you get told to fly your STAR (you descend). If you don't then you get normal ATC guidance (they tell you when to descend). In both cases you get vectors to finals at the end of the STAR which the last waypoint.