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Untowered airports
http://www.ocs-support.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2461		 Page 2 of 2
Author:  dtsakiris [ Fri Mar 17, 2017 8:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Untowered airports
ThomasAH wrote: *  Thu Mar 16, 2017 8:47 pm
Code: Select all
3/13/2017 9:41:56 PM: 780 - Transcript: 'Piper November 232 Kilo Alpha Cleared to final for runway 16 Radar service terminated. Squawk 1200, change to advisory frequency approved on 132.5  '
3/13/2017 9:42:07 PM: 220 - ****** HotKey #10 detected!
3/13/2017 9:42:07 PM: 220 - ****** HotKey #21 detected!
3/13/2017 9:42:10 PM: 370 - ****** HotKey #21 detected!
3/13/2017 9:42:17 PM: 400 - ****** HotKey #10 detected!
3/13/2017 9:42:23 PM: 450 - Transcript: 'Piper November 232 Kilo Alpha Check your transponder. Squawk 1200  '
Hotkey 10 is Roger, 21 is PTT.
So it was 27 seconds after their call and 16 seconds after your first Roger.
Yes, that's quite fast, but I'm not sure if PF3 was confused due to the extra Roger here.
(I'm not implying that there is no bug in PF3 here, just that this could influence the result)

Dave, is this enough information for you, or do you need a log with just a single Roger response?
Two things: Advisory frequency was center frequency, like I mentioned elsewhere (keep in mind, though, that there was no CTAF for PF3 to refer to). And I'm not sure where the first Roger and PTT came from. They happened at the same time, where as, normally, they should happen like the second Roger and PTT, with 7 seconds in between. What is the number behind the time (220, 370, 400, 450)? It's the same for the first Roger & PTT.
Author:  johnhinson [ Mon Mar 20, 2017 12:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Untowered airports
ThomasAH wrote: *  Thu Mar 16, 2017 8:30 am
OK, let me try to do it from memory, please confirm if that works:

Taking off from an untowered airport:
1. contact FSS (with PF3 3.2.0 this defaults to 122.0 if the airport does not have one configured, this will change to 122.2 with the next release to avoid conflicts with Active Sky), using the hotkey 0.
2. after a pause they will say "Go ahead", press 0 again to request an IFR clearance
3. with hotkey 7 you can ask for airport advisories (including altimeter setting), but they will refer you to the Unicom or Multicom frequency (which your VCP mode 2 will automatically dial), or just manually tune to Unicom or Multicom.
4. press hotkey 6 before entering the runway (after checking for other aircraft, they do not talk yet at uncontrolled airports in PF3, but this is on the wishlist)
5. press hotkey 8 to announce departing the area
6. manually tune to Departure frequency (I don't remember if there is a way to let your VCP do this), check in using hotkey 0, and from here on proceed as usual

Alternatively:
1. Just take off from the airport, pretending you own :)
2. manually tune to Departure frequency and use hotkey 0 to check in.
I have had success with this, too, so many thanks indeed.

I did find some small differences in the procedure and on the basis I didn't miss something (entirely possible as I am still learning) I will repeat your list with adjustments to items 2, 3 & 6 so that anybody else following this thread can benefit from it:
Taking off from an untowered airport:
1. contact FSS (with PF3 3.2.0 this defaults to 122.0 if the airport does not have one configured, this will change to 122.2 with the next release to avoid conflicts with Active Sky), using the hotkey 0.
2. after a pause they will say "Go ahead", and you request an IFR clearance
3. with hotkey 7 you can ask for airport advisories (including altimeter setting), then manually tune to Unicom or Multicom.
4. press hotkey 6 before entering the runway (after checking for other aircraft, they do not talk yet at uncontrolled airports in PF3, but this is on the wishlist)
5. press hotkey 8 to announce departing the area
6. manually tune to Departure frequency, check in using hotkey 0, and from here on proceed as usual

Best regards,

John
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