March 12, 2020

SimSounds 3.1 - Review

March 12, 2020/ Flaps 2 Approach

Engines, landing gear, spoilers and drag all create noise and vibration. To ensure an immersive environment is created, these sounds (and others) must be replicated as closely as possible to the real sound

The definition of immersion is a perception of being physically present in a non-physical world. This perception is created by surrounding the user in images, sound and other stimuli that provide an engrossing total environment.

When this is done correctly, the illusion is complete. However, the immersion effect is downgraded when something doesn't replicate or mimic its real-world counterpart effectively.

Flight simulator enthusiasts go to exuberant lengths to create the illusion of flight. Purpose built flight decks, aircraft shells, real aviation equipment and stunning external visuals all add to the immersion effect. But, what about sound – in particular realistic aircraft, cabin and environmental sounds.

SimSounds

SimSounds is a small standalone program developed by Thomas Langenkamp in Germany. The design of the program is very simple in that it enables you to preselect and configure a number of add-on sounds that are often missing in Flight Simulator. This is in addition to playing airline cabin announcements and cabin calls at pre-defined phases in a flight.

By its inclusion of airliner cabin announcements, SimSounds has targeted the airliner market (in particular Boeing and Airbus). However, there is no reason why SimSounds can't be used for general aviation aircraft and other airliner types.

To increase immersion further, several sounds used by SimSounds can be sent to Butt-Kicker to generate vibrations when a particular sound is played.

SimSounds can be configured to work alongside several avionics suites and other programs such as ProSim-AR (737 & A320), Sim Avionics, PMDG (NGX), P3D and FSX.

Review Limitations

The software generates numerous sounds, and the conditions in which the sounds are played is quite exhaustive. To delve into each sound and occurrence condition would take longer than one article.

Therefore, I will concentrate on the main aspects of the software that are of particular relevance to the flight deck builder. I will also include a few screen captures of the program’s User Interface which is more or less identical across all pages. This review will not include how SimSounds interacts with Butt-Kicker. (I do not own or use a Butt-Kicker).

This review addresses SimSounds V3.1

If you wish to read other user reviews of SimSounds, I suggest you navigate to SimMarket. A video created by the developer can also be viewed on U-Tube

What Does SimSounds Do

In essence SimSounds provides the following:

(i) Cabin crew announcements (automatic phase flight detection for cabin announcements);

(ii) Cabin calming mood music;

(iii) Aircraft sounds (some speed dependent);

(iv) Cabin sounds;

(v) Environmental sounds (some speed dependent); and,

(vi) Sounds that are compatible for use with Butt-Kicker (vibrations).

Let’s examine some of these sounds more closely.

Cabin Announcements (crew)

A prerecorded cabin announcement (CA) and cabin intercom call (CIC) will play during the following flight phases:

(i) CA: Boarding complete;

(ii) CA: Welcome with flexible Captain's name and dynamic local time detection;

(iii) CA: Safety instructions;

(iv) CA: After takeoff information;

(v) CA: Cruise (service and duty free);

(vi) CA: Seat belt sign on during cruise;

(vii) CA: Decent information;

(viii) CA: Approach information (placeholder only);

(ix) CA: Landing information (placeholder only);

(x) CA: After landing (with dynamic airport detection based on useable airports);

(xi) CA: Parking Position;

(xii) CIC: 'Passengers fastened'; and,

(xiii) CIC: 'Cabin is ready'.

The nationality and sex of the voice is selected from the User Interface: English, French, German, Dutch or Portuguese. English and German are the default languages, and other language packs (crew packs) can be purchased separately. There is also an option to add your own voice (prerecorded .wav file).

The Approach and Landing information (viii & ix) will only be played for preinstalled airports (at the time of writing there are 92 defined airports worldwide that can be used). SimSounds automatically detects the airport in use, and provided the option is selected in the User Interface, the airport name will be used in all airport-related cabin announcements.

The cabin announcements and intercom calls are automatically generated and are triggered by the aircraft’s phase of flight (SimSounds refers to this as 'Automatic Flight Phase Detection'). There is no calibration or setup required for this to occur. The logic a has been embedded into the program.

Aircraft Sounds

The following aircraft sounds, some which are speed dependent, are included:

(i) Roll and wheel bump sounds for main gear and nose wheel (speed dependent);

(ii) Touch down sounds for main gear and nose wheel (vertical speed dependent);

(iii) Landing gear up sound;

(iv) Landing gear down sound;

(v) Falling rain sound (speed dependent);

(vi) Wind sound (speed dependent);

(vii) Flaps sounds (speed dependent);

(viii) Opening and closing front door sounds;

(ix) Turbulence;

(x) Engines;

(xi) Reverse thrust (engines);

(xii) Tail Strike;

(xiii) Parking Brake activation and deactivation;

(xiv) Spoilers (speed brakes);

(xv) Auto brakes lever sound (as speed brakes deploy on landing); and,

(xvi) Wind sound enhancement when landing gear is deployed.

You can individually select these sounds from the User Interface. Furthermore, speed dependent sounds have the flexibility of being preset to only become audible when a specific speed has been reached. All sounds have independent volume control.

Cabin Sounds

Cabin sounds include the following:

(i) Cockpit fans;

(ii) Doors opening and closing;

(iii) Seat belt chime;

(iv) No smoking chime;

(v) Passenger background noise and boarding (mainly low talking and scuffling) ;

(vi) Cabin calming music (boarding, after landing and parking);

(vii) Clapping sound; and,

(viii) Screaming sound.

