OnCourse Software

First off, I just want to say how delighted I am with this program. My hat is off to the developer. Finally!!! Finaly, I can fly from point A to point B without being vectored 100miles off course for a ridicuolus interception to the ILS. That in itself is worth the money spent. I do however have a few questions I would like to ask. I want to add I have thoroughly read the manual and watched the tutorials and most of which I understand. My first question is regarding sids/stars. When using real weather, and already entered the pre-determined sids/stars, what happens if the wind changes upon arrival? Sids are easier, just look at weather before hand and enter. But stars can be a different story. My second question would be if your not using sids/stars, and just plan a route from A to B in fs fltplan (may or may not change a few waypoints), does PFE keep you on course the whole way? Or does it behave like the fs atc navigation? Meaning, after departure, vectoring you immediately to first waypoint and then "resume own navigation" and creates it's own arrival before last waypoint into IAF. My last question is regarding my first flight using PFE from KPHX-KTUS. I used fs fltpln and default gps, no fms. Direct from KPHX to first waypoint (no sid), then changed waypoints from 1st waypoint to KTUS using the published star. After which I changed the altitudes and star starting point using my first waypoint. PFE allowed me to stay on course, advised decents but I didn't hear the "Sierra Tengo" call at the beginning of the star. Is this correct, or did I do something wrong setting up the fltpln and or adjusting the star? All in all, I got down and taxied to the ramp and received a 100%. I guess pretty good for the first time Anyway, I have more questions , but since this turned into a novel, I'll just stop here and start a new post at a later time. Thanks in advanced.

kramerdc9 wrote:

When using real weather, and already entered the pre-determined sids/stars, what happens if the wind changes upon arrival?

If you selected the STAR option from the SIDS/STARS page, what happens is when you reach the last flightplan waypoint, you will be told a runway to land at, and cleared to finals at your discretion. So if the runway has changed from what you were expecting YOU will have to fly to it.

If however you selected the STAR option "start of star" from the flightplan itself, you will be told to fly the star ST when you reach whatever waypoint you chose. But using this method means you will be vectored to finals when you reach the last waypoint in the flightplan. If the runway has changed you will simply get different vectors.

kramerdc9 wrote:

My second question would be if your not using sids/stars, and just plan a route from A to B in fs fltplan (may or may not change a few waypoints), does PFE keep you on course the whole way? Or does it behave like the fs atc navigation? Meaning, after departure, vectoring you immediately to first waypoint and then "resume own navigation" and creates it's own arrival before last waypoint into IAF.

If you are not using the SID/STARS options you will be told to fly a heading after takeoff, then vectored to the first waypoint. Then told to navigate for yourself. if you go off course it will tell you.
When you reach the last waypoint you get vectored to finals


Not really understanding your last question. How many waypoints in your flightplan, and how many waypoints from the end was your start of star?

Peter

pschlute wrote:

If however you selected the STAR option "start of star" from the flightplan itself, you will be told to fly the star ST when you reach whatever waypoint you chose. But using this method means you will be vectored to finals when you reach the last waypoint in the flightplan.

Aha...I had no idea it worked this way. Is this mentioned somewhere in the documentation or tutorials?

Sorry about last question. See if this is clearer. When reaching the "star st", shouldn't I hear some indication from atc that it has started? Pg.68 In much the same way the way a STAR works currently is this... you are automatically cleared to finals at pilot's discretion upon reaching the last waypoint in your flight plan. Using this new feature from the waypoint altitude
adjustments page enables you to select any waypoint in your flight plan to commence flying your published approach.
When you reach that waypoint ATC will clear you to continue via your STAR "Easy 211 continue via the Sierra Tango Approach... remain on this frequency, I'll have traffic for you'. and then, when you reach the last waypoint in the flight plan ATC will take over again and vector you to the FAF. I was just wondering if I set it up correctly and it recognized the star. Thanks for clearifying my first two questons.

pschlute wrote:

kramerdc9 wrote:

When using real weather, and already entered the pre-determined sids/stars, what happens if the wind changes upon arrival?

