OnCourse Software

Sorry, but I'm really getting fed up with this.

I file a VFR flight plan, yet during the flight the controllers continually suggest IFR at a different altitude.

I can't find a key to go to cancel this, or actually accept (the manual say's '6' but that only results in my being given a higher altitude to fly).

I usually end up using the default ATC for these flights but would very much prefer to use PF3.

I can't believe this is reflecting real world ATC. However, if there is a solution in PF3 for me to get a nice quiet VFR flight would someone give me (in easy plain English) please a way to get over the problem.

Many thanks.

John

See Dave's answer in viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1969#p10971 (just disable that checkmark, I think it is on by default)

Hi John,

I also responded to one of your earlier posts about this; see

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2230

I don't want to be argumentative here but you were both talking about something else.

I'm asking a different question here. It has nothing to do with transition height or whatever. It is simply how to either stop the controller offering IFR (usually at a lower altitude than the VFR I'm flying) say 11000' VFR and controller offering 4000' IFR.

Or, how to change to IFR as suggested. And please don't say Hotkey 6 because all that does is give me a higher altitude to fly at.

Thanks in advance.

John

JohnY wrote:

I don't want to be argumentative here but you were both talking about something else.

I'm asking a different question here. It has nothing to do with transition height or whatever. It is simply how to either stop the controller offering IFR (usually at a lower altitude than the VFR I'm flying) say 11000' VFR and controller offering 4000' IFR.

Or, how to change to IFR as suggested. And please don't say Hotkey 6 because all that does is give me a higher altitude to fly at.

Thanks in advance.

John

Well I'd like to see the log file when this happens John, because you should only be told to switch to IFR if you go above the TA when flying VFR

Here you go Dave.

VFR flight from LPPT Lisbon to LPFR Faro.

I flew to the altitude given by ATC.

As you will see, many instructions to apply for IFR at 400'.

Pressing buttons didn't help, so I ignored these ATC instructions but did manage to somehow get a kind of a permission to land on runway 10.

The Portuguese do seem to have a relaxed attitude to landing while aircraft a still on them. At Faro a 747
only just got its wheels off the ground seconds before I touched down. Couldn't find how to request a taxi to parking though. Another question.

I'm sure its me but I just want to be told what I'm doing wrong

John

.

JohnY wrote:

Here you go Dave.

VFR flight from LPPT Lisbon to LPFR Faro.

I flew to the altitude given by ATC.

As you will see, many instructions to apply for IFR at 400'.

Pressing buttons didn't help, so I ignored these ATC instructions but did manage to somehow get a kind of a permission to land on runway 10.

The Portuguese do seem to have a relaxed attitude to landing while aircraft a still on them. At Faro a 747
only just got its wheels off the ground seconds before I touched down. Couldn't find how to request a taxi to parking though. Another question.

I'm sure its me but I just want to be told what I'm doing wrong

John

.

Both airports have a transition altitude of 4,000ft so you need to stick below that. Because the control zone extends well into the Atlantic zip the files in the FPP directory after completing the same flight. Dave can have a look at the json file as quite often over oceans these revert to FAA when they should be ICAO. Not PF3's fault btw.

vololiberista wrote:

JohnY wrote:

Here you go Dave.

VFR flight from LPPT Lisbon to LPFR Faro.

I flew to the altitude given by ATC.

As you will see, many instructions to apply for IFR at 400'.

Pressing buttons didn't help, so I ignored these ATC instructions but did manage to somehow get a kind of a permission to land on runway 10.

The Portuguese do seem to have a relaxed attitude to landing while aircraft a still on them. At Faro a 747
only just got its wheels off the ground seconds before I touched down. Couldn't find how to request a taxi to parking though. Another question.

I'm sure its me but I just want to be told what I'm doing wrong

John

.

Both airports have a transition altitude of 4,000ft so you need to stick below that. Because the control zone extends well into the Atlantic zip the files in the FPP directory after completing the same flight. Dave can have a look at the json file as quite often over oceans these revert to FAA when they should be ICAO. Not PF3's fault btw.

Quote:

28/10/2016 13:47:43: 880 - -----------------------------
28/10/2016 13:47:43: 880 - Step Climbs for Waypoint: 1
28/10/2016 13:47:43: 880 - -----------------------------
28/10/2016 13:47:43: 880 - 8000'
28/10/2016 13:47:43: 880 - 11500'
28/10/2016 13:47:43: 880 - -----------------------------

28/10/2016 13:49:27: 310 - Transcript: ' Juliet Charlie Yankee 633 Climb and maintain Flight Level 80 '
28/10/2016 13:49:27: 380 - FS Screen : Juliet Charlie Yankee 633 Climb and maintain Flight Level 80

Although you set up a VFR fpl you didn't set it up to be below the transition levels of both airports and indeed you set it up to climb above the regional (PF3 default of 8,000) so PF3 probably expected you to go IFR.
Remake this fpl again making sure that the fpl altitude does not exceed 3,500ft. And your altitude of course as well!

dmarch wrote:

Well I'd like to see the log file when this happens John, because you should only be told to switch to IFR if you go above the TA when flying VFR

Dave it would appear that the actual fpl set a higher altitude than the default 8,000ft so that would have confused PF3 probably. So this is slightly different to flying into IFR. The whole VFR fpl should be below the transition altitudes. So this is looking like a fpl error. Or at least a misunderstanding in that if one were to submit a VFR fpl that did indeed have a FL ceiling then ATC would expect you to climb and file for IFR.

It wasn't only the flight plan that gave me 11,500' to fly at, it was the PF3 controllers too. Starting at 2000' they gradually increased to altitude instructions to 11,500. So why were they giving these instructions :

I've increased all the FAF altitudes now to 18000' and hope this will resolve the problem until perhaps an update can include the alterations necessary to prevent these ATC contradictions?

Oh, and by the way. I didn't set the flight plan up. All I determined was the airplane, departure airport, destination airport and that it was VFR. P3D did the rest!

John