For the seat belt and no smoking chime (iii & iv) to function correctly, it’s necessary to define a FSUIPC offset (discussed later in this article).

For the cabin calming mood music (vi) to play you will need to correctly map and configure the doors of the aircraft. Failure to do this will result in the music not playing.

The clapping and screaming sound (vii & viii) is an audio of people clapping or screaming. Both sounds and their volume can be adjusted to play following a landing at a specific vertical speed (V/S).

Flexibility - Independent Volume and Speed Dependency Functionality

It’s important to note that SimSounds is VERY flexible in how, when, and at what volume any sound is played. Each sound has independent control enabling the user to turn the sounds on or off, alter the sound’s volume, or adjust when the sound will become audible (sounds with speed dependency).

Speed dependency is when a sound will play only when the simulator aircraft reaches a certain airspeed or ground speed. In the User Interface for the specific sound, a sliding tab is used to preset the speed at which the sound will play. Similarly, another sliding tab will allow you to preset the volume of the sound. It’s this flexibility in how and when sounds are played that makes SimSounds rather unique.

*User Interface / Aircraft Sounds / Wind*. The active button is selected, meaning that the sound is active. The *'wind'* sound file will play when the ground roll of the aircraft reaches 80 knots (the timing which the sound is played is linked to the ground speed of the aircraft). The sound will then slowly increase in volume, reaching the maximum volume (as indicated by the maximum volume % slider tab) at 201 knots)

Installation, Setup and Before Purchase Evaluation

The Installation is VERY easy. Once downloaded, the program is installed to either one or more computers (server and clients). FSUIPC and WideFS is required if you wish to run SimSounds from one or more client computers.

The program is standalone and can be installed anywhere on your computer system. It’s not a requirement to install the software to your main C Drive; it can easily be run from the desktop or from a second drive. If required, a shortcut can be made from the executable file, or the command line can be added to a batch file (for automatic opening of all programs with one mouse click).

SimSounds does not require extensive calibration and setup to function. With the exception of indicating what sounds are to be played and their parameters, the following will need to be done from the main page of the User Interface:

(i) SimSounds/License Key – Enter license key (after purchase).

(ii) Settings/Common – Select either PMDG offsets, PS737/A320, or leave blank.

(iii) Settings/Sound Cards – Select sound card for aircraft sounds, cabin sounds and flight deck sounds.

Additionally, for full functionality (music and chimes) you will need to synchronise the door logic to flight simulator and define a FSUPIC offset for the no smoking and seatbelt signs.

A complete and fully functional SimSounds is available as a free download from the SimSounds website. The evaluation period is a generous 30 days.

System Requirements

SimSounds requires the following to function correctly:

(i) An active internet connection;

(ii) Windows 7, 8 or 10 operating system;

(iii) Microsoft Flight Simulator 10 (FSX) or Prepar3D Version 4.1 to 4.5; and,

(iv) FSUPIC and WideFS.

ProSim-AR Users (ProSim737 Avionics Suite)

Thomas (the developer of Simsounds) has worked closely with the developers of ProSim-AR to ensure that the software is 100% compatible with the ProSim737 avionics suite.

SimSounds does not replace the sounds in the ProSim audio folder used by ProSim737, but rather uses its own dedicated folder. However, some sounds are duplicated. Therefore, it’s a matter of choosing which specific sounds (.wav files) you wish to use (select sounds from either SimSounds or ProSim Audio).

For the cabin calming mood music to be automatically played when the aircraft doors are open, ProSim737 users will need to correctly map and configure the doors of the aircraft. The process to do this varies between proSim737 releases.

Similarly, for the seatbelt and no smoking chime to function correctly (when you manipulate a switch), a FSUIPC offset will need to be defined. The offset is defined in CONFIG/MISC menu of ProSim737 using a GATE.

Seat belt sign – FSUIPC offset 8 bit U: 0x341D.
No smoking sign – FSUIPC offset 8 but U: 0x341C.

Program/Software Manual, Help and Updates

The developer has elected to not provide a comprehensive manual. However, a very basic on-line manual and Frequently Asked Question section can be found on the website.

To be frank, I prefer reading a manual prior to using any program. But, considering the program’s flexibility and exhaustive content, writing a manual would be very time consuming and would probably be confusing and counterproductive. This software is very much a ‘hands-on’ learning experience.

To learn what the program can do, you must install the software and experiment with the various sounds and cabin settings.

SimSounds does not have a dedicated forum. However, the developer is very active on the ProSim737 forum and is eager to provide help to anyone needing assistance. He is also open to suggestions and recommendations to improve the software.

Improvements to the software and beta releases are published on the SimSounds website. If the 'check for updates' is selected from the User Interface, the program will alert you to when an update has been released.

Important Point:

The best way to test this program to determine its usefulness is to install the software and trial the various features.

User Interface (UI)

SimSounds is a relatively powerful program and it's control centre is the main page and sub-pages accessible from the menu-style tab system.

The control center of the SimSounds program is the User Interface. The main page displays setup information, current state of buttons and sounds, and pertinent flight parameters. Each of the tabs is interactive which enables individual sounds to be activated ‘on the fly’

SimSounds will always display the main page (front page) of the User Interface. This page (Figure left) is important in that, in addition to providing an interface to enter into the program’s sub-pages, it also displays setup information and various flight parameters. The flight parameters are ‘live’, meaning the parameters are continually updated during a flight.

