Simviation Forums

Hmmm, well, after getting FS2004 last weekend I've been divideing my time between the lessons and trying free flights. Last night I flew from Mount Vernon, WA to KingCo Airport in Seattle, WA. I managed to (sort of) duck walk into the air at Mount Vernon and proceeded south until I caught ATC for Boeing field. I managed to set down on the proper field and even (gasp) on the correct runway. Does this constitute a solo flight? Heh heh!

Now, some questions! When ATC calls out "9:00 at 3400 ft" exactly where am I? How do I get a visual for the field I'm setting down on? How do I get/figure a glide path for the approach? I've got that FS Navigator on the system but can't see any use for it. Any info, please?

Was fun, though, setting down where I said I would!  8)

   I'm a little confused "9:00 at 3400ft" sounds like a traffic call.  Anyway when you tune in a towers freq and check in, your comms options then include "directions to airtport"  ATC will respond with a clock direction and range. Normally, I don't "see" the airport until I'm within 10nm, except at night, when I can see the rotating beacon from farther away.

   I normally start 2nm from the runway at 2000ft. This places me under the glideslope. I maintain 2000 until I intersect it and then start with a 500fpm descent glidepath for jets and 300fpm for props,  then use the VASI (Visual Aid Slope Indicator) to adjust the path.

   Some may say this isn't "proper" procedures. But it works until you become profiecient enough to follow the rules.

FSNavigator? I don't know, don't use it.

[quote]

Hmmm, the msg came because of a dir request by me. So what I'm trying to figger out here is: what do I do with that message? Steer to the right? (Boy, steer. Real techie talk there.)

When I file a flight from Mount Vernon to Seattle, since I know that Seattle is south of Mount Vernon about 60 miles and I do have some idea of what Boeing Field looks like, I'm not flying fully into the "dark" as I am when I fly from, say, Vancouver, B.C. to Portland, OR.

I have found out a little about the GPS since I posted and tried a flight from Seattle to Dawson Creek, B.C. but crashed (didn't know the altitude at/near Dawson Creek). If I have 25,000 airfields in the Sim how do I find out what the field looks like from the air without flying over it? Is there someplace where I can go to look at airfields and what they look like?

Still, you've been a help so far and I thank you for it. I've been having 'bout as much fun as I have had with Auran's Trainz Simulation (TRS2004).

I have found out a little about the GPS since I posted and tried a flight from Seattle to Dawson Creek, B.C. but crashed (didn't know the altitude at/near Dawson Creek). If I have 25,000 airfields in the Sim how do I find out what the field looks like from the air without flying over it? Is there someplace where I can go to look at airfields and what they look like?

Still, you've been a help so far and I thank you for it. I've been having 'bout as much fun as I have had with Auran's Trainz Simulation (TRS2004).

Hey deKoven! Welcome to SimV! Well, I have some advice for the GPS question about viewing an aiport before you get there...sorry if it's a little hard to understand, I had trouble myself when I learned to use it

Hmmm, the msg came because of a dir request by me. So what I'm trying to figger out here is: what do I do with that message? Steer to the right? (Boy, steer. Real techie talk there.)

When I file a flight from Mount Vernon to Seattle, since I know that Seattle is south of Mount Vernon about 60 miles and I do have some idea of what Boeing Field looks like, I'm not flying fully into the "dark" as I am when I fly from, say, Vancouver, B.C. to Portland, OR.

I have found out a little about the GPS since I posted and tried a flight from Seattle to Dawson Creek, B.C. but crashed (didn't know the altitude at/near Dawson Creek). If I have 25,000 airfields in the Sim how do I find out what the field looks like from the air without flying over it? Is there someplace where I can go to look at airfields and what they look like?

Still, you've been a help so far and I thank you for it. I've been having 'bout as much fun as I have had with Auran's Trainz Simulation (TRS2004).

I see. You asked for the direction to the airport. In that case ATC is telling you that the airport is at your 9:00 meaning that if you were sitting on a clock dial facing the 12 then the airport is directly to your left. It's the same if ATC is warning you of traffic. They will give you the direction as if you were on an imaginary clock. You need to look in the indicated direction and try to see the traffic so you can keep aware of it's position.

This only gives you the general position of the airport. You still need to know which runway you'll be landing on so you'll still need to look it up on either the GPS or the map view but it lets you know where you are in relation to the airport.

deKoven,

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[quote]deKoven,

I created my handbook using Excel. I use Excel for everything.

[quote]I created my handbook using Excel. I use Excel for everything.

I'll take some pics of my book tonight and put them on my site for your purusal(sp).

Goto www.anadrac.com/Flight/Index.htm

I'll add a link to open the My Handbook Page. But at this point, I have to construct it.

[quote]I've personnaly never seen an airport with a center runway.

Cool, sounds redundant, but I've just not been to one. I guess I'll go on a trip! Thanks.