Questions about ATC and Free Flight Rewards

[ShadoweGandalf]

Ok, I have a couple of questions here, first off, the ATC question.

I never seem to get taxi instructions to take off in the direction I want to take off. Example... The runway faces east and west and I want to take off so I'm heading east. I select "Request Taxi - East Departure" from ATC menu, but the taxi directions I'm given lead me to the eastern end of the runway so I have to take off to the west. I tried to swap my request to take off west, and it gave me the exact same taxi directions. It's had me confused for a long time now. Any help?

Next question is about rewards you earn in free flight. (I thought I'd ask 2 questions here rather than open 2 threads).

I just made a flight to land at San Rafael (SPRF) which according to a reward guide is the highest airport in the world and nets you a reward badge. I landed smoothly and safely, came to a stop, and exited the flight. I looked for my reward but it wasn't there. Am I missing something about Free Flight rewards?

Any and all help on these issues will be appreciated. (I've been playing FSX for a number of months now but I'm still learning stuff. I only recently learned how to use the autopilot, with a little help from an episode
of Air Crash Investigation )

[brett]

The answer to your first question is that you will always be directed to take off into the wind on the airports active runway. Requesting an eastern departure is giving the tower advanced information on were you will be headed after takeoff. You can always change the wind direction if you would prefer to take of in the opposite direction.

As far as the second question, check and make sure that your logbook registered the landing. If so, try exiting FSX and then restarting the program and see if it finally  showed up. If the logbook did not register the landing refly and try again. If still a no show, the logbook might be compromised and need to be fixed.

[ShadoweGandalf]

Ok, thank you. These are helpful answers. Especially the first one. NOW it makes sense.

[Fozzer]

..also...

When flying in, or out of, a controlled airfield, dial up ATIS on the radio first, to obtaining take-off and landing instructions for the local conditions, and the active runway.

Automatic Terminal Information Service:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_ ... on_Service

The Airfield details with give you radio frequencies you need to give you the necessary instructions.

Remember: What you want to do, and what ATC want you to do, is often entirely different!

Paul...FS 2004.