Also displayed are the active continuous sounds that have been configured to play (continuous sounds play all the time). This is in addition to the current state of the no smoking and seat belt buttons, and the door state. There is also a pause button to pause flight simulator.

Interactive Coloured Tabs

The dozen or so tabs located at the lower right of the main page provide a visual indication to what sounds have been configured to play in SimSounds. These tabs are interactive, meaning that by pressing the tab, the sound can be manually turned on or off, or if the sound is currently playing, it can be cancelled (paused).

Three colours and the use of solid-filled text are used to indicate various sound states:

(i) Neutral (no colour) text solid filled – sound configured to play.

(ii) Neutral (no colour) text not filled – sound not configured to play.

(iii) Blue colour – sound currently playing.

(iv) Pink colour – Sound configured to play, but has been manually turned off (by pressing the tab/button with your mouse).

The use of interactive tabs enables configured sounds to be turned on, off, or paused 'on the fly'.

Sub-pages (User Interface)

Each page is well laid out and easy to follow. I will not explain every page as many are self explanatory.

As an example, we will examine the Aircraft Sounds / Roll page (Figure 1 below).

Aircraft Sounds / Roll Page (an example)

This page has several interactive tabs that align with the top of the main page. Each tab relates to a specific sound.

At the upper left of the page is a check box named ‘active’(on/off). This is where you can either turn the sound on or off.

*User Interface / Aircraft Sounds / Roll*. The active button is selected meaning that the sound is active (turned on). The *'aircraft roll'* sound file will play when the ground roll of the aircraft reaches 12 knots. The sound will then slowly increase in volume, reaching the maximum volume (as indicated by the maximum volume % slider tab) at 97 knots. All the tabs in the User Interface have a similar graphical interface which is very easy to understand and manipulate

The box named 'Sound File' is the location of the sound file that is to be played.

The three sliding blue-coloured tabs are self explanatory. One slider sets the maximum volume that the sound will play at, while the other two sliders relate to speed dependency. One slider is used to set the speed at which the sound will begin to play, and the other is used to alter the speed at which the sound will reach full volume (as set in the maximum volume slider).

The ‘Add’ (so many knots) box enables the user to fine tune the volume of the played sound. For example, the volume (of the 'roll' sound) increases with increasing speed. If you want the 'roll' sound to start earlier, this value can be altered in the ‘add’ box resulting in a higher volume of the 'roll' sound at lower speeds.

Changing Sound File and Location

Any sound or cabin announcement can be replaced with another customised sound or recorded cabin announcement. To replace a sound it’s a matter of replacing the sound in the SimSounds sound folder and linking the new sound file to the software.

To do this, the two boxes to the right of the 'Sound File' box are opened. This reveals a dialogue box that enables you to select a new file location and sound file. The small speaker icon enables the sound to be played to check the volume prior to saving the configuration (‘Apply and OK’).

Important Points:

Any of the pre-selected sounds can be cancelled (paused) from the front page of the User Interface. This is done by pressing the appropriate tab. This can be done ‘on the fly’.
The User Interface is very intuitive and straightforward to use.

Test Mode

The developer has had the forethought to include a test mode in the program (‘Test’). The Test Mode is accessible from the main page and includes a list of all configured sounds. Each sound can be individually played at the configured volume. This is very handy if you want to review (and hear) what sounds you have configured in SimSounds.

Reliability and System Resources

During my testing, the software was very reliable and robust. The software played all sounds as configured and I didn’t experience any drop outs or failure of the software to open correctly (I use a batch file).

SimSounds works out of the box with minimal computer configuration.

Concerning system resources. During my testing, I didn't note any depreciable use of system resources running SimSounds on a server and client computer.

Accuracy of Sounds - Artistic License

There has been a certain amount of artistic licence taken in relation to the accuracy of some of the sounds.

For example, when sitting in the flight deck of a real Boeing 737 aircraft, you cannot hear the flaps move when the flaps lever is manipulated (apart from anything else, there is too much ambient noise in the flight deck). Nor can you hear air whistling, or increased whistling, as the flaps are deployed from flaps UP to flaps 40.

Similarly, you cannot hear the speed brakes (aka spoilers) when they are moved to the up position (you do, however, feel the increased drag).

The use of these sounds should not be seen as a shortfall, as many enthusiasts like to hear these sounds (like they can hear in the cabin), and it’s an easy matter to turn the sounds off in the User Interface if they are not wanted.

Also, bear in mind that SimSounds has been developed for a broad audience. Light aircraft users will want to hear these sounds, as in a light aircraft you will hear the flaps move, and hear the wind whistling over the flap surfaces as the flaps are deployed.

Not all the sounds have been recorded from a real 737; some sounds have been fabricated. For purists, it’s a straightforward process to remove the fabricatedsounds and replace them with genuine sounds.

The following sounds have been recorded from a real Boeing 737:

(i) Wind (without flaps sound);

(ii) Roll sound;

(iii) Bump sound;

(iv) Touchdown sound;

(v) Doors opening sound;

(vi) Doors closing sound;

(vii) Landing gear up sound; and,

(viii) Landing gear down sound.

Sound Configuration (my simulator)

No setup is identical when it comes to sound; what works for one individual may not work for another.

The beauty of SimSounds is that you can run multiple instances of the program and select multiple sound cards. This allows you to select to which speakers the sound is directed, enabling considerable flexibility in generating sound from differing directions. This adds to immersion.