If you selected the STAR option from the SIDS/STARS page, what happens is when you reach the last flightplan waypoint, you will be told a runway to land at, and cleared to finals at your discretion. So if the runway has changed from what you were expecting YOU will have to fly to it.

If however you selected the STAR option "start of star" from the flightplan itself, you will be told to fly the star ST when you reach whatever waypoint you chose. But using this method means you will be vectored to finals when you reach the last waypoint in the flightplan. If the runway has changed you will simply get different vectors.

kramerdc9 wrote:

My second question would be if your not using sids/stars, and just plan a route from A to B in fs fltplan (may or may not change a few waypoints), does PFE keep you on course the whole way? Or does it behave like the fs atc navigation? Meaning, after departure, vectoring you immediately to first waypoint and then "resume own navigation" and creates it's own arrival before last waypoint into IAF.

If you are not using the SID/STARS options you will be told to fly a heading after takeoff, then vectored to the first waypoint. Then told to navigate for yourself. if you go off course it will tell you.
When you reach the last waypoint you get vectored to finals


Not really understanding your last question. How many waypoints in your flightplan, and how many waypoints from the end was your start of star?

Peter

sidneyschwartz wrote:

pschlute wrote:

If however you selected the STAR option "start of star" from the flightplan itself, you will be told to fly the star ST when you reach whatever waypoint you chose. But using this method means you will be vectored to finals when you reach the last waypoint in the flightplan.

Aha...I had no idea it worked this way. Is this mentioned somewhere in the documentation or tutorials?

I am sure it is in there somewhere. Anyhow this is how it has always worked for me in FS9

Peter

I understand the last question now. Yes you should be told to fly your STAR approach when you reach the selected waypoint. How far from the end of the flightplan was your selected start-of-star waypoint? How many waypoints were there after this one?

Excuse the interruption - in response to Sidney's question - info is on page 68 of the manual (see post from Dave M., "PFE User Manual"). After a flight plan is loaded, go to the "adjust waypoint altitudes" screen and the SID/STAR buttons are at the bottom.

Thanks, Dan. I probably read that but didn't understand it. Now that I've used PFE for a while it makes sense.

Hey pschlute, my star st was probably around 35nm from end of flightplan. I believe I had two other waypoints before end of flightplan. I was using info from airnav to enter my star into KTUS. When I went to the adjust waypoint altitude screen, it first loaded 17,000 for cruise alt. Way to high for short flight. 1st waypoint was a duplicate, so I entered 9,000 for both, then 7,000 for 2nd(no duplicate), then 5,000 for 3rd(no duplicate) 'till IAF where I would assume PFE would vector me finals. It kept me on course the whole way and descended me at 7,000 1st waypoint, 2nd 5,000 'til IAF and captured ILS. If memory serves me, I think it descended me lower 'til I caputred the ILS. So I'm thinking I did something wrong in the planning, maybe? Everything good except the wrong altitudes and no notice of star st. Any thoughts? Thanks again- Dirk

pschlute wrote:

I understand the last question now. Yes you should be told to fly your STAR approach when you reach the selected waypoint. How far from the end of the flightplan was your selected start-of-star waypoint? How many waypoints were there after this one?

Again excuse the interruption; Peter knows much more about this than I do. A couple of thoughts: What were your settings for cruise altitude and center altitude in PF2000 when you compiled the flight? Since your waypoints were assigned altitudes that were too high for a short flight, I'm wondering what you set as the cruise altitude in PF2000. Also, I believe the cruise altitude needs to be higher than the center altitude, so if you lower your cruise altitude, the center altitude should be lowered as well or the flight might not compile. (At least I think this is how it works.)

Also note that when you change settings in PF2000, you should exit PF2000 and re-start it for the settings to take effect.

Dan