How to define a weight for PAX?

[riccardo74]

Hi to all, is it possible to define a specific weight (kg/libs) for pax, like in TOPCAT/Pro Flight Planner X?

PFPX defines 84kg/PAX for scheduled and non-scheduled flight and so on but there is no an identical tabs in FSC, corretct?

If weights are different for FSC/PFPX the result payload for the same number of passengers doesn't match each other.

Thanks a lot,
Ric

[peter]

Hi Ric,

not at this time, unfortunately. However, this feature may be added in a future version.

Best,
Peter

[hardmanrb]

I manually edited the PAX weight in the items.cfg file located in the FSCaptain\Config directory. I fly the MJQ400 at the moment and the MJC84 control panel has 186 as the weight per PAX hard coded. PFPX I set for 186 also (26 for bags). Gets me within a few pounds. Don't forget to count the crew also!

[peter]

It may be that my information is outdated. Rick, can you check that the actual weight loaded is in line with your modified pax weight? If I recall correctly, items.cfg is only used for dispatch. Dutch and Travis may chime in when they are on the forum, they would have the authoritative answer of course

Best,
Peter

[Travis]

Hi Ric,

Both Peter and Rick are correct - you can edit the weight in the items.cfg file, however there are many places in the code where "170" is hardcoded.

I've wanted to wait until we had a good long 'downtime' to make it so that the weight in items.cfg would be reflected everywhere. But one thing that I feel would need to be perfectly clear is... is that the weight of an average passenger? Or is it the weight of an average passenger plus carry-ons??

I'm of the opinion that it should be the passenger weight alone. Because we have had some checks in place to account for a larger baggage allowance on larger aircraft.

But then again, there's the carry-ons that aren't really accounted for. ("I'm flying from California to England - I need to carry my laptop & batteries, some checked wine that I don't want to end up in cargo, and some avocado toast for my breakfast. Dutch is flying from Carolina to Atlanta - he needs a toothbrush and nothing else. Plus, he's thin.")

So I'll leave the floor open for any input....

Captains... what do you think? Should the PAX weight only account for the average PAX, or should it account for any carry-ons that might apply for the type of flight they're on?

Best,

[hardmanrb]

Travis,

I'm more concerned with one PAX weight that is user defined so its easier to make it match other flight planning software or aircraft specific configuration software. As for bags, it's perfect as is.

[DirkDP]

Hi,

From several Boeing/Airbus type AHM-560 docs I've gone through, carry-on is included.
Avg. pax weight is ~85kg (~185-190lbs), pilot is set at 85kg and F/A is 75kg (~165lbs).

Some airlines also have different pax weights for summer, winter or holiday charter.
So I agree with Rick, some user defined option would be preferred.


Regards,
DDP.

[riccardo74]

Thanks to all guys for your replies and infos.
I agree with Rick, I refer to a single PAX weight. Would be useful to define a median weight for pax and baggage.

[Travis]

Captains,

Thanks for your responses.

I'm feeling that we should move (in the 2.0 realm) to a "PAX weight" and a separate "PAX Baggage weight" value that can be defined both 'globally' as well as 'per airline'. The "PAX Baggage weight" value could be altered depending on the distance of the flight. (I'd take a small set of baggage locally... and a larger set if going farther....)

Taking this further, personally I would like to have the ability to also define PAX weights for Adults / Children / Infants. That might have some percentage / ratio calculations that would need to be applied.

Which may be thrown out the window if a GROUP were to be involved....

Imagine a PAX flight from London to Malaga. Such a flight might be vacationers... families... many with the occasional Child and Infant. Or such a flight might be a SPORTS TEAM (or a MUSICIAN'S GROUP) which might not have any non-adults.

How should we handle such differences??? I think that both a 'global' and an 'airline' set of values would be needed....

Best,

[alaskanflyboy]

Years ago (as in 1998-ish), I dabbled with a VBA script to create passenger manifests with random weights, names, ages, etc. It worked, but being 14, I never quite got around to how to import my data into FS. It wouldn't be too difficult. It was a simple DoWhile loop that randomly filled the specified seats. If the randomizer fell in one range, it was an adult male, adult female, child, or infant. Each had an upper and lower range with a weighted average to keep the bulk of the weights, well, near average. I think the same concept could be used here. However, for sports teams, I think you'd need separate adult categories as your lightest athlete is often well above the average adult. You figure 250 lbs is an anorexic football player (and probably the punter).

[hardmanrb]

Jan 10, 2018 18:20:34 GMT -5 Travis said:

Taking this further, personally I would like to have the ability to also define PAX weights for Adults / Children / Infants. That might have some percentage / ratio calculations that would need to be applied.

PFPX does have this capability and it would work on a lot of aircraft but when loading some aircraft such as the PMDG J41 or MJQ400, the weight per pax is hard coded as one standard weight in the Load map/control panel. Maybe an option in the Administrator to configure the specific aircraft to be either just one weight (default) or allow Adults / Children / Infants numbers to be generated (just like the three for disabling the FA sounds).

[Travis]

All good points to consider. Thanks.

Anyone... feel free to pitch in with your ideas in this area!

Best,