FSCaptain 1.7.3 is released

[Travis]

Captains,

Bringing more Air Transport Pilot realism to your simulators, FSCaptain version 1.7.3 is now available for download - links below. The changelist notes from the README can be found later still in this post.

Version 1.7.3 includes a new English-speaking FO - Peter joins your flight crew!

Also included are lots of behind-the-scenes changes to help place you in a more realistic flight simulator environment. We've made our "AI Freeze" more robust to help prevent AI aircraft from driving into you while on the ground. (Or interfering with your helicopter's landing!)  We're tracking more conditions that would have impact on a real-life aircraft and its crew and if you enable these conditions, you may find yourself with penalties at the end of your flight - or with kudos if you 'overperform'.

There's also an implementation of the Acme Collision Detection and Consequences (ACDC) system which permits collisions to be detected with SimObjects outside of the "flight-ending simulator crash detection" system.  If you enable this, you will need to keep on your toes and not taxi (nor fly) without proper separation from other traffic.  (This feature is available in all FSX, P3D2 and P3D2 simulators.)

The new "exit mapping" system now allows you to define aircraft exits in terms of more realistic operation - what function do they support? Passengers? Cargo? Other?  Now if you need to embark or disembark passengers you may be asked to find the correct door(s) to open.

There's better integration with other add-ons - over ten new aircraft have interfaces, plus there's better synchronizing with GSX's new fueling simulation.

There are over a hundred changes, fixes and new tidbits since 1.7.2, and we encourage you to update if you are an existing Captain, or to take a look if you're not.  FSCaptain has been setting the ATP standard in FS9, FSX and Prepar3D simulators for over seven years!

As always, FSCaptain remains free to test and use with the only limitations being able to takeoff from six airports - KOLM, KPDX, KSEA, EGCC, EGGD and EGJJ.   License keys can be obtained from several online flight sim retailers.

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Download links:

190MB
Full Version of 1.7.3:
www.fscaptain.net/downloads/FSCaptain.zip

This is a complete installation, including all flight crew audios. Choose this if you are not currently using FSCaptain or if you're on a version older than 1.7.0. (Just back up your \Data\ folder along with your options.cfg file.)


48.2MB
Fixpack for 1.7.3:
www.fscaptain.net/downloads/FSCaptain_Fixpack.zip

This is a smaller install for those upgrading from earlier versions (and this does include FO_Peter's audios).

The Fixpack installer will ask you for permission to overwrite some files - these are locked configuration files which we need to update... so please respond Yes to the installer when it asks.

Here are cautions for existing Captains for two files this installer will overwrite, and for another file that may need manual updating:

• This version includes an overwriting version of \Config\Notams.txt to include new items. If you have custom NOTAMS in your existing \Config\Notams.txt file, PLEASE BACK UP YOUR CHANGES before installing this Fixpack. Then after installation of the Fixpack, you may copy your changes into the new file.
• This version includes an overwriting version of \Config\Deice.cfg to allow for a new option which will come into play when Remote Deicing Facilities are enabled. If you have custom airport deicing rules in your existing \Config\Deice.cfg file, PLEASE BACK UP YOUR CHANGES before installing this Fixpack. Then after installation of the Fixpack, you may copy your changes into the new file.
• This version includes a small set of new transportable items - "Commercial Cargo" - which can be hand copied from \Config\NewItems.cfg into your existing \Config\Items.cfg file.

(In fact it's always a best practice to back up your entire \FSCaptain\ folder before updating!  Your career may thank you one day!)

