Where is the economic mode?

[werred]

Hi,

I've just updated to the latest version of FSCaptain but still unable to find the Economic mode. Any ideas, please? 

And the second question is if there is any possibility to let FSCaptain know that the de-icing procedure was already done by GSX? 

Thanks.

[peter]

Hi Werred,

you have to create a number of files for the economic mode to become active. For most of them there are templates in your FSCaptain folder. This is explained in detail in the file FSCompany.pdf in the Documentation subdirectory of FSCaptain. If you need help with setting it up let me know.

Best,
Peter

[werred]

Hi Peter,

Thanks a lot for the answer - will try.

[Dutch Owen]

I believe the name of the documentation file is EconomicMode.pdf.

As explained in the README, the Economic Mode at this point is a prototype. We'll use feedback to refine it as we build FSCompany. For this reason it doesn't yet have a nice GUI to access it. We may add one in the very near future.

So it is subject to change, like all things.

Once you set it up and start using it, it changes the way you think about flying. Or, it did for me. Suddenly, being prudent was even more important.

[Travis]

Dec 19, 2014 5:02:01 GMT -5 werred said:

And the second question is if there is any possibility to let FSCaptain know that the de-icing procedure was already done by GSX?

Hi Werred,

Currently GSX doesn't formally announce to us that their de-icing is available or has been completed, but we can take a good guess on the completion. We're testing that now (see my signature).

Do be aware that the two systems are called differently. If your FSCaptain airline detects there should be ice on your aircraft, Dispatch will place a Weather Hold before pushback. At that time you should request de-icing, but since we're not yet aware if GSX will offer it, you would have to start the GSX pushback to see. If it is offered, great! Your FSCaptain FO should make his little speech, etc. We think we can be aware that GSX de-icing is occurring and possibly when it completes.

However if GSX doesn't offer de-icing, then you would have to call our de-icers, all the while the GSX pushback team are asking you to release your parking brake over and over.

Once GSX de-icing has completed, our Iceman will give you what we hope would be a generous HOT.

FSDT has been very cooperative in allowing us to check the state of their other services, and when they have taken care of their current issues, we hope they can do the same for their de-icers.

[werred]

Thanks a lot Travis for the explanation.

Looking forward to see how it works out

[Travis]

Dec 22, 2014 7:40:38 GMT -5 werred said:

Thanks a lot Travis for the explanation.

Looking forward to see how it works out

Well it currently looks like this, as I'm having my new-to-me Caravan EX prepped for takeoff for a rather short flight....




I can't say what will be the end result of this, but we are aware of the status of all the GSX Assistance Services (boarding, catering, deboarding, departure and fueling).   We can make a strong guess at the state of the de-icing as well. There are many paths to follow and cross-check, not to mention that GSX could be re-started so that multiple Catering or Fueling services could be conducted!

And this is done as a normal FSCaptain interface, so we could easily adapt to other Ground Service providers, should they expose their service states for us to consume.

[werred]

Fantastic! Any ideas on the release then?

[Travis]

When?  As soon as Dutch has time to make a FixPack build, to let me & Peter test it to ensure all works as expected, and then to post it.

Watch my signature for a change to "1.6.1 Beta 1".

Beta 1 will have a few fixes, our initial FSX-Steam handling (I'll get the real name one day), and some enhancements for our Ground Services Interface.

It will not be the final 1.6.1 build, as we're trying to hammer out new goodies that we can do with GSX. Just this morning I changed the alternate path that we use to load fuel & cargo so that if you choose to call the GSX fuel truck (when you see the Ready To Load screen I posted above) it will honor the timings that you've enter into the GSX Settings.   I had to wait over three minutes to load 200 gallons into my Caravan an hour ago.  (Now to be fair, I slowed my GSX timings to one gallon per second so I could do a proper cross check.)

Other niceties are - if you call Catering, you will have to wait until the service completes before you are permitted to load any PAX.

Just be aware that you won't be required to call any Ground Service if you don't want to.  FSCaptain will still function as it always has.

[pilotjon]

Hi Dutch!

i think this a great start to a huge feature of FSCaptain! I know of a few companies that have attempted to come up with this type of program but never got of the ground (pun intended!) like REXAir and Aerosofts old one they had. I hope you continue development of this and possibly into some type of GUI environment! If you need testers or research assistance I would be happy to volunteer!

Jon in Las Vegas
[e-mail]

[Dutch Owen]

Well, our goals are to make it realistic without making it overwhelming to manage, or too ambitious to get it done and shipped.

The "Economic mode" in FSCaptain will expand a bit, perhaps with some GUI support, but the real meat will be a separate application that will not require FSCaptain to use it, but it will interface to FSCaptain and get flight revenue information from it if it's installed. That app, which we are building now, will be a substantial graphical application that will let you manage all aspects of an airline: financing, facilities, employees, fleet, routes, advertising, maintenance, and much more.

Dutch

[pilotjon]

Sounds great! I can't wait to hear more about it and it will be on my list for purchases! Thanks for the update and a great product!

Jon