Post by Dutch Owen on Sept 14, 2013 15:26:19 GMT -5
Captains,
There are obscure corners of this complex system, and while most of them are documented they aren't obvious. So, here's some helpful and interesting tips and tricks that may make your flying life with the FSCaptain a bit easier.
The FCDU - obscure features
1. When you use a shortcut key (for example WX or PRGS) if you press the same key a second time you'll return to the page you were on when you first pressed the shortcut -- you don't have to navigate back there. Except for the INIT/RST key:
2. The INIT/RST key is for "Initial/Reset". What it does depends on what phase of flight you are in. Its function is either to return you to the "initial" page of the flight phase you are in, or reset the FCDU if you are on the ground and have already returned to the root page for ground operations. It will not reset the FCDU once a flight has been started. On the ground, it will return you instantly to the "Preflight Menu" page, unless you are already on that page, in which case it will log you off and reset the FCDU. In flight, it will instantly return you to the "Flight Menu" page no matter what page you are on. In "Offline mode" it will return you to the "Offline Menu" page unless you are already on that page, in which case it will reset the FCDU and log you off.
3. You can use your keyboard to enter data into the FCDU by clicking on the scratchpad (the lowest blank line on the FCDU's little screen.) A red line will appear, that means the FCDU is capturing keystrokes and will place them on the scratchpad. "Backspace" on your keyboard means "CLR". Click on the same area, or press ESC, to exit this keyboard capture mode.
4. When boarding or loading is complete but before the flight is officially started you can press the STAT key to see a short list of important numbers that can help you in setting up your flight, for instance in programming an FMS. Pressing STAT again returns you to the load complete page.
5. Remember FSCaptain can save flight status on command or in response to the FSX "save Flight" menu item or from the FSUIPC "autosave" feature. Full restore instructions are in the User's Guide but the save/restore functions are accessed via the MENU key on the FCDU. Using this feature means you should never lose a whole flight to an FSX crash again.
6. The DISP key on the FCDU will bring up the Kneeboard in FS9/FSX. Pressing the Briefing button will show you your FSCaptain Dispatch Release for the flight, provided you've logged in to the system.
7. You can substitute another airplane type for one that's been booked in the Administrator, if it is the same volume class and can hold the payload you have scheduled, and has the range. Just login to the FCDU in the substitute airplane. You'll have a page that will ask you if the booked flight is the one you want, and a second page will confirm the plane change. Just be sure to revise your fuel quanity as necessary if the different aircraft types.
You May Not Know...
The basic key to getting decent scores is to fly smoothly and get there on time while avoiding policy deviations. The smooth flying and policy adherence are up to you, but we can help with the "on time" part. Dispatch allows you one in-flight "ETE Revision" in case you are off your planned timetable, but rewards you with points if you don't use it. However, to be fair, they make some exceptions to this rule but surprise! They don't always tell pilots about them. You can actually be granted "free revisions" under certain circumstances. We tell all here.
1. If ATC places you in a holding pattern it's not fair to force you to use your one ETE revision to compensate for the delay. So if the FCDU detects a holding pattern it will grant you a freebie ETE rev - that is, you can change your ETE and still be considered to have not done so, so still be eligible for the reward for not using it. Holding patterns are detected if after your climb phase you are established on a course and then, without becoming established on any other course you become established on the reciprocal course. If holding has been detected you will see "Holding: Yes" on the Information page, left side.
2. The same holds true if you are forced to wait a long period on the ground without moving by traffic delays at your departure airport. The information page will say "Ground: Yes" if this is true.
3. If you have to go-around you'll also be granted a "Holding: Yes" detection. Also, sometimes Dispatch slips up and you will see "Holding: Yes" when you didn't get in an official holding pattern. Take advantage, if you need to.
4. If you have a "holding delay" exception the rule about not being too close to the destination airport doesn't apply.
Be on time! Don't Worry! Be happy!
More Good Stuff
There's a text file named "Options.cfg" in the FSCaptain\Config folder in your installation, and in previous releases it's contained some default entries from FSCaptain 1.00 but it really hasn't been updated. The options are there, and will default if nothing is set in this file. So, here is the complete (as of release 1.4.5) list of options that can go in the Options.cfg file:
New for 1.5:
The above values are the defaults that are coded into FSCaptain and are present if this file is missing, or you don't specify a value. You can change these in your installation to solve problems or see features.
There are obscure corners of this complex system, and while most of them are documented they aren't obvious. So, here's some helpful and interesting tips and tricks that may make your flying life with the FSCaptain a bit easier.
The FCDU - obscure features
1. When you use a shortcut key (for example WX or PRGS) if you press the same key a second time you'll return to the page you were on when you first pressed the shortcut -- you don't have to navigate back there. Except for the INIT/RST key:
2. The INIT/RST key is for "Initial/Reset". What it does depends on what phase of flight you are in. Its function is either to return you to the "initial" page of the flight phase you are in, or reset the FCDU if you are on the ground and have already returned to the root page for ground operations. It will not reset the FCDU once a flight has been started. On the ground, it will return you instantly to the "Preflight Menu" page, unless you are already on that page, in which case it will log you off and reset the FCDU. In flight, it will instantly return you to the "Flight Menu" page no matter what page you are on. In "Offline mode" it will return you to the "Offline Menu" page unless you are already on that page, in which case it will reset the FCDU and log you off.
3. You can use your keyboard to enter data into the FCDU by clicking on the scratchpad (the lowest blank line on the FCDU's little screen.) A red line will appear, that means the FCDU is capturing keystrokes and will place them on the scratchpad. "Backspace" on your keyboard means "CLR". Click on the same area, or press ESC, to exit this keyboard capture mode.