In my simulator, I have two instances of SimSounds running; one from the server and one from client computer I always have the main User Interface open on the client computer and positioned in such a way that it's easily viewable on the client's display along with the instructor station (FS Flight Control). This enables me, if necessary, to cancel (pause) specific sounds. Note that in newer ProSim737 releases the use of the FS Flight Control instructor station is not necessary as ProSim737 has its own dedicated IOS.

Each instance of SimSounds is linked to a dedicated speaker system that is mounted in different areas of the flight deck. This ensures two things. First, that cabin announcements, cabin intercom calls, and mood music (generated by SimSounds) is heard from a different speaker to avionics call outs, and second, the other sounds generated by SimSounds (aircraft, cabin and environmental sounds) are played from a speaker, and at a location, that is different from the speaker that plays the engine sounds.

Location of Speakers

I’m not a big user of cabin announcements. However, when selected, all cabin announcements are played through a dedicated speaker mounted behind the Captain’s seat, while specific speed dependent sounds, such as the 'wheel rolling' sound and 'rolling bump' sound are played through another speaker mounted forward of and under the platform (for the nose wheel landing gear), and behind and under the platform (for the main landing gear).

I also play the variable volume 'wind' sound from a speaker mounted forward of the flight deck (to mimic the wind blowing over the nose of the aircraft).

I particularly like the easily adjustable 'wind' sound, 'nose wheel rolling' sound, and 'rolling bump' sound, which if set to a reasonable volume and speed (speed dependency), greatly improve sound immersion.

Other sounds I use are the ‘clapping’ sound that plays to indicate a landing at a very low vertical speed, and the 'tail strike' sound. The speed dependent 'rain' sound, if the correct volume is configured, is also very realistic.

Another attribute I find useful, is the display on the User Interface of the vertical speed (V/S) at landing. This is useful in determining if a landing has been made within safety parameters.

Butt-Kicker

Although this article does not discuss the butt-kicker functionality, the figure below shows the page used to configure what sounds are used by Butt-Kicker.

Final Call

The use of sound should not be underestimated when trying to create an immersive environment; it’s often the small nuances that a sound brings to a simulation that makes the experience more pleasing and enjoyable.

SimSounds is a small but powerful program that, when setup correctly, greatly enhances the sound capability of the simulator. The program is reliable, robust, seamless in its application, and very flexible in when, and at what volume the sounds are generated.

It’s obvious from the onset, that Thomas has designed SimSounds to encapsulate a number of parameters (sounds, announcements, cabin calls and flight data information) that have previously only been available by using multiple programs. This, and the ability to easily configure a speed dependency sound, is what makes this program worthy of investment.

Finally, the developer of SimSounds is proactive and is open to suggestions on ways to improve his software. The software is available for trial at https://www.simsounds.de/ or purchase at SimMarket.

November 17, 2017

Sounds Reworked - Flight Sim Set Volume (FSSV) - Review

November 17, 2017/ Flaps 2 Approach

Engine sounds will be at their highest at takeoff

Immersion is a perception of being physically present in a non-physical world. The perception is created by surrounding the user of the simulator in images, sound or other stimuli that provide an engrossing total environment. When something does not replicate its real world counterpart, the illusion and immersion effect is degraded.

Engine Sound Output

The sound output generated by a jet aircraft as heard from the flight deck is markedly different when the aircraft is at altitude. This is because of differences in air density, temperature, the speed of the aircraft, drag, and thrust settings. The noise emitted from the engines will always be highest at takeoff when full thrust is applied. At this time, the noise generated from wind blowing over the airframe will be at its lowest. At some stage, these variables will change and wind noise will dominate over engine noise.

As an aircraft gathers speed and increases altitude, engine sound levels lower and wind levels, caused by drag, increase. Furthermore, certain sounds are barely audible from the flight deck on the ground let alone in the air; sounds such the movement of flaps and the extension of flight spoilers (speedbrake).

Being a virtual flyer, the sound levels heard and the ratio between wind and engine sound at altitude is subjective, however, a visit to a flight deck on a real jet liner will enlighten you to the fact that that Flight Simulator’s constant-level sound output is far from realistic.

Add On Programs

Two programs which strive to counter this shortcoming (using different variables) are Accu-Feel by A2A Simulations and FS Set Volume (FSSV). This article will discuss the attributes of FSSV (Sounds Reworked).

Flight Sim Set Volume (FSSV)

FSSV is a very basic program that reads customized variables to alter the volume of sound generated from Flight Simulator. The program is standalone and can be copied into any folder on your computer, however, does require FSUIPC to connect with Flight Simulator. Wide FS enables FSSV to be installed on a client computer and run across a network.

The following variables can be customised:

(i) Maximum volume

(ii) Minimum volume

(iii) Upper mach threshold

(iv) Lower mach threshold

(v) Engine volume ratio

Each of the variables will alter to varying degrees the Mach, engine %N1, rounded engine speed and volume percentage.

For the program to have effect it must be opened either prior to or after the flight simulator session is opened.

FSSV pop-up screen showing customised variables (default) that can be set and current reads-outs for the simulator session

It’s an easy fix to automate the opening of the program to coincide with Flight Simulator opening by including the program .exe in a batch file.

