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Post by skycamel on Feb 26, 2017 2:09:33 GMT -5
Hi,
would it be possible for the FA to, besides opening the door, also deploy and retract the AirStairs on my PMDG 737ngx?
That would make it even more realistic when parked at a non - jetway spot (most of the time).
Obviously, the 737 has than to be equipped with AirStairs.
Cheers,
Luc
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Post by skycamel on Mar 7, 2017 0:25:40 GMT -5
Any thoughts on this?
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Post by peter on Mar 7, 2017 5:40:02 GMT -5
Hi Luc,
I didn't even know the 737 had air stairs, and I only know very few other planes that have one. Dutch and Travis are currently busy with some new features and the release of 1.7.3, so I expect they won't discuss this until 1.7.3 is out.
Best,
Peter
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Post by Travis on Mar 9, 2017 2:23:14 GMT -5
Luc, Air Stairs aren't a typical feature of most aircraft, so interfacing to them would be very difficult... especially since I do not own that aircraft and have no direct access to their (PMDG) control methods.  Regards, |
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Post by skycamel on Mar 10, 2017 5:25:37 GMT -5
Hi Travis, theoretically (I'm being cautious as I'm not a developer  ) the command is actually straight forward, it's just a keystroke. In the CDU of the 737ngx we can assign a keystroke to open or retract the airstairs. I my case I use ctrl+F12. So basically, when opening the door, besides the shift+E you also send the keystroke for the airstairs, ctrl+F12 (in my case.) The airstairs can be deployed with open or closed door, the retract will only work when door is closed BUT it will remember the command, so once the door is closed it will then automatically retract the airstairs. So order of the two command (shift+E and ctrl+F12) is not important. If possible, it would be nice if you add an option for the airstairs (even if it's only in the file, no GUI necessary) Instead of True or False we could just indicate the keystroke. So if nothing is there then nothing will be done, if there's a keystroke present then this will be executed together with the door command. Just hoping ...  Cheers, Luc |
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Post by peter on Mar 10, 2017 17:15:48 GMT -5
Hi Luc,
unfortunately it's not as easy as this. We have tested the new 747 recently, and there is simply no way how FSCaptain could control the doors without messing up the internal workings of this plane. I presume it would be similar for the 737. However, FSCaptain is flexible, so you can simply use Manual Load and PMSG controls to open/close doors etc and both programs will be happy.
Cheers,
Peter
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Post by skycamel on Mar 11, 2017 2:52:28 GMT -5
Hi Peter,
forgive my ignorance, but I just assume that FScaptain is using the keystroke "shift+E" (default in FSX) to open and close the door?
I didn't think that for the PMDG, FScaptain would use something different? Because "shift+E" is working fine on the PMDG 737.
So there shouldn't be any conflict with the internal working. same so for the airstairs, just send the keystroke assigned in the CDU of the PMDG, in my case "ctrl+F12".
Again, there shouldn't be any conflict with the internal workings.
But if FScaptain is using FSUIPC "EVT_DOOR_FWD_L" to open the door, so could you use the Event "EVT_DOOR_AIRSTAIR", SDK Value=14016, EVENT ID=83648 in the FSUIPC?
And sure, I can deploy the stairs manual and open the door.
Cheers,
Luc
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Post by peter on Mar 11, 2017 5:04:58 GMT -5
Hi Luc,
shift-E works indeed, however, not as accurately as FSCaptain would like it. In the case of the 747, shift-E only opens the second pax door and nothing else. FSCaptain would like to control pax, cargo, and service doors, but the other doors are not assigned to a specific keystroke. In PMDG planes, they are controlled via the CDU, which is context sensitive: if you are on the door page one of its buttons may open a specific pax door, and if you are on the flight plan page it may select a waypoint. Hence, you can't simply assign one of the CDU buttons to open or close doors.
There are also internal variables that can be monitored and set, and we tried that. However, if we close doors by doing that, the internal state of the 747 gets confused: PMDG thinks the doors are still open even though the outside view shows they are closed, and cargo doors only open a tiny little bit when we try to open it by setting the variables. I believe it has something to do with the fact that PMDG doors have several states (open, closed, armed, disarmed).
Cheers,
Peter
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Post by Travis on Mar 11, 2017 13:10:59 GMT -5
Forgetting what's possible to code, let's focus on what might or might not have to happen.
We all know that doors have to open when we park, and they have to close before it's time to release the brakes. We can't get around that. If the crew are tasked with operating your doors, they know what to do at the right time.
However the FCDU has have no way to know if you're parked at a jetway or if you have ground stairs available.
Yes... it's possible we could be aware of a SODE jetway... or of a GSX set of stairs that are present. But Aerosoft's AES never published their status, so even if you parked at one of their airports, we don't know what's going on outside.
More common, for a stock airport there's no way to sense if there is a jetway, much less if it's connected. That's part of the sim which was never made.
Even trying to consider what type of spot you're at is no guarantee. Gates are not required to have jetways. Some airport developers use Military parking spots to do away with ground support vehicles... yet use them at 'gates' with their own jetways or ground stair systems.
In short, while we could allow you to define a key-combo that would order your aircraft to deploy or retract (or toggle) airstairs... we would never know when it was appropriate to do such.
This is similar to calling a jetway, or asking GSX to begin deboarding, or asking AES to prepare for pushback that must be left to the Captain's direct order.
Regards,
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Post by skycamel on Mar 11, 2017 13:51:14 GMT -5
Hi, I get the feeling that I already stepped on some toes so I certainly don't want to start a controversy. I guess you never had the "pleasure" flying with Sabena  . They would actually go and park at a spot with jetway and still call for stairs so the passengers can "enjoy" the outside weather.  Anyway, I was just suggesting  My sincere apologies to the developers, I most certainly didn't want to offend any of you. Regards, Luc |
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Post by Travis on Mar 11, 2017 14:06:18 GMT -5
My sincere apologies to the developers, I most certainly didn't want to offend any of you. Luc, I'm very sorry if my reply indicated that I took offence!! If anything I must have been expressing irritation at myself for forgetting that several years ago I coded a quick XML interface for a jetliner (perhaps a 727?) that opened the airstairs if we were on the ground, with brakes engaged, and the pax exit were open, and the stairs retracted... and then retracted the stairs if any of those conditions were not true. I was happy - I tested it at a ramp and it worked. I could even release the parking brake and the stairs would retract. Then a flight or so later I parked at a jetway and noticed the hilarity. Again, no offence was taken, and certainly none intended!! Regards, |
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Post by skycamel on Mar 12, 2017 4:58:32 GMT -5
Hi Travis, I guess we both just got in after a long haul Enjoy your Sunday! Cheers, Luc |
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Post by Travis on Mar 12, 2017 12:54:24 GMT -5
I guess we both just got in after a long haul That sounds good on this end, Luc!
I am - I'm working on the current Remote Deicing Facility document... and engaging in some planning for its future.
Cheers,
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) the command is actually straight forward, it's just a keystroke.
Cheers,
. They would actually go and park at a spot with jetway and still call for stairs so the passengers can "enjoy" the outside weather. 