4. When boarding or loading is complete but before the flight is officially started you can press the STAT key to see a short list of important numbers that can help you in setting up your flight, for instance in programming an FMS. Pressing STAT again returns you to the load complete page.
5. Remember FSCaptain can save flight status on command or in response to the FSX "save Flight" menu item or from the FSUIPC "autosave" feature. Full restore instructions are in the User's Guide but the save/restore functions are accessed via the MENU key on the FCDU. Using this feature means you should never lose a whole flight to an FSX crash again.
6. The DISP key on the FCDU will bring up the Kneeboard in FS9/FSX. Pressing the Briefing button will show you your FSCaptain Dispatch Release for the flight, provided you've logged in to the system.
7. You can substitute another airplane type for one that's been booked in the Administrator, if it is the same volume class and can hold the payload you have scheduled, and has the range. Just login to the FCDU in the substitute airplane. You'll have a page that will ask you if the booked flight is the one you want, and a second page will confirm the plane change. Just be sure to revise your fuel quanity as necessary if the different aircraft types.
You May Not Know...
The basic key to getting decent scores is to fly smoothly and get there on time while avoiding policy deviations. The smooth flying and policy adherence are up to you, but we can help with the "on time" part. Dispatch allows you one in-flight "ETE Revision" in case you are off your planned timetable, but rewards you with points if you don't use it. However, to be fair, they make some exceptions to this rule but surprise! They don't always tell pilots about them. You can actually be granted "free revisions" under certain circumstances. We tell all here.
1. If ATC places you in a holding pattern it's not fair to force you to use your one ETE revision to compensate for the delay. So if the FCDU detects a holding pattern it will grant you a freebie ETE rev - that is, you can change your ETE and still be considered to have not done so, so still be eligible for the reward for not using it. Holding patterns are detected if after your climb phase you are established on a course and then, without becoming established on any other course you become established on the reciprocal course. If holding has been detected you will see "Holding: Yes" on the Information page, left side.
2. The same holds true if you are forced to wait a long period on the ground without moving by traffic delays at your departure airport. The information page will say "Ground: Yes" if this is true.
3. If you have to go-around you'll also be granted a "Holding: Yes" detection. Also, sometimes Dispatch slips up and you will see "Holding: Yes" when you didn't get in an official holding pattern. Take advantage, if you need to.
4. If you have a "holding delay" exception the rule about not being too close to the destination airport doesn't apply.
Be on time! Don't Worry! Be happy!
More Good Stuff
There's a text file named "Options.cfg" in the FSCaptain\Config folder in your installation, and in previous releases it's contained some default entries from FSCaptain 1.00 but it really hasn't been updated. The options are there, and will default if nothing is set in this file. So, here is the complete (as of release 1.4.5) list of options that can go in the Options.cfg file:
DISABLESPEED=0 ; Disable Overspeed penalty
DISABLECG=1 ; Disable CG Checking on load
DISABLESTD=0 ; Disable Altimeter above transition altitude penalties
DISABLEGEAR=0 ; Disable Gear overspeed penalty
DISABLEFLAP=0 ; Disable Flap overspeed penalty
DISABLE250=0 ; Disable Over 250 knots above 10,000 FT penalty
DISABLEFUELCHEAT=0 ; Disable Penalty for changing fuel load inflight
DISABLELOADCHEAT=0 ; Disable Penalty for changing payload inflight
DISABLEEXCESS=0 ; Disable Penalty for having excess fuel on landing
DISABLEPROMPT=0 ; Disable Penalty for not unloading promptly after landing
DISABLESTALL=0 ; Disable Penalty for stalling the aircraft
DISABLEIFFD=0 ; Disable Detection of non-FSCaptain Aircraft faults
DISABLEPROTECT=0 ; Disable the ground protection system
DISABLECRASH=0 ; Disable the detection of crashes
DISABLENOTIFICATIONS=0 ; Disable warning messages from Dispatch
DISABLESURFACE=0 ; Disable surface detection (prevents "taxi off runway")
DISABLESHUTDOWN=0 ; Disable the requirement that jets have engines off to board
DISABLENOSERV=0 ; Disable the PAXCOM "Poor Service"
DISABLEDEFAULT=0 ; Disable the "last airport is the next default" feature
;
KNEEBOARD=1 ; Write the dispatch release to the FS Kneeboard
ENABLECOMBI=0 ; Enable attendants on cargo flights with PAX if plane has FAs
FSUIPCWX=0 ; Prefer FSUIPC weather over FS9/FSX
NODETAILLOAD=1 ; Enable detail loading by setting this to zero
NOHAZARDS=0 ; Disable the entire Hazard Package (icing, thunderstorms)
BACKUPAFTER=0 ; Backup log file after a flight not before it
PROTECTIONZONE=100 ; Meters with which to "freeze" an intruder airplane on ground
PROTECTIONANGLE=45 ; Degree angle from nose to enable the above "freeze"
WINDGAP=50 ; minimum miles between waypoints to process winds aloft
New for 1.5:
FLIGHTGAP=10 ; Max number to increment when assigning charter flight numbers
PERCENTZAP=70 ; Percent of time AI is cleared from user's parking automatically
PERCENTNODE=50 ; Percent of time charters are limited to your airline's nodelist
WEATHERRANGE=40 ; Miles to search for a nearby METAR if one not found for target
TURBULENCE=0 ; 0=Normal 1=Lower Sensitivity (e.g. for ASN Enhanced Turbulence)
SHOWENVIRONMENT=1 ; Show Environment warnings (ice, pressure, temperature) on FCDU
The above values are the defaults that are coded into FSCaptain and are present if this file is missing, or you don't specify a value. You can change these in your installation to solve problems or see features.