A pop-up window, which opens automatically when the program is started, will display the variables selected and the outputs of each variables. If the window is kept open, the variables can be observed ‘on the fly’ as the simulation session progresses. Once you are pleased with the effects of the various settings, a save menu allows the settings to be saved to an .ini file. The pop-up window can then be set to be minimized when you start a flight simulator session.

How FSSV Works

The program reads the sound output from the computers primary sound device and alters the various sound outputs based upon customized variables. The program then lowers the master volume at the appropriate time to match the variables selected. FSSV will only alter the sound output on the computer that the program is installed. Therefore, if FSSV is installed to the same computer as Flight Simulator (server computer) then the sound for that computer will only be affected.

Possible Issue (depends on set-up)

An issue may develop if FSSV is installed on a client computer and run across a network via Wide FS, then the program will not only affect the sound output from the server computer, but it also will affect the sound output from the client computer.

A workaround to rectify this is to split the sound that comes from the sever computer with a y-adapter and connect it to the line-in of another computer, or use a third computer (if one is spare).

In my opinion, it’s simpler to install and run the program via a batch file on the server computer that flight simulator is installed. The program is small and any drop in performance or frame rates is insignificant.

Summary

The program, although basic, is very easy to configure and use - a little trial and error should enable the aircraft sounds to play with a higher degree of realism. However, the level that you alter the variables to is subjective; it depends on your perception to the level of sound heard on a flight deck – each virtual flyer will his or her own perception to what is correct.

The program functions with FSX and P3D flawlessly.

Finally, If you are unhappy with the result, it’s only a matter of removing/deleting the folder you installed the program to, or close the program during your simulator session to return the sound levels to what they previously were.

FS Set Volume can be downloaded at no charge here.

Video

The below video is courtesy of the FSSV website.

December 21, 2016

RAAS Professional By FS2Crew - Review

December 21, 2016/ Flaps 2 Approach

KLAX airport diagram showing the maze that hundreds of aircraft each day must safely navigate. Given the complexity of many airports, it's amazing there are not more runway incursions

Runway incursions are a leading cause of aviation fatalities and account for approximately $1 billion annually in aircraft damages. To help prevent such losses, close calls and collisions, the industry requested a safety system that would help maintain situational awareness during taxiing and preparing for takeoff and landing.

Honeywell stepped in to fill the gap by developing an easy-to-install heads-up advisory system with aural alerts (call-outs) to increase flight crew situational awareness during ground and air operations relative to the runway.

This system was then further improved upon, with the collaboration of Emirates.

I previously used a shareware version of RAAS developed by PlaneMan in South Korea. This small FS add-on worked well, however, recently it stopped working on my system for an unknown reason. I wrote a review on FsRAAS by Planeman in 2011. Searching for a replacement, I came across RAAS Professional developed by FS2 Crew.

What is RAAS

RAAS is an acronym for Runways Awareness And Advisory System (RAAS). RAAS was developed by Honeywell Aerospace as a simple to install but effective software addition to the Honeywell Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS). Although the base-line RAAS is still in operation, Honeywell has improved the software by integrating additional aural advisory call-outs; in particular, relating to stabilised approaches. SmartRunway and SmartLanding are the next generation of RAAS.

RAAS Professional replicates the complete aural Honeywell suite (RAAS, SmartRunway and SmartLanding), however, does not simulate the visual advisory displays.

Simulator Platforms

RAAS will operate on FS9, FSX and P3D V3 simulation platforms in 32 Bit. A 64 Bit version of the program caters towards those using P3D V4. if using MSFS-2020 another version of RAAS is required called RAAS Professional by FS2Crew. The RAAS Professional software is more or less identical to the RAAS software but installation is slightly different.

Installation

Installation is via an installer and is straightforward. The software installs a .ddl file which is loaded automatically when you begin a new simulation flight. Once installed, a tab (RAAS Professional) will be added to the menu bar in flight simulator; this is where the user interface is opened to configure the program. I did not experience any issues installing this program.

RAAS uses Simconnect to connect to flight simulator and does not require the use of FSUPIC.

Be aware that problems can occur when attempting to connect any add-on software that uses Simconnect (as opposed to FSUPIC). If a problem occurs, the easiest way to rectify it is to re-install the Simconnect module of flight Simulator.

Initial Configuration (Managing the Runway Database)

The most important task to complete prior to configuring RAAS is to download a small standalone program called MakeRunways. This software has been developed by Peter Dowson and is available gratis from his website. The MakeRunways utility should be placed in your main flight simulator folder where the Scenery.cfg file is located.

When run, MakeRunways interrogates the scenery folder and generates several database files that include, amongst other things, the runways found in flight simulator. The generated files are automatically saved to your main flight simulator folder, for programs such as RAAS, to access and read.

Whenever you install new scenery you must run the MakeRunways utility to ensure that the database is synchronized and up-to-date, otherwise RAAS will not work with the new add-on airport scenery.

Of importance, is that the 64 Bit version of RAAS requires an additional program to be installed. The reason for this, is that vP3D V4 use a dedicated addons folder. The Add-on organizer enables the add-on folder in P3D V4 to be interrogated by the MakeRunways program.

Important Point:

If using RAAS Professional for MSFS-2020 MakeRunways is not required.

The Lorby Prepar 3D Addon Organizer can be downloaded gratis at the developer’s website (see downloads section).

The installation of these programs is very straightforward and instructions are provided in the supporting documentation.

Advanced Configuration

RAAS, like its real world counterpart, is highly configurable from the User Interface (UI) accessed from the Add-Ons menu bar in flight simulator.