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CHANGELIST FOR FSCAPTAIN 1.7.3


=============
General Notes
=============

• This version includes a new English-speaking First Officer - welcome FO Peter!
• 1.7.3 was intended to only contain bug fixes and minor adjustments - although a few new features have found their way in due to the length of development.
• FSCaptain uses the Visual C++ 2013 RTL libraries which earlier testing has shown that not all Captains have. To check, you should run the Administrator and see if it crashes. If it does, you most likely need the Microsoft VC++ 2013 libraries (the x86 version we believe) which you can download from here: www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40784 - once there, just click Download and then select the x86 version. (And if that doesn't allow you to run FSCaptain, go back and download the x64 version from the same page.)
• The Administrator is now built in a manner which should allow it to be used by Captains using Windows XP.
• The FCDU.EXE is currently not able to run under Windows XP - those Captains will need to use the FCDU gauge.
• Windows XP users are advised to check whether or not they have the Microsoft .Net Framework version 3.5 installed on their PCs which is necessary in order for the FSCaptain Scenery Scanner to operate. If you do not have Framework 3.5 installed, you can download the installer from Microsoft at: www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21
• The "User Guide and "Configuration How-To" documents have been updated to reflect recent changes in FSCaptain.
• The "Load Station Calculator" spreadsheet referenced in the "Configuration How-To" document is included in OpenDocument Spreadsheet format.
• An updated FCDU Installer has been included.
• An updated SceneryScanner has been included.

============================
Testing Notes on New Options
============================

• If you're in a helicopter, the "AI Freeze Ray" will function below a Captain-specified AGL height - set PROTECTION_HEIGHT in your options.cfg anywhere from 0 (disabled by default) to 200 feet.
• A new option - DEFAULT_CAN_BE_OPEN=1 - allows the most recent Open flight's departure airport (where you last wanted to fly from, but haven't yet flown) to be the default departure airport in the Administrator's Flights tab. So if you last flew to EDDM but have since created a new Dispatch Flight from LSZH to LIML, LSZH would be your default departure airport if you reopen your Administrator before taking that flight.
• QP_MINIMUM_TO_APPEAL and QP_PER_PENALTY_POINT were not being written to options.cfg if left at default values.
• FSX and P3D turbine aircraft that don't have an explicit interface for "continuous ignition" can now optionally use the default simulator signal by setting ENABLE_DEFAULT_IGNITION=1. This will bring the responsibility of keeping "continuous ignition" during precipitation (and optionally during turbulence).
• Yes - optionally, excessive flight in moderate to severe turbulence without an active ignition can cause an engine failure in turbine aircraft. Reducing the amount of being bounced around the sky (such as by reducing your airspeed) will dampen this effect. This feature is controlled by the new option ENABLE_ENGINE_FAILURE_IN_CAT. The engine should "un-fail" within 30 seconds, allowing you to restart it.
• Therefore, Aircraft Ignition systems can be flagged as INOP - just in case a favorite turbine aircraft doesn't have a mechanism to manage them.
  You can set ENABLE_ENGINE_FAILURE_IN_CAT anywhere from 0 to 10. 0 is disabled, and for each increase in value you can risk failure after each 1 minute of Moderate CAT or 25 seconds of Heavy CAT or 10 seconds of Severe CAT.
• The global options SERVICE_MAX_TURBULENCE and SERVICE_MAX_BANK_ANGLE allows you to define the maximum turbulence level and maximum aircraft bank angle that are permitted before cabin service is suspended.
• The airline option HOURS_BETWEEN_MEALS allows you to define a timespan for additional meal services during a (long) flight. The default value is 8 hours, but you may choose anywhere from 3 to 12 hour intervals.
• A new variant to the SIM_AUTOSAVE_ON_GROUND option (4) allows auto-saves to only occur when on ground. This works well with other add-ons which only auto-save when in air.
• New option GROUND_ICE_DURING_TAXI=1 will allow you to gather ground ice during taxi-out if weather conditions change after going OUT. The default is to not allow ground ice to form after going OUT.
• Option WRITE_SCENERY_DATA_TO_RELEASE=1 will write the currently active airport scenery folders and filenames to the Dispatch Release - this can be useful to verify the correct airport scenery data file are active before your flight, so we suggest Captains use this! The default is 1, but setting it to 0 will disable this feature.
• If you set the new option HONOR_OTHER_GROUND_SERVICES=1 then you will be unable to COMMIT a flight if an interfaced Ground Service add-on has been asked to fuel your aircraft or deliver catering supplies. This option is off by default.
• Likewise with HONOR_OTHER_GROUND_SERVICES=1 set, if you call other Ground Serving fuelers before FSCaptain loading - you will not be able to request MANUAL or AUTO LOADING until the Ground Service truck has arrived and hooked up to your aircraft.
• "Nice Landing" awards will no longer be given if you land overweight (as long as you have a defined MLW of over 500lbs) or if you land beyond the LANDING_MAX_BANK and LANDING_MAX_PITCH values in your options.cfg file. (They default to 15 degrees.)
• The change to require Landing/Taxi lights to control the AI Freeze Ray now has an option - USE_LIGHTS_TO_FREEZE_AI=1. If set to zero, the FreezeRay will act as it originally did - always on.
• This option controls whether or not the "AI Freeze Ray" is activated when your Landing / Taxi lights are on. (Your Systems' screen will tell you if your Landing Lights signal is active when using your Taxi Lights.) If you find yourself blocking another aircraft from taking off, switch off your Landing (and Taxi Lights if needed) until the aircraft moves out of range.
• For SimConnect Captains, there are now SimConnect routines to detect AI aircraft which support Parking-Zap and AI-FreezeRay directly in the FCDU.EXE. An option - FSUIPC_AI=1 - switches off ACME AI Detection and reverts to the tried and true FSUIPC AI detection which is not available from the FCDU.EXE. (The default is 0 for FSX and P3D.)
• A new Hazard Pack feature for SimConnect Captains permits ACME detection of collisions with SimObjects (both AI aircraft and ground vehicles). These collisions won't necessarily end your flight the way in-sim collisions do. (The default setting is 0 = disabled.)
• This feature allows you to tailor the severity of ACME Collision Detection effects. 0 = No effect except a noise and a notice on your FCDU (This is the default setting). 1 = A random chance of single or multiple system failures. 2 = The same chance, plus a chance of an unrecoverable loss of control of your aircraft.
• Another new option for SimConnect Captains - COLLISION_INSPECTIONS - allows you to tailor the severity of ACME Collisions to the post-flight Inspection Report. 0 = No inspection needed (This is the default setting). 1 = Inspections needed only if a collision damaged a system or a control. 2 = Inspections needed even if a collision is only noted on the FCDU.
  
