OnCourse Software

Dan77 wrote: *

Sun Oct 07, 2018 9:36 am

Please zip your PF3\Logs folder and attach it to your post. This contains the log information from your last flight and is the only way we can see what happened. A quick word about long downwind legs: This is often due to the FAF distance being set too high. You can shorten the downwind by reducing the FAF distance, which controls (approximately) the point to which you are vectored to intercept the runway course. Smaller values bring you in closer to the airport. It's a matter of preference but mine is set at 9 and it works well in most cases so I almost never change it.

Shomron wrote: *

Sun Oct 07, 2018 11:35 am

1. Generally when ticking the STAR checkbox, will PF3 provide me altitude & speed restrictions while I'm on my own flying the STAR?

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2. What happens after the last STAR way-point? Will PF3 vector me to the FAF or am I on my own?

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3. In the tutorial video 1 provided in the forum - https://youtu.be/B26aXIies3Y?t=773 (mark 12:53) Sebastian sets the last way-point as the start of a STAR although he wants to get vectored from that way-point.

Shomron wrote: *

Sun Oct 07, 2018 9:42 am

Dan77 wrote: *

Sun Oct 07, 2018 9:36 am

Please zip your PF3\Logs folder and attach it to your post. This contains the log information from your last flight and is the only way we can see what happened. A quick word about long downwind legs: This is often due to the FAF distance being set too high. You can shorten the downwind by reducing the FAF distance, which controls (approximately) the point to which you are vectored to intercept the runway course. Smaller values bring you in closer to the airport. It's a matter of preference but mine is set at 9 and it works well in most cases so I almost never change it.

Thanks will send it however I am not sure I have the log option set on (the one says in the interface it should only be checked when requested)
I was referring to the downwind leg distance from the runway (when flying parallel to the runway/airport) not the downwind leg length itself, I have the FAF value set to 7 and indeed have no issues with the length of it.

Shomron wrote: *

Sun Oct 07, 2018 8:28 am

Have to admit the more I experience with PF3 the more I like it!
Also thumbs up for the great support! quick replies even during the weekend are not obvious
I remember the days I used PF2000 with FS9 I guess its time to come back (I've used RC4 in the last 10 years)

I have a question about vectoring though - sometimes I feel the vectoring is a bit overwhelming:
For example yesterday when flying KMSY-KIAH route JEPEG GILCO4 I've omitted GILCO last STAR way-point from the airport as I wanted to get vectors (leaving the last way-point DRAPH over 20NM from the airport).
I was cleared to runway 15L approach and instructed to descend to 7,000 however since I wanted an ILS approach I've requested runway 15R.
At this point the controller instructed to maintain 14,000 but I was already descending through 11,000 since the previous clearance was to descend to 7,000. Maybe requesting another runway surfaced some vectoring related bug?
I climbed back to 14,000 and got vectors to fly a downwind west of the airport instead of east (where I was initially approaching runway 15L) - is this expected? Does the program vector you around the airport in case you are approaching a runway which is part of parallel runways?
Second, I was instructed to descend directly from 14,000 to 2,000 (My FAF pre-set altitude). No step descends?
Last general question about downwind - I've noticed the downwind vectoring usually takes you well over 10NM from the airport. Is there a reason for this? In most airports aircraft are vectored ~5NM from the airport.

Thanks