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Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE
http://www.ocs-support.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3130
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Author:  PierreNantel [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 3:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE

Hi,
I am using PF3 with MCE and every time I cross the Atlantic, when I get to the European side, I have little or no ATC coverage.

Yesterday I flew from CYUL (Montreal) to LFPG (Paris). Getting close to Gander. ATC advise me that I was transfer to Gander Oceanic. I received a SELCAL test, then a second message that the SELCAL worked ok and a new squawk code of 2000. When I reach the Shannon area, I didn’t get any controller communication or handoff from oceanic control, I flew over Ireland and then I reach the England cost, no ATC com whatsoever. I ask my FO (MCE) to contact controller, he did and we got an answer from ‘’ London control’’ and no new frequency but a new squawk code (actually the same that I received at departure). I continue my flight to LFPG and received no ATC guidance until and heard no other plane communications. Getting very close to my destination, I was entering the STAR, I decide to communicate with LFPG approach, I then got transfer to LFPG Tower for landing.

The handoff from Oceanic control to a European controller, never happened. Do I have to do anything during the Oceanic crossing? Or is this normal.

Pierre

Author:  Dave Leesley [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 9:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE

To start the process of elimination can we have your Flightplan please from the folder Flights and fpp for this flight.
Also Logs would be very helpful...

Author:  PierreNantel [ Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE

Of course,

Please find the requested files.

Thanks

Pierre

Author:  PierreNantel [ Thu Apr 25, 2019 2:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE

Hi,
I did about 4 oceanic crossing now and I seem to have solved the Oceanic and SelCal exchange. I get my FO to contact control every time I reach a waypoint. The handoff from oceanic to control seems to be incorrect all the time, for example yesterday I was doing CYUL to LFPG and Shanwick did transfer me to Brest control both didn’t gave me a new frequency, is this normal.

But now my biggest problem is that control keeps me at cruise level until I am about 20 miles from my destination airport. Yesterday I was kept at FL350 and even if my FO ask for a lower altitude, we get no reply from ATC, but at time we get ‘’AC442 maintain flight level 350’’. I was in the middle of the STAR when I received instruction to ‘’descent at level 240’’. I never got transferred to Paris control. I was transfer to LFPG approach and instruct to follow the STAR, which at that time was over and I was right beside the airport at FL240.

So, I am obviously doing something wrong. I use PFPx to create my flight plan. When I loaded the FPN in PF3 I defined the STAR in the ‘’SID (DP’S), STAR, Missed Approaches, RWY Usage and Tas’’ screen and I also define New Alt (lower then current) in the PF Adjustment screen. It seems that all of it was ignore.

It’s funny, because when I fly in Europe or America and I do not include Oceanic. I have no problem everything works find.

I have included the log file.

If you could help me figure this out, I would appreciate.

Author:  Dave March [ Thu Apr 25, 2019 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE

A few things here. Firstly you stayed on the Oceanic frequency of 132.20 following the oceanic portion of your flight so that is why you never received any further instructions. Secondly I see you are using accelerated flight and I don't support that. That's not to say you can't use it and it might work just fine but it can also be the cause of some strange issues. You are also using VR which again 'may' have contributed to these strange happenings.

What I would suggest is you setup a test flight from A to B and set an Oceanic section in the flight... it doesn't have to actually be across the water so you can make it a long or short as you wish. Don't use accelerated flight and maybe try the co-pilot mode set to '3' just so you can see how Oceanic works and what to expect.

Author:  PierreNantel [ Fri Apr 26, 2019 3:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE

Hi Dave,

Thanks to have taking time to look at this. When you say that I stayed on the Oceanic frequency of 132.20. I didn't get any other frequency to tune for the crossing. Is there a specific frequency for Oceanic crossing?

Funny, I never use the accelerated flight, I only use it for that particular flight. So i will go back to my normal way of flying.
Yes I have started to use MCE I am looking for more realism. Is there a problem using this software?

I will follow your advice

Pierre

Author:  PierreNantel [ Fri Apr 26, 2019 6:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE

Hi,
Sorry I miss red your comment about '' I stayed on the Oceanic frequency of 132.20 after the crossing''. This is my issue, when I reach the end the Oceanic crossing PF3 those the handoff but doesn`t give me a new frequency to dial for the new control.

I am doing a crossing right now without MCE (co-pilot from PF3) and without using the accelerated flight. I know now that I was doing the right thing when I started the crossing, all the SelCal exchange was done properly and I did report my position. Will see what will happend when I reach Shanwick.

I will report back tonight

Pierre

Author:  PierreNantel [ Sat Apr 27, 2019 1:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE

Hi Dave,

I have completed another crossing without MCE and with no accelerated flight. I have learn more things, but when the handoff from Oceanic and Brest control occur, it seems strange. After the last SelCal position call done by the FO, I notice that the frequency on the radio got changed and I was now tuning Brest, and my FO just called Brest and identified our self. We didn't get any message to change frequency. It was like my FO knew that he had to change the frequency and issue a call to Brest Centre. Is this the way it should be done?

The rest of the flight was find. no problem with ATC.

I just need to understand how the handoff at the end of Oceanic works.....

Getting there.

Pierre

Author:  Dave March [ Sat Apr 27, 2019 8:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE

As far as I can remember you should receive a handoff, naming the control and frequency, but it's been a very long time since I wrote that part of the program so I will have to delve into the code and check. I'm away from my development machine right now so this may take a day or two.

Please give me a reminder if I don't get back to you within the next few days.

Thanks for your feedback. Very helpful

Sent from my mobile using Tapatalk


Author:  Dan77 [ Sat Apr 27, 2019 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need help with Oceanic crossing using PF3/MCE

dmarch wrote: *  Sat Apr 27, 2019 8:29 am
As far as I can remember you should receive a handoff, naming the control and frequency,
but it's been a very long time since I wrote that part of the program so I will have to delve into the code and check.

Dave, it's possible that if there is an issue here, it may only affect flights where Oceanic is enabled by default. I have done flights where Oceanic procedures are user-defined and there are instructions when exiting Oceanic airspace:
3/16/2019 3:25:05 PM: 280 - Transcript: ' Roger Air Canada 702 Heavy  28 North
170 West Flight Level 330 24 North 164 West next   at X-Ray X-Ray X-Ray Contact
HONOLULU CENTER on 119.9  '

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