  

==========================
Testing Notes on New Items
==========================

• The presence of Airline Code and Aircraft Type safety announcements will override the standard SAFJET and SAFPROP announcement from your FA and FO. (Currently undocumented....)
• A new airline (Surfair) is included with full Economic Mode details. It is limited to PC12 aircraft flying from a select list of Northern California airports to an equally select list in Southern California.
• "Exit Mapping" - which involves both assigning exit numbers to exit "types" and allowing control of these types - is a new feature of FSCaptain. A description follows:
  
  =================================================================
  Exit Mapping - mapping the exits of your aircraft to their "type"
  =================================================================
  
  Many years ago Microsoft defined a maximum of four exits for aircraft (controlled by the keys SHIFT-E, SHIFT-E #2, SHIFT-E #3, and SHIFT-E #4), and divided them into three signal able types – Main (Passengers), Cargo and Emergency.
  
  By the time of FSX, many airliners used SHIFT-E to control the main crew & passenger exits, SHIFT-E #2 to control the cargo exits, and SHIFT-E #3 for other passenger or perhaps service (catering) exits.
  
  Prior to FSCaptain 1.7.3, the ACME system allowed Captains to define whether or not the FO / FA team would open and close the exits needed to allow passengers and cargo to load. The catch was that FSCaptain would only open and close the main exit. Now that's no longer the case....
  
  You can now define which exit numbers belong to a simplified set of exit types: PAX, CARGO, OTHER. You should have at least one PAX or CARGO exit defined. You need not define an OTHER exit if you wish.
  