The following aural call-outs (advisory) are available.

Approaching Runway (On Ground): advisory provides the flight crew with an awareness of when a runway is being approached.
Approaching Runway (In Air): advisory provides the flight crew with an awareness of which runway the aircraft is lined-up with during approach.
On Runway: advisory provides the flight crew with an awareness of which runway the aircraft is lined up with on the ground.
Runway End: advisory is used to improve crew awareness of the runway end during low visibility operations.
Taxiway Take-off: advisory alerts pilots to excessive taxi speeds or an inadvertent takeoff on a taxiway.
Insufficient Runway Length (On Ground): provides the crew of an awareness of which runway the aircraft is lined-up with and if the runway length available is less than the defined minimum takeoff length.
Extended Holding on Runway: alerts the crew of an extended holding period on the runway.
Approaching Short Runway (In Air): offers an advisory of which runway the aircraft is lined-up with and if the runway length available is sufficient as defined in the Runways section.
Taxiway Landing: alerts the crew if they are not lined up with a runway at low altitudes.
Takeoff Flap Monitor: alerts the crew if the aircraft's flaps are not in the defined takeoff range.
Landing Distance Remaining: provides the flight crew with an awareness of the runway length remaining during roll-out.
Distance Remaining (Rejected Takeoff): provides the flight crew with an awareness of the runway length remaining during a rejected takeoff.
Landing Flap Monitor: advisory alerts the crew if the landing flaps are not set.
Excessive Approach Speed: is an alert if the aircraft speed become excessive compared to the final approach speed.
Excessive Approach Angle: is an alert if the aircraft's approach angle becomes too steep.
Altimeter Setting (Above Transition): alerts the crew if the altimeter is not set to standard after climbing above the transition altitude.
Altimeter Setting (Below Transition): provides the flight crew with an awareness of improper corrected altitude setting while below the transition altitude.
Long Landing: alerts the flight crew if the aircraft has not touched down within the defined Touchdown Zone Length.
Caution Enabled: adds the phrase ‘Caution’ to select aural calls.

Any of the aural call-outs can be turned on or off and several parameters are configurable from the UI. Additionally, specific parameters can be changed depending upon aircraft type or airline policy, such as:

Aircraft type.
Runway takeoff and landing length, runway length and touchdown zone. Hold times (initial hold time and repeats).
Flaps configuration (takeoff, landing, upper and lower altitudes).
Approach speeds.
Transition altitudes.
Extended hold times and frequency of the aural call-out.

If you fly different aircraft, any number of user profiles can be created. The profiles are associated with the aircraft type selected in flight simulator.

Comparison - RAAS Professional to the Honeywell System

RAAS Professional by Fs2Crew replicates the real Honeywell system surprisingly well. The aural call-outs are identical and the female voice sounds very similar to the voice used by Honeywell - which provide either a female or male voice. If you’re keen to compare RAAS to the Honeywell system I recommend you visit the Honeywell website, search RAAS and watch the videos.

Turning RAAS On and Off (RAAS Master Switch)

RAAS can be turned on and off ‘on the fly’ from the User Interface (UI), or by assigned a hot-key (key event API) in flight simulator. By default the on/off function has been assigned to the water rudder (R) function (from within the flight simulator control panel). It is also possible to assign this functionality to a switch/toggle.

Sound Cards and System Test

RAAS has been designed to be used within multiple speaker environments, and changing the speaker preference is made directly in the User Interface (UI). With a little tinkering you should be able to dedicate the RAAS aural call-outs to a separate speaker while maintaining engine noise and Air Traffic Control to other speakers and a headset. A master volume control tab enables the sound levels to be adjusted (if the speaker does not have volume control knob).

The UI has a System Test to determine correct configuration and connection (audio test) and an error log. The error log can be used during troubleshooting (if necessary).

Voice Sets and Memory Use

Currently RAAS only supports English in a female voice. I believe that additional foreign language voice sets may be released in due course.

When RAAS is running, there is no discernible effect on the computer or flight simulator.

Support

A detailed and easy to read manual is supplied with the program. The manual, in addition to providing detailed installation instructions, also has a very good troubleshooting section in the unlikely event that you have problems during the installation process.

RAAS supports a dedicated support forum and the developer replies to questions when asked.

Program Shortfalls

At the moment it is not possible to install RAAS on a client computer and run the program across a network. Although RAAS does not use a lot of computer resources, some users may wish to display the UI (when required) on a client screen in association with the Instructor Station.

Another shortfall is the inconsistent operation of the key event API (that enables you to connect a switch/toggle to the on/off function / RAAS Master Switch). Sometimes it works and at other times it does not work correctly.

Final Call

If you seek realism, RAAS is a worthwhile addition to flight simulator. When configured to an appropriate aircraft, the aural call-outs are timely and helpful to situational awareness. Two features I particularly like are the ability of RAAS to remind you to set the appropriate flaps detente prior to takeoff, and the aural call-out that is generated which identifies the runway you are aligned with during final approach.

I must admit there was one occurrence when I was conducting a VOR approach to a parallel runway in limited visibility. The aural call-out stated I was aligned to runway 24 Left when I was supposed to landing on runway 24 Right! But isn’t this the reason RAAS was designed – to stop incursions and provide situation awareness to flight crews.

References and Affiliation

This article was written with reference material obtained from Honeywell Aerospace.

