Help Needed !

[soupyjnr]

Hello All,

I have recently bought Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (A century of Flight), and I cant work out how you know which runway you leave from

For example : If I want to go from Belfast City, and want to arrive in London, everytime I take off, I am going in the completely wrong direction

Please help :)

Thanks very much

From Ryan (soupyjnr)

[Jagndeke]

At the start of a flight, MSFS places your plane on the active runway. An active runway is designated by the wind direction as well as a few other things. You typically take off into the wind as well as land into the wind. Also the runway is designated based on whether you are flying VFR or IFR.

There is an option when you are setting up your flight plan to select an alternative runway rather than the active runway. Use this option if you do not want to take off from or land on the runway designated by ATC / ground control.

[Jagndeke]

By the way, here's a good website (http://www.fsfreeware.com/) for user made aircraft and scenery. Lot's of good stuff. The front page of the website advertises a lot of payware, but go to the file library and you'll find tons of free stuff.

Also, if you get tired of seeing empty airports, go to Project AI website. (http://www.projectai.com/) Here you can download all the real world airlines and many of thier flight plans and carriers. Before you know it, you'll be taking off out of Heathrow next to 737's and 747's flown by BA, KLM, Lufthansa, Northwest and many, many more well know airlines.

[soupyjnr]

By the way, here's a good website (http://www.fsfreeware.com/) for user made aircraft and scenery. Lot's of good stuff. The front page of the website advertises a lot of payware, but go to the file library and you'll find tons of free stuff.

Also, if you get tired of seeing empty airports, go to Project AI website. (http://www.projectai.com/) Here you can download all the real world airlines and many of thier flight plans and carriers. Before you know it, you'll be taking off out of Heathrow next to 737's and 747's flown by BA, KLM, Lufthansa, Northwest and many, many more well know airlines.

Thank you very much


But just one thing : How do you find out which runway?

Sorry for being a pain!

From Ryan
soupyjnr :):

[soupyjnr]

Also, I have downloaded a file for easyJet on the 2nd site you gave me

It wont install though. What do you have to do? :scared:

Thanks for your help :):

[Jagndeke]

Also, I have downloaded a file for easyJet on the 2nd site you gave me

Go to this webpage (http://www.projectai.com/packages/installer.php) on the Project AI (PAI) website and you will find the installer program as well as an instruction on how to use the installer.

But just one thing : How do you find out which runway?

Pre-flight you can find it when you are in the "flight planner" portion of "create a flight". When you select the departing airport, near the bottom of the setup screen there will be a drop down window in which it says "active runway". Click on the drop down window and you'll find the other runways listed for the airport you have filed flight plans to depart from.

In-flight you can open the "map" system by clicking one of the quick buttons in the cockpit. The map allows you to zoom into a diagram of the runway layout of the airport you are planning on landing at. The layout will show you the runway numbers as well as which runways have IFR capability for instrument landings.

Hope that helps you out.

By the way... take the time to complete some or all of the flying lessons in the cessna. This is really a great and innovated feature of FS9 (otherwise known as MSFS 2004) and really helps you understand how to truly fly a plane.

I played FS9 for almost a year and then decided to start taking flying lessons. I was amazed at how true to life the FS9 sim is to the real thing.

Happy flying!

[soupyjnr]

Go to this webpage (http://www.projectai.com/packages/installer.php) on the Project AI (PAI) website and you will find the installer program as well as an instruction on how to use the installer.



Pre-flight you can find it when you are in the "flight planner" portion of "create a flight". When you select the departing airport, near the bottom of the setup screen there will be a drop down window in which it says "active runway". Click on the drop down window and you'll find the other runways listed for the airport you have filed flight plans to depart from.

In-flight you can open the "map" system by clicking one of the quick buttons in the cockpit. The map allows you to zoom into a diagram of the runway layout of the airport you are planning on landing at. The layout will show you the runway numbers as well as which runways have IFR capability for instrument landings.

Hope that helps you out.

By the way... take the time to complete some or all of the flying lessons in the cessna. This is really a great and innovated feature of FS9 (otherwise known as MSFS 2004) and really helps you understand how to truly fly a plane.

I played FS9 for almost a year and then decided to start taking flying lessons. I was amazed at how true to life the FS9 sim is to the real thing.

Happy flying!

Hello again - Thanks for your help. Im sure your sick listening to me!

Whenever I am planning a flight, there are about 10 or 15 different runways, and you told me to select one - but which one!?

I selected one, but Im still going in the completely oppisite direction to the place I want to go. Incase this helps, Im flying from Belfast City to London City

Please help :):

Thanks again : If I am starting to get annoying, just say!!!!!

THANKS

[Jagndeke]

Whenever I am planning a flight, there are about 10 or 15 different runways, and you told me to select one - but which one!?

I selected one, but Im still going in the completely oppisite direction to the place I want to go. Incase this helps, Im flying from Belfast City to London City

As a general rule it's always best to use the default runway that FS9 selects for you. It doesn't matter which direction it is facing or which way you want to go and I'll tell you why below.

As part of your pre-flight checklist before take off, set the aircraft's heading indicator in the direction you want to fly to. For example... to fly from Belfast to London you will have to fly in a south-east direction. So go ahead and set your heading indicator to a south-east direction. Even if you take off to the north-west which is the opposite direction, once you are airborne you will bring the plane around to the south-east direction and make your way to London.

It's not very often that a pilot takes off in the exact same direction he wants to go... both in FS9 and the real world. As I said before it is all dependant upon the conditions at the airport that determine which runway is used... not what direction the pilot wants to fly.

[soupyjnr]

For example... to fly from Belfast to London you will have to fly in a south-east direction.

Thanks - how do you find out what direction your flying?

So, does it not matter what runway you take off from, all that matters is what direction you go in the air?

[Jagndeke]

Thanks - how do you find out what direction your flying?

So, does it not matter what runway you take off from, all that matters is what direction you go in the air?

First question... your heading indicator in the instrument panel tells you which direction you are flying. It reads in degrees (0 degrees to 360 degrees) and standard direction (north, south, east, west).

Second question... that's correct. Use the runway best suited for the wind direction, wind speed, or IFR versus VFR planned flight. FS9 usually puts you on the best runway by default. Once in the air, you can adjust your course and direction.

[soupyjnr]

Thanks, again!

You said "Belfast to London you will have to fly in a south-east direction.

How did you find out this information? Is there a way?

[Jagndeke]

Thanks, again!

You said

How did you find out this information? Is there a way?

I went here. (http://www.mapquest.com/atlas/?region=world)

Then zoomed in here! (http://www.mapquest.com/atlas/?region=untdkgdm)

:wink:

[soupyjnr]

The last question was a joke!!

Cna you find out how long a flight will take?

[Jagndeke]

The last question was a joke!!

Cna you find out how long a flight will take?

In the pilot's "kneeboard" window you will find lots of information including take off and landing settings (engine rpm, flap settings, etc), a record of all communications with ATC and your flight plan which provides all relative flight informattion such as duration, fuel load requirements, locators for VFR, IFR frequencies, etc.

I really suggest you take the time and go through the flying lessons modules. All this info is in there and you can fly the plane while you're learning. The instructor flies with you.

Edit: just for the record... pilots strap a kneebaord to their knee during flight. The kneebaord is used to keep all applicable information on hand as well as record notes during the duration of the flight such as communications with ATC, etc. The kneeboard is simply a clip board with a strap on it which goes around your leg and secures it.