The only way to use SIDs and STARs is to create a default Flight Planner flight plan. I use FS Commander 9.2 to do that because I can add SIDs and STARs and save them in the correct FLT format.

Then. To fly the GPS route, you must click on the NAV/GPS Switch and use VOR LOC mode on the Autopilot Mode Selector. The Cockpit Tooltips show the NAV/GPS Switch as the Marker Beacon Sensitivity Switch (see image below).



Hope this helps

That's the only way I do SID and STAR in the 737. Otherwise, I take off, slowly turn the 737 towards the VOR radial to track to the next VOR etc., before peeling off to be able to track an ILS/GS or line up on a runway for a manual landing.

That's right in the US there's still at least one non-RNAV SID or STAR for almost every major airport.

And since there's no FSDO in flight sim to jerk your license away from you if you wander too much it's possible to hand-fly a SID or STAR or do it with heading mode only.  I did for a while flying the 732 in Alaska before I switched to Acceleration and got the autopilot to track the magenta line without it having to be in alt hold mode.

You just have to pay real close attention to what's going on and have the GPS installed in the airplane so you can see the line you're supposed to be following

Talk about a challenge...I even managed to keep the RC4 controllers from barking at me most of the time.

FlyBoyMikey wrote on Dec 19^th, 2012 at 1:12am:

I don't even do that. I fly VOR to VOR and then when close to my destination airport, use heading select to intercept  ILS, or just to line up on the runway and land without those navigation aids.