Please note I have no affiliation with FS2Crew. I have not been provided with ‘free’ software, nor did I receive a discount in return for a favourable review. The comments and recommendations I have made are my own. Further information on RAAS Professional can be obtained directly from the FS2Crew website.

Flight Simulator, in this article, refers to FSX/FS10. I use the B737 avionics suite developed by ProSim-AR.

Additional information as it relates to RAAS can be read here - Runway Awareness and Advisory - FS Add-O n.

BELOW: Honeywell promotional video (courtesy & with permission Honeywell).

BELOW: RAAS Professional promotional video (courtesy FS2Crew).

November 18, 2016

TaxiSigns HD - Review

November 18, 2016/ Flaps 2 Approach

Example of the high definition sign showing night lighting which creates a pleasing illumination in front of sign. This feature is missing in the default textures

A small add-on program which may interest some is TaxiSigns HD. Essentially this software replaces all the default taxiway signs in flight simulator (FS) with a selection of several higher resolution 3D images with enhanced lighting effects. For those that spend considerable time taxiing the aircraft this program is sure to please.

Installation and Features

Installation is via a wizard installer which will ask where you wish to install the program and also ask which directory flight simulator is installed.

Once installed, a sub menu (TaxiSigns HD) will be placed within the flight simulator Add-Ons menu.

TaxiSigns HD works be adding its own scenery area, called TaxiSigns HD layer, to the FS scenery library. The default textures are not overwritten or deleted and outside of its own scenery area, the program does not modify any flight simulator files. To uninstall the product, and restore the default signs, use the Windows Control Panel to uninstall the program.

The program has a user interface screen accessible from the FS Add-Ons menu. The interface enables the user to easily alter the 3D model, daytime and night textures, and whether the signs illuminate the ground at night.

One of the main advantages, other than appearance (the signs actually look like signs), is the night lighting effects. Each sign can be front lit to allow the ground in front of the sign to be illuminated.

The following outlines the features of the program:

3D taxiway signs instead of default rectangles
Crystal clear text and FAA mandated font (high resolution textures)
Choice of several 3D taxiway sign textures and shading effects (day and night)
Illumination of the ground in front of each taxiway sign

The user interface in which various options can be selected. Note the posts that hold the sign

Evaluation of TaxiSigns HD

If you spend considerable time taxiing or take photographs and video within flight simulator then this program is well worthwhile.

The textures are very sharp and the signs are much easier to read than the default textures. They are also much more attractive to look at in comparison to the default signage.

A problem observed in flight simulator (FSX) is the slight blurring of the signs as the aircraft taxis past the sign. The replacement textures remain sharp and do not blur as do the default signs. Furthermore, I could not discern any appreciable drop in frame rates.

Compatibility an Support

TaxiSigns HD is fully compatible with both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 modes of FSX, and also with FS9 and Prepar3D (versions 1.0-5.0).

A succinct manual is provided with the program and although the program is very simplistic, a support forum is available.

The program can be downloaded from the developers website and tested for a period of 10 minutes: TaxiSigns. HD

Note I do not have any affiliation with the software developer.

August 04, 2016

FS-FlightControl Instructor Operating Station (IOS) - Review

August 04, 2016/ Flaps 2 Approach

Opening screen for FS-FlightControl IOSon the server computer. IOS can be easily configured to automatically open after Windows start-up

Virtual flyers can be grouped into three broad groups. Those that are satisfied using a desktop simulator, those that gravitate toward a professional simulator, and those that strive to replicate, as close as possible, a Level D simulation. No matter which group you belong, there is a requirement for a feature-rich, reliable, and stable Instructor Operator Station (IOS).

This post will introduce the Instructor Station FS-FlightControl, developed by AB-Tools GmbH, a company located in Germany. The review is not meant to be comprehensive as such a document would be as long as the product’s operating manual. Rather, we will examine some of the product’s features prior to making an assessment of the software’s reliability and ease of use.

What is IOS - Do I need It

IOS is an acronym for Instructor Operating Station. At its simplest, it's the menu system in Flight Simulator that enables you to choose from several parameters to create a pre-programmed flight scenario.

A dedicated instructor station is far more than a few options to alter the time, place, and scenario in the simulator. A good instructor station should enable you to set basic flight scenarios, in addition to being able to monitor set tasks and parameters. The software should provide clear and readable displays, be set out logically, be easy to operate, and also be able to initiate system failures. Furthermore, the software must be stable, reliable and consistent in its output.

There are several Instructor Operating Stations available on the market and most high-level avionics suites come with a ready-made IOS as part of their software. Therefore, the question must be asked - why is there a need to purchase a stand-alone IOS.

Put bluntly, many generic instructor stations have been added at the back-end of an avionics suite. These instructor stations can lack functionality, features, and ease of use. Furthermore, their layout is often not optimal or configurable.

Screen shot showing the POSITION page display of IOS. Note the easy to navigate menu at the bottom area of the screen (twelve modules). This menu system is available on allIOS pages and enables quick and easy navigation between modules

IOS Features - FS-FlightControl

The features and functionality that are supported by IOS are extensive, however, bear in mind that the instructor station has been designed to operate across different simulator platforms and avionics suites; not every feature may operate with the intended avionics suite. For example, flight plans can be generated and sent to FSX in the standard .pln format, but they cannot be send directly to ProSim-AR in the correct format (as at the time of writing).

I have purposely not duplicated what has already been written on the FS-FlightControl website. The website provides a well detailed description of the features and functionality of the software and includes numerous screen shots.