  By default, both PAX and CARGO exit types are mapped to "Exit 1" - the SHIFT-E controlled exit. This replicates the practice that FSCaptain has previously gone by.
  
  On a PAX flight, your crew will operate the PAX exits first, followed by the Cargo exits. On a Cargo only flight, only the Cargo exits will be operated. In case of an emergency landing, your PAX, Cargo and Other exits will all open to allow full evacuation of the aircraft.
  
  If you are checking an exit type's status, there is an Exit Speed value (in seconds) which is simply the time it should take for an exit to complete moving before the Captain is notified of an "unresponsive
  
  If your aircraft uses the standard (SHIFT-E) system, each exit will need to be moved independently. For example, if you're in the default C208B which I have exits 2 and 1 defined as OTHER (they are the Captain's and FO's doors) then when you're executing an emergency evacuation, the PAX door will open first, followed by Cargo door, then the FO's door and finally the Captain's door. (At a speed of 4 seconds per exit, this will take 16 seconds to open all exits.)
  
  Some complex aircraft will need to be interfaced with the FCDU so we can recognize their exit status. Also, some complex aircraft require their own systems to be used to open and close their exits. It's their aircraft… we can only do our best to operate with it!
  
  You can enter up to four Exit numbers for each of the three Exit types – just use the Exit's number (1 through 4) or leave an entry blank or at "0" to indicate no other exits for a type. If you want FSCaptain to monitor a particular exit, but you don't want FSCaptain to operate it – for example if you use an add-on that wants to control the PAX exits for a special aircraft – just enter those Exit numbers as negative values – in other words use "-1" instead of "1", etc.
  
  If your add-on controls the PAX or Cargo exits at a time where the loading process is ongoing, you may try setting that exit type's mapping to all "0"s, so FSCaptain won't check that exit type's status.
  
  Finally if you can't seem to get your exit mapping working, please email us an FCDU log from an attempt to load or unload and we will attempt to triage. (You could in the meantime declare your exits as INOP on the aircraft configuration form.)
  
  

==============================
Testing Notes on Changed Items
==============================

