Route Builder Group

Modified on: Tue, 23 May, 2023 at 3:57 PM

The Route Builder group on the Route screen provides you with a variety of options for runways, departures, arrivals and the airways to use when generating the route.

The Airline Code Parameters (FOMS 170) allows you to enter a minimum runway length. Any runway shorter than the value entered is highlighted orange and a warning is issued if a flight is computed using the runway.

The fields in the Route Builder group are described below.

Fields	Description
Departure Runway	If the Default on UI field in Airline Code Parameters (FOMS 170) is set to checked, the default will change according to what the Defaulting Method is set to in the Airline Code Parameters. However, you can select any of the following options: None: Generic SIDs/STARs are used Use specific runway: A specific runway can be selected from a drop-down list under the ORIG and/or DEST headings. The drop-down list of runways comes from Runways Program (FOMS 107). Best Route: This option picks an optimized route result based on time, and the optimizer used (LC,LT,LF). Procedures are weighted so that ones tied to runways with higher headwinds are chosen over runway-specific procedures; however, the NFP system can choose a runway specific procedure that isn't the highest headwind if it is the most optimal route. You can set Best Route as your default in the Airline Code Parameters (FOMS 170) by setting the Defaulting method to Best Route and the Default on UI flag checked. Max Headwind: This option prioritizes procedures tied to the departure/arrival runway with the maximum headwind component. This is a strict component when choosing procedures as the best route will not be chosen over a route with maximum headwind. Longest Procedure: The runway causing the longest distance is selected from the available runways. Once the route generator has chosen a SID/STAR, then for all the runways that the SID/STAR can use, the runway giving the longest procedure distance is chosen (as long as it is suitable). A similar ranking system would occur where the longest distance gives a better ranking, but unsuitability gives a lower ranking. Note: For the Max Tail Wind, entering a value in the Max Rwy Tail Wind in the Airline Code Parameters (FOMS 170) sets a maximum tail wind for runway selection. This ensures the NFP system does not use a procedure with forecasted tail winds greater than this value. This setting primarily affects the Best Route and Longest Procedure options.
Use a specific SID	Clicking the Use SID checkbox allows you to make use of a SID in your route. A drop-down list of SIDs that apply to the selected runway from FOMS Menu 320 (SID Routes Program) is made available for you to choose from. When you select a specific SID from the dropdown list the procedure is automatically displayed on the map screen. The procedure is available immediately, you do not need to select the Generate button.
Do not use SIDs	Clicking the Do not use SIDs checkbox instructs NFP to not use SIDS when generating the route. NFP generates a route to fly direct to the most efficient enroute waypoint.
Use a preferred departure	Clicking the Use a preferred departure checkbox allows you to make use of a preferred departure in your route. A dropdown list of preferred departures from FOMS Menu 316 (Preferred Departures Program) appears for you to choose from.
Use Tracks	Clicking the Use Tracks checkbox allows you to make use of Tracks in your route. A dropdown list of tracks (NAT, PAC, AUS, or NOR) appears for you to choose from. When building PACOTS routes, the N-FP system will allow flights to leave or join an outer PACOT at any reporting point. To use this feature, you must de-select the Use Tracks checkbox.
Use a preferred arrival	Clicking the Use Preferred Arrival checkbox allows you to make use of a preferred arrival in your route. A dropdown list of preferred arrivals from FOMS Menu 317 (Preferred Arrivals Program) appears for you to choose from.
Use a specific STAR	Clicking the Use STAR checkbox allows you to make use of STAR in your route. A dropdown list of STARs that apply to the selected runway from FOMS Menu 325 (STARs Routes Program) is made available for you to choose from. When you select a specific STAR from the dropdown list, the procedure is automatically displayed on the map screen. The procedure is available immediately and you do not need to select the Generate button.
Do not use STARs	Clicking the Do not use STARs checkbox instructs NFP to not use STARs when generating the route. NFP generates a route to fly direct to the most efficient enroute waypoint.
Arrival Runway	If the Arrival Runways field in Airline Code Parameters (FOMS 170)is set to Y, the Arrival Runway dropdown list will default to Max Headwind. However, you can select any of the following options: None: Generic SIDs/STARs are used. Use specific runway: A specific runway can be selected from a dropdown list under the ORIG and/or DEST headings. The dropdown list of runways comes from FOMS Menu 107 (Runways Program). Max Headwind: The best runway based on wind is selected from the available runways. For Max Headwind, the route generator ranks all the runways for that airport based on suitability and METAR/TAF wind. Longest Procedure: The runway causing the longest distance is selected from the available runways. Once the route generator has chosen a SID/STAR, then for all the runways that the SID/STAR can use, the runway giving the longest procedure distance is chosen (as long as it is suitable). A similar ranking system would occur where the longest distance gives a better ranking, but unsuitability gives a lower ranking.
Route String Window	The Route String window allows you to enter a specific route using MTTA (Minimum Time Track Airway), DCT (Direct), and/or specific airways. Refer MTTA Expansion Options on the Route String Parser article for information on MTTA options. Selecting a route string updates the Route String window with the selected route string. If you are building a new route with another route previously stored, the route string window automatically populates with the previously stored route instead of defaulting to MTTA. This makes for easier route editing. The Route String window can be resized by dragging the bottom right corner.
IFPS Compliant Route Options	You can view and apply IFPS suggested routes from the CFMU. To view and apply suggested routes. Compute a flight. Click the New button on the Route Screen to generate a new route. Click the green triangle beside the route string window. Click the Request IFPS Routes list item. Select one of the suggested route strings to add the suggested route to the route string window. Click the Generate button to create a new route. Note: The N-FP system may not always be able to find a valid route option. A message is displayed in the Status Bar if no IFPS routes are available.
Comments	Enter any comments that are applicable to the route. If the route exists as a city-pair on FOMS Menu 305 (City-Pair Routes Program), the comments entered here are added to the FOMS file. The Comments window can be resized by dragging the bottom right corner.
<<Back	Clicking the <<Back button takes you back to the list of routes (if they exist) or to the prompt to build a new route (if they do not already exist).
Generate	This button allows you to generate your route.
Reset	This button allows you to reset the data currently in the fields in the Route Builder window.

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