OnCourse Software

hi, can you just confirm that I understand correctly with regard to STARs in PFE v2.12

1. Setting STARs active in the SIDs/STARs page (NOT the flightplan page): If I do this I will automatically "cleared to finals" at my discretion once reaching the final waypoint (ie. NOT vectored).

2. Setting a STAR waypoint in the flightplan page: If I select say, the third from last waypoint as the "STAR", i will be directed to fly my "sierra tango" approach from that waypoint, and upon arriving at the final waypoint will be vectored to the runway.

Have I understood this correctly ?

...and if so, is it possible in scenario 1. to request vectors AFTER having being cleared to finals? My reasoning is that I want to fly into EGLL via holding at 7000 feet at BIG VOR: At BIG VOR I will be "cleared to finals", so that the vectoring stops and I can hold for as many laps as I wish. I then would like to be able to request vectors to continue my approach, but it seems I am unable to request vectors AFTER having been "cleared to finals".

I hope that makes sense.

Peter.

ps i am really loving this product.

Hi Peter,

Yes, yes and no... but I have added your 'wish' to my list of things to consider for the future

Thanks for the reply Dave. I am pleased i understand the procedures.

One more question (sorry), is there any limitation (either distance from airport or altitude, or the fact that I have not been passed on to approach yet) to where I can place the STAR on the flightplans page ?

I fly Concorde a lot and the descent should be a 350KIAS descent and can be a bit rapid. Would I be able to nominate my decelleration/descent point as the start of the STAR, even though it would be at FL550 and 250 miles from the airport ?

Peter

If I may I'd like to add my penniesworth. I notice when amending the flightplan produced byPF2000 in PFE it quotes "Set start of STAR" In the example in question "BIG" is actually the end of the STAR where one sits in the hold until ATC tells you. So perhaps it would be a good idea to be able to enter start and finish. In the previous version of PFE 2.11 my flightplans never included BIG but now they seem to!
The same thing applies to "OCK" I have entered the start of the STAR as "HAZEL". However in this case PFE did not included "OCK" in it's ADV flightplan.
As it stands now, one flies to the end of the STAR and descends towards the rwy as one wishes with no ATC direction having been given "Carte blanche" at the start of the STAR.

If it were at all possible to include "BIG" or "OCK" for example as "Set ends of STARS" then ATC could legitimately put the a/c into a holding pattern and then call it down and turn it into the ILS.

e.g In the hold at OCK (or approaching the facility)
ATC Speedbird 511 turn right heading 070
ATC Speedbird 511 descend to 2500 on QNH 946
ATC Speedbird 511 turn left heading 310 call established on the localiser rwy 27R
After that the handover to the tower frequency takes place.

If it were possible therefore to "Set start - End of STAR" it would increase the accuracy of PFE no end!!
vololiberista

Quote:

One more question (sorry), is there any limitation (either distance from airport or altitude, or the fact that I have not been passed on to approach yet) to where I can place the STAR on the flightplans page ?

No

Quote:

I fly Concorde a lot and the descent should be a 350KIAS descent and can be a bit rapid. Would I be able to nominate my decelleration/descent point as the start of the STAR, even though it would be at FL550 and 250 miles from the airport ?

Yes, as per the documentation one would hope you would be at the correct altitude according to your flight plan on completion of the STAR

Dave

I am having problems getting the new STAR system to work. I select a start point for the STAR , but do not get told to fly it and get descent instructions as if I had not selected a STAR?

I have sent you the debug file by email

Thanks.

According to the log file It would appear that you chose NOT to use the SID/STAR and Waypoint Adjustments file when prompted

"NOT Using Adjusted Waypoint Altitudes..."

Dave

Odd. My method is to open FS9 and go to the departure airport in the default cessna, then switch to my desired a/c..in thi s case a PMDG 737. Create flightplan in FS9. Then open PFE and convert flightplan; open PF2000 and compile. Close PF2000. In PFE select "new Adv"; adjust altitudes as neccesary; click the buttons to select "start of STAR";save and then "connect to FS9".

If I remember correctly the only time the waypoint altitude dialogue box appears is if I load a flightplan that I have previously amended ? I that case I would accept yes (unless I wanted to amend it) ?

Peter

ps. I will have another go tonight.

Hi Peter,

Okay, then we 'may' have a problem Houston.

When you adjust your waypoint alt's do you hit the SAVE button and not CLOSE.

I've just tried exactly what you say you do... i.e. selected a new ADV, changed the altitudes, then SAVED and connected to FS.... I don't get the popup window telling me an adjustment file has been found because I've already selected SAVE/USE. When look in the log file I have the following info (unlike your log)

Using Adjusted Waypoint Altitudes...
08/04/2010 14:43:50: 920 - Original Alt for WP 1 was: 22000 Adj Alt: 22000
08/04/2010 14:43:50: 920 - Last waypoint altitude adjusted from 9743 to 5000'
00 - EGSS - 348
01 - D133Y - 22000
02 - D133Y - 26000
03 - D133Y - 26000
04 - D133Y - 22000
05 - D313E - 5000
06 - EGCC - 5000
07 - EGCC - 257

Cruise Altitude set at 26000

Dave

I hit the save button first....then I think I press the close/abort button to close the window.

Peter