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Two ATC problems (one new, one old)

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martinlest
Post subject: Two ATC problems (one new, one old)
Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 10:32 pm
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Hi. Thanks for the update for PF3. Lots of great stuff.. but I have a new problem now: On approach, ATC keeps changing my runway. This used to be an occasional feature, but now, well, I am not sure if would be correct to say it happens every flight, but certainly most I have flown since I installed the update a few days ago. Moreover, ATC doesn't just change the runway once, I get more than one change, either back to the original choice, or to a different runway altogether if there are more available. I attach the logs.

Otherwise, I have never had ATC direct me to a gate on arrival, at any airport, even when I arrive at a huge airport (like KATL) where there are dozens and dozens of suitably-sized (I have checked!) parking spaces for my a/c (I don't have traffic % set all that high, so there are usually lots of spaces free). I only ever get an assigned gate or parking space if I make the designation in the options pages. From what I read here, ATC should assign a free gate if there is one without my needing to specify one for every airport? I wonder why, assuming other people do get this feature OK, I never have done. Love to fix it! ;)

Thanks!

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Logs.zip
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Dan77
Post subject: Re: Two ATC problems (one new, one old)
Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 11:31 pm
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Regarding your runway changes, apparently they were due to wind shifts at your destination airport. First the wind was 273, then 1, then 273, causing runway assignments of 26, then 8, then 26.
Quote:
15/05/2017 21:48:06: 590 - Extracting Weather Data from PAJN
15/05/2017 21:48:07: 120 - Visibility from weather station: 10
15/05/2017 21:48:07: 120 - Wind DIR from weather station : 273
15/05/2017 21:48:07: 120 - Active Runway is set to 26

15/05/2017 21:49:08: 400 - Extracting Weather Data from PAJN
15/05/2017 21:49:08: 920 - No ATIS Weather data detected for PAJN --> now retrying...
15/05/2017 21:49:10: 940 - Visibility from weather station: 35
15/05/2017 21:49:10: 940 - Wind DIR from weather station : 1
15/05/2017 21:49:10: 940 - Active Runway is set to 8

15/05/2017 21:50:11: 780 - Extracting Weather Data from PAJN
15/05/2017 21:50:12: 290 - No ATIS Weather data detected for PAJN --> now retrying...
15/05/2017 21:50:14: 300 - Visibility from weather station: 10
15/05/2017 21:50:14: 300 - Wind DIR from weather station : 273
15/05/2017 21:50:14: 300 - Active Runway is set to 26
You may want to check the settings in your weather add-on. Adjusting the wind-lock settings can prevent frequent wind shifts at the destination airport. Also in the second and third instances above it looks like PF3 had a bit of trouble getting the weather info at first. Was your weather program updating? Again, adjusting the settings may help. See the following posts:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2215#p12800

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2280#p13240

For the arrival gate issue, it looks like you have the "Gate Parking Only" option ticked on the Advanced Options and INI File Tweaks page. Untick it and see if there is any change. You may also want to experiment with the gate settings on the Options #1 screen.

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Dan77
Post subject: Re: Two ATC problems (one new, one old)
Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 3:22 am
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Forgot to mention that in your case the gates were occupied, so with "Gate Parking Only" ticked you will be told to taxi to terminal rather than an available parking area. See pp. 73-74 in the User Guide for more info.

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martinlest
Post subject: Re: Two ATC problems (one new, one old)
Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 9:42 am
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Thanks for the reply and information - I'll check that out and post back. (Maybe FSUIPC can lock the wind direction?).

In the logs, the gates may have been full as I was flying to PAJN, quite a small airport of course, but even so, at large airports, I only ever get 'Taxi to Terminal', and I mean since I first upgraded PFE to PF3 a couple of years back, or whenever it was. I did try switching between settings before the update, and I have read the pdf and tried various options but nothing ever seemed to fix this: as I say, I'll try again and let you know.
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martinlest
Post subject: Re: Two ATC problems (one new, one old)
Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 4:50 pm
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Currently using FSrealWX_Lite for weather. I will have to try a few tweaks - I like this programme (more than the Pro version, which I used to use) but AS6.5 (with its many options) it is not. I will try tweaking my FSUIPC settings too, but I already have Wind Smoothing on.

I had thought (apparently wrongly) that PF3 had an option to limit runway changes to 0 or 1 instances. Not sure where that came from (was it mooted at some stage on the forum?), but that option would be nice, if possible to implement.

Yes, I had forgotten that I either have the 'Gate Only' option checked, or my 747 will probably be sent to a small AI parking spot 'behind the bike sheds' somewhere - even when plenty of Heavy gates are free. I guess what I have now is better than going back to that.