• An updated HOT.cfg file is included.
• An updated transitions.cfg file built off of AIRAC 1613 is included.
• The amount of Chilled Precipitation Intake when only flying through clouds has been halved.
• Engine failures due to Chilled Precipitation Intake are now cause for a post-flight inspection due to the Captain's Error.
• The Administrator's Aircraft configuration editor has a textbox to enter how many engines are on an aircraft. This shouldn't be needed for most aircraft, but we do know of one or two aircraft which do not report the correct number of engines. If in doubt, leave this blank. If you load an aircraft and see an incorrect number here, change it!
• The odds of hearing a cargo-loading noise has increased from 30% per item to 50%.
• Taxi music will no longer play on cargo or ferry flights. (There's no constructive way to signal that takeoff is imminent, and you may be in dialog with ATC.)
• The function that should "un-fail" an engine less than one half minute after failing due to chilled precipitation did not work properly.
• Administrator Flight Dispatch type now considers preferred Airline flight type and then the preferred Captain's flight type to assign the default search type.
• The minimum runway length for takeoff and landing has been reduced to 100 feet. Piper Cub Captains can rejoice.
• For unregistered users, if an attempt is made to take off from an un-allowed airport, an option to go OFFLINE is available - previously, such Captains would be stuck on the "Please Register" screen.
• When the airport database is rebuilt, you will not need to restart the Administrator to see any changes you may have made.
• Piston aircraft will have flap & landing gear callouts made at slightly lower AGL levels.
• A significant change in how diversions are handled: All requests to divert to your scheduled alternate will be accepted, with no 'reason' needed. If several consecutive flights are diverted for non-mechanical, non-wx, or non-emergency matters your airline will send you a gentle reminder that your flights generally should go to where they were planned....
• Diverted flights are now eligible for "correct position reporting" bonuses.
• Parking Brakes can now be flagged as INOP, relieving a need to properly set them.
• Flights with a Block Time of less than 45 minutes, as well as the initial Service for any Meal Service flights, will have their Cabin Service defined as "Drinks Service."
• Aircraft exits can also now be flagged as INOP, relieving a need to properly open/close them.
• The aircraft battery switch can also now be flagged as INOP.
• INOP systems (including aircraft without retractable gear) are now recorded as INOP on the Systems screen, with the system reported as "on."
• These INOP systems require a small change to the save / restore flight data format.
• On the four Systems screens, INOP systems are presented in grey - active systems are presented in green.
• On the Administrator's Specify Flight Details screen, you can now enter Cargo Weight in kilograms by appending "kg" to the weight value.
• GForce values are no longer noted when on the ground. This may be the cause of recent GForce damages when landing.
• Having a "Complainer PAX" onboard now reduces the max & min GForce values for a FLTBAD penalty.
• Simulator autosaves no longer will occur when the sim is paused.
• In case of a diversion, the flight will be noted as being to the original destination (together with the original alternate airport). However the actual point of landing will be noted in the flight details.
• Landing pitch and bank values will be reported on the Statistics page, but not logged in your Company log until version 2.0.0. (They have been recorded in the FCDU log since version 1.7.0.)
• The Aircraft Data screen now displays the path & filenames for the currently loaded aircraft configuration file and aircraft loadmap.
• There is an addition to the customs_fsc.txt file, giving full Customs Services to LIMC.
• There are updates to the customs_exceptions.txt file to account for differences in the form which United States airports' "country name" is used.
• What was known as the Interface screen on the FCDU is now referred to as the Systems screen.
• The Systems screen can now be reached before Loading by clicking on the PROG key of the FCDU. SIGNALS cannot be set before loading.
• PLN waypoints with IDs up to nine characters are supported in the FCDU and Dispatch Release.
• When the "AI Freeze Ray" is active, the FCDU screen number will be presented in red. (Also noted in "New Options" above.)
• Your expected fuel load will display on the Load Confim screen (#42) even if you are not ready to load.
• During Climb and Cruise phases when cabin service is not active, the time since the last cabin service (along with its type) will be displayed on the Progress screen (#26) and the Communications screen (#35). If cabin service has been prohibited from the cockpit, the display will be in grey.
• The No Smoking display on the SYSTEM's screen will flash from green to white when it detects a "FA-alerting toggle" of the switch from ON to OFF and back to ON again. (This ability allows Captains to verify this function while on the tarmac.) In-flight failures to meet the six-second window for this toggling will be logged.
• The Request option for a Contamination Check was not available during taxi-out. It is available now under certain conditions.
• When the flight situation is being saved (either by the autosave system or the simulator), the time will flash 'cyan' or 'white' for several seconds.
  The FCDU Installer now recognizes panel.cfg files with 'zorder' definition and will ask you if you want to install the FCDU with a superior 'zorder' value. (Or '100' if there is already a panel using '100.')
• The FCDU Installer will now also ask if you wish to install your FCDU as a "special" gauge that will not auto-close when you change simulator views.
• You can now use the PLN display screens to view all waypoints and to "request direct" to any non-passed waypoint.
• Subtle changes to the fueling module to give a more accurate fuel auto-load process.
• If ACME autosaves are enabled, a special autosave will occur microseconds after going ON.
• Piston-powered aircraft that use the (normally turbine-focused) Engine Anti-Ice signals will now enjoy such protection.
• Various improvements have been made to "Go-Around Detection".
• Helicopters now may have up to 25 minutes of holding fuel in their allocation.
• Minor improvements to the Dispatch Release - Alternate airports now have their "Weather risks of note", and airport wind & visibility data is presented in the Runway Data section.
• If passengers have been upset during a flight (to the point where you may hear screaming) no positive passenger bonuses will be awarded, nor will any otherwise-earned applause be heard.
• Passenger aircraft with more than 500 seats are now deemed to be "short-haul" aircraft and the average baggage capacity is lowered from 40 to 18 pounds per passenger.
• Aircraft undergoing ground deicing / anti-icing only need to have their flaps deployed if they are in a remote deicing facility (not on stand)!
  

