OnCourse Software

I have been using PF3 for a week now and I am puzzled as to how to get ATC make me descent to the right altitudes for a STAR.
I import my flightplan into PF3 and then I adjust the altitudes as per the approach charts. In most cases PF3 intents to maintain a much higher flight level then in reality. All flight I have made thus far are with the FBW A320. But, ATC still has a mind of its own. It calls for a descent about 250-300 miles out of my destination, or it maintains a flight level that I did not instruct it to.

In other words, ATC it not following the altitudes given by me for the STAR. After inserting my altitudes I press save/use and when I check the values are there.

Is there anything I am missing?

Thanks,
Menno

We need to see the log file to have any idea what is happening. This is the debug log file after you have completed an affected flight (see red message at the top of the forum). The file must be zipped to be attached to your post.

Ok, thank you. i ignored ATC today, so that will not be a fair observation. Next flight I shall send the log files.

Attached the log file of a flight from CYYC to CYVR.
About 250 miles out of CYVR ATC already instructs to descent to FL200 and maintains that for over 100 miles. Great for sightseeing but not for fuel consumption....
It ignores the manually added FL210 at VITEV and I am not sure if it really tries to have me descent to 3000 rather than the 5000 PF3 initially had in the flightplan at GOREG.

Hope this helps!
Enjoy the holidays!

Menno

The descent instructions were correct as you had set the altitude for BOOTH to 20,000'. VITEV was not ignored as such but it was only 6 miles from BOOTH so a little too close to be of much help

PHMCR wrote: *

Thu Dec 23, 2021 10:42 am

About 250 miles out of CYVR ATC already instructs to descent to FL200 and maintains that for over 100 miles. Great for sightseeing but not for fuel consumption.

I think this is due to the fact that the distance between adjacent waypoints BINVO and BOOTH is about 228 miles. You will probably get a better result by adding one or two waypoints between the two. The waypoints you add can be anything - fixes, intersections, or virtual waypoints.

dmarch wrote: *

Thu Dec 23, 2021 12:13 pm

The descent instructions were correct as you had set the altitude for BOOTH to 20,000'. VITEV was not ignored as such but it was only 6 miles from BOOTH so a little too close to be of much help

Ok, I did not see BOOTH as the approach charts do not mention a specific altitude for BOOTH. It does however for VITEV. So, ok, you are right as for the altitude at BOOTH. But still it was quite early to start a descent.

PHMCR wrote: *

Thu Dec 23, 2021 7:30 pm

dmarch wrote: *

Thu Dec 23, 2021 12:13 pm

The descent instructions were correct as you had set the altitude for BOOTH to 20,000'. VITEV was not ignored as such but it was only 6 miles from BOOTH so a little too close to be of much help

Ok, I did not see BOOTH as the approach charts do not mention a specific altitude for BOOTH. It does however for VITEV. So, ok, you are right as for the altitude at BOOTH. But still it was quite early to start a descent.

That's why you should have some waypoint in between

dmarch wrote: *

Fri Dec 24, 2021 11:52 am

PHMCR wrote: *

Thu Dec 23, 2021 7:30 pm

dmarch wrote: *

Thu Dec 23, 2021 12:13 pm

The descent instructions were correct as you had set the altitude for BOOTH to 20,000'. VITEV was not ignored as such but it was only 6 miles from BOOTH so a little too close to be of much help

Ok, I did not see BOOTH as the approach charts do not mention a specific altitude for BOOTH. It does however for VITEV. So, ok, you are right as for the altitude at BOOTH. But still it was quite early to start a descent.

That's why you should have some waypoint in between

Hmm, don't think I follow. Prior to BOOTH are 5 XXX waypoints generated by PF3. The flightplan is a route between BOTAG and BOOTH via airway Q894. Only the last XXX waypoint (obviously on that airway) shows FL230. That is only 7 miles from BOOTH. So why would ATC instruct a descent 250 miles out?
How can adjust a flightplan correctly so PF3 will execute it accordingly cause averything I tried so far ATC is either too early or too late.

According to your log file that's not how I read it... there's 221 miles between these waypoints and BOOTH is set to an altitude of 20,000'

[WP4]
sWPID=XXX
sWPAlt=38000
Dist=103

[WP5]
sWPID=BOOTH
sWPAlt=20000
Dist=324