Thanks again.
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ThomasAH
Post subject: Re: Two ATC problems (one new, one old)
Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 6:06 pm
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You could always request a different runway, even if it is bad for the new wind direction or AI will play chicken with you :)

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Dan77
Post subject: Re: Two ATC problems (one new, one old)
Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 7:43 pm
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martinlest wrote: *  Tue May 16, 2017 4:50 pm
Currently using FSrealWX_Lite for weather. I will have to try a few tweaks - I like this programme (more than the Pro version, which I used to use) but AS6.5 (with its many options) it is not. I will try tweaking my FSUIPC settings too, but I already have Wind Smoothing on.
Been a long time since I've used that weather add-on but I think there is a setting called "No weather update in approach" which may prevent weather updates when you have descended below a set altitude. You may be able to tweak that setting to prevent weather updates earlier in your approach (at a higher altitude). I think FSUIPC wind-smoothing primarily affects the area around your aircraft.

martinlest wrote: *  Tue May 16, 2017 4:50 pm
I either have the 'Gate Only' option checked, or my 747 will probably be sent to a small AI parking spot 'behind the bike sheds' somewhere - even when plenty of Heavy gates are free. I guess what I have now is better than going back to that.
With the improved Designated Parking feature (version 3.4) you can select a gate after landing. If ATC wants to send you to a parking area in the next county and you know that a suitable gate is available, select the gate using the new Designated Parking button on the main PF3 screen and then request taxi from Ground. :) (Remember to toggle off TGS first if it has come on and you want to change your gate assignment.)

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vololiberista
Post subject: Re: Two ATC problems (one new, one old)
Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 8:57 pm
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Location: LIMZ
 
Dan77 wrote: *  Tue May 16, 2017 7:43 pm

With the improved Designated Parking feature (version 3.4) you can select a gate after landing. If ATC wants to send you to a parking area in the next county and you know that a suitable gate is available, select the gate using the new Designated Parking button on the main PF3 screen and then request taxi from Ground. :) (Remember to toggle off TGS first if it has come on and you want to change your gate assignment.)
This works a dream and when you toggle TGS back on it guides you to the new gate too. The only glitch is "clear of active runway" is repeated. Dave could perhaps set a flag to test whether it has already been said and then turn it off.

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martinlest
Post subject: Re: Two ATC problems (one new, one old)
Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 9:59 pm
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Ah, I just updated 3.3 to 3.4! I wasn't expecting another update so soon (my PF3 wasn't set to check automatically - now rectified). Odd though - I only checked for updates two or three days ago, and the updater moved my PF3 from 3.2 to 3.3. I see now that 3.4 has been available a couple of weeks. Maybe the updater only moves one version at a time?

Look forward to testing out the new parking feature - I don't work Wednesdays (tomorrow), so I've got all day!
Quote:
Been a long time since I've used that weather add-on but I think there is a setting called "No weather update in approach"
Well, you have a good memory, Dan!! I have the programme in front of me and I still missed it - mostly because I was only looking on the weather tab, and that box is under 'General'! I will of course try out flights with that box checked. Sounds just what is needed if the name is anything to go by!

Still a bit 'worried' about these runway changes though - I am not totally convinced it can be due to wind direction: why, if it were, would ATC have changed my runway just now from KSLC Rwy 17 to 16R? It doesn't make too much sense

I attach some more logs, just in case there's anything to explain this change. Meanwhile I'll try some more flights with the FSrealWX box checked... Many thanks, as always.

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debug_monitor.zip
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vololiberista
Post subject: Re: Two ATC problems (one new, one old)
Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 10:29 pm
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Posts: 980
Joined: Wed May 27, 2009 8:41 pm
Location: LIMZ
 
martinlest wrote: *  Tue May 16, 2017 9:59 pm
Ah, I just updated 3.3 to 3.4! I wasn't expecting another update so soon (my PF3 wasn't set to check automatically - now rectified). Odd though - I only checked for updates two or three days ago, and the updater moved my PF3 from 3.2 to 3.3. I see now that 3.4 has been available a couple of weeks. Maybe the updater only moves one version at a time?

Look forward to testing out the new parking feature - I don't work Wednesdays (tomorrow), so I've got all day!
Quote:
Been a long time since I've used that weather add-on but I think there is a setting called "No weather update in approach"
Well, you have a good memory, Dan!! I have the programme in front of me and I still missed it - mostly because I was only looking on the weather tab, and that box is under 'General'! I will of course try out flights with that box checked. Sounds just what is needed if the name is anything to go by!

Still a bit 'worried' about these runway changes though - I am not totally convinced it can be due to wind direction: why, if it were, would ATC have changed my runway just now from KSLC Rwy 17 to 16R? It doesn't make too much sense

I attach some more logs, just in case there's anything to explain this change. Meanwhile I'll try some more flights with the FSrealWX box checked... Many thanks, as always.
With FSrealWX remember to Refresh AI and I always check that the weather has also loaded into the aircraft by checking the QNH and that the altimeter reading is roughtly the same as the airfield elevation. Only after all that do I load PF3.

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