=====================
Testing Notes on Bugs
=====================

• Flight Type not always correctly considered when loading aircraft loadmaps in Administrator.
• Two CTDs that occurred when a flight was going out and when a manifest was generated were found and eliminated.
• For P3D users, FSUIPC interactivity has been restored.
• A fix to reduce (not eliminate!) the possibility of "negative pax" being listed on certain Economic Mode flights.
• A CTD bug which could occur at an airport without fuel locations has been fixed.
• A bug which would report a false "belly landing with gear up" has been corrected.
• A bug that would allow ground ice to accumulate even after a successful de-icing has been fought... and hopefully vanquished. You can let us know (with FCDU logs) if it's not.
• A bug in the 'speed difference' on the Winds Aloft screen has been corrected.
• Fuel amounts of six digits were not properly presented in all places in the Dispatch Release.
• Fuel display formatting in the Dispatch Release's Flight Plan list has been corrected too.
• The Administrator now enforces checks on the declared number of engines that an aircraft can have (1 to 4).
• A text bug would either prevent a parking assignment from appearing on a Dispatch Release, or it would appear as GATE 0.
• A rare condition where a flight could be stuck "going IN" has been corrected.
• Specified Flight Numbers were not being honored on Ferry Flights.
• A condition whereby certain Ferry Flights would not be loaded with fuel has been corrected.
• The option SIM_AUTOSAVE_ON_GROUND=3 was incorrectly not saving flights in air or during taxi-in.
• A CTD could occur when a Dispatch Release over 16K in size was viewed. The allowed size has increased to 32K, and should a release be larger than that size, it will be truncated when read.
• A bug in reading aircraft configuration files placed a minimum of one jumpseat on every cargo flight. That no longer happens.
• Small errors in calculation of how much extra cargo could be added to PAX flights have been eliminated. Now your Load Factor (or Reputation) will signify if you're flying with a full load... or if you have room to spare!
• Malformed "VATSIM INJECTED" weather data could appear as occurring Volcanic Ash (VAtsim) and Thunderstorms (vaTSim).
• In some conditions if an AI waiting at your parking spot was zapped you may still have had your parking spot changed. That should no longer happen.
• CTDs could have occurred on some multi-leg flights.
• Manifests on some multi-leg flights could have had their containers mislabeled.
• An updated SceneryScanner has been included which correctly does maths when creating KML files on non-'enUS' systems.
• The Administrator's Airline Configuration tab erroneously referred to "Maximum Crosswind" where the correct label is "Maximum Surface Wind".
  

==================================
Testing Notes on Interface Changes
==================================

• There is a new interface for the PMDG 747 V2 aircraft. There are also override configuration files, load maps, and exit maps. Your crew can not control passenger and cargo doors - you must use the PMDG CDU controls.
• There is a new interface for both VirtuaCol Embraer 17x and 19x series of aircraft.
• There is a new interface (and exit map) for the CLS DC-10 series.
• There is a new interface for the TDFi B717.
• The interface for the PMDG 777 has been updated to reflect a change in the handling of the NO SMOKING switch.
• There is a new interface for the FSLabs A320. Its exits can not be controlled by your crew.
• There is a new interface for the Carenado Phenom 300.
• There is a new interface for the CLS BAe-146.
• The FSDS Hawker Siddley 748 now includes a continuous ignition signal via an expansion of its interface. (Use the Relight L & R switches on the pop-up panel.)
• The PMDG 777-200 now accepts input from the aircraft's exits to indicate when they are open or closed.
• The CLS BAe-146's and Carenado C208EX's interfaces have been updated to support exit-mapping. Captains of these aircraft can use signals from the Systems Screen Page 4 to test opening and closing their exit types.
• An interface for the Lionheart Quest Kodiak has been included (it covers only one item - the Engine Igniter signal).