Broadly speaking, IOS has been developed around 12 main modules. Like-minded themes have been grouped into whatever module is specific to the subject. If the information exceeds what can be displayed on one page, then one or more sub-pages (sub-tabs) are provided. There is a gamut of features

Main Modules

Position: Aircraft re-position, runway preference, aircraft scenario, approach presets, airport selection and re-position options.

Map: Street map, satellite map and height map. Navaids, AI aircraft, weather, aircraft location, compass and route/flight plan overlay.

Flight Planing: Route and flight plan generation with load tool. Importing and exporting of data with flight plan generated onto roving MAP.

Conditions: Environmental conditions relating to weather (artificial and real-time), visibility (CAT presets), winds, clouds, precipitation, altitude levels, barometric pressure, presets, time and season, accelerated time, and user-generated conditions. This section is very detailed and is examined in several sub-tabs. Many of the presets are as easy as clicking a button on the screen. For example, ILS visibility conditions can be generated by clicking one of the CAT buttons (CAT I, II, III, IIIa/b/c).

Push back: Graphical interface enabling push back of aircraft at any angle and distance.

Fuel/Load: Fuel volume, passenger, crew and cargo weights, aircraft weights (ZFW), center of gravity (%CG) and load tool.

View/Slew: Alters external camera views of aircraft and enables the slewing of aircraft.

Failures: Aircraft system failure conditions that can be triggered immediately, at pre-defined times, or at random.

Statistics: Approach statistics - Graphical representation of aircraft in relation to vertical and lateral position, aircraft position, ground altitude, vertical speed, pitch, and bank angle. Results can be exported to Google Earth for further analysis.

Network: Module to control all computers and software within your simulation network (server and any number of client computers).

Aircraft: Selectable list of aircraft options re: altitude, speed, direction, radios, TCAS alert status, engine parameter outputs, throttle outputs, autopilot, light and switches, etc.

Settings: Customization of all aircraft, map, and program parameters: colours, fonts, map layouts, etc. Additionally, other variables can be customised such as CAT visibilities and decision heights.

Favoured Features

I’ll be honest, the more I use IOS the more I enjoy my simulation experience. At the very least, IOS provides a reliable way to store various approach scenarios to numerous airports at different times, seasons and weather conditions. Granted, that this can be done from the flight simulator menu, however, it cannot be done as cleanly nor as quickly as it can from the IOS module.

Although I do not use all the features available in the program, there are several that I continually use. It is these I will discuss in further detail.

POSITION: Position refers to the position of the aircraft whether it be on the ground or in the air. IOS enables the user to select from several ground positions such as the gate, runway, terminal, base approach, straight-in approach, etc. A click of the mouse will position your aircraft to any of several preset locations.

I find this to be a very good time saver, especially if you do not want to simulate a long taxi or some other part of the flight but wish to concentrate only on one aspect – such as the approach phase. In addition to various presets, this page also allows customized approaches to be generated and saved.

Another aspect of this page deserves mention; the ability to select a chosen aircraft livery, parameter list (fuel state, trim, radio frequencies, etc) and save this to custom-named 'slot'. This is another time-saving feature and easy method to choose a pre-saved livery of an aircraft type.

STATISTICS: For those who fly by the numbers and want to improve their approach techniques, the statistics section provides a graphical interface that records the vertical and lateral deviation of the approach. It also records airspeed, vertical speed and several other characteristics.

CONDITIONS: Conditions broadly refers to environmental and weather conditions at the airport selected, or at various pre-selected waypoints or weather stations. Changing weather conditions, visibility, season and time is as easy as clicking a button.

This page is exceptionally feature-rich and the instructor station can generate live weather, weather from an imported METAR string or any number of pre-saved weather themes. For those interested in setting up specific weather events, for flight training, it is very easy to do so.

Screenshot showing MAP display page. Many advanced features that can be displayed as a map overlay. The tabs along the sides of the page can be clicked to turn features on or off

MAP: The map is a hidden gem that enables you to overlay a wealth of information onto a street or satellite map of the area of operation.

For example, the user aircraft and AI aircraft are graphically represented along with all navigation aids which includes VORS, NDBs, high and low jetways, ILS feathers and waypoints. Wind direction and current barometric pressure can also be displayed along with the current SID, STAR or route. Whilst on the ground all aprons, runways and taxiways are shown. Navigating to an assigned runway could not be easier as the user aircraft icon shows the position of the aircraft at all times.

As with all windows, the MAP can be displayed as a separate screen on another monitor. Therefore, it is possible to have IOS open on two monitors with one monitor showing the MAP view while the other monitor displays a different view.

An added advantage is the ability to position your aircraft anywhere on the map and create a position fix along with altitude, direction, pitch, bank, airspeed and radio frequencies. This information can be saved for future activation from the POSITION page. This enables you to quickly and easily set-up an approach and save this approach for future use.

For those that fly on-line, VATSIM, IVAO and PilotEdge are supported.

NETWORK: IOS enables the user to program the software to control what programs open or close on any computer that is connected to the network.

For example, I use a batch file to open and close flight simulator, ProSim-AR and other FS related programs (weather, flight analysis, etc). IOS when turned on from the client will automatically execute the opening of the batch file on the server computer. Likewise, when triggered, IOS will engage the batch file I use to close flight simulator and other ancillary programs. Additionally, a time delay can be configured to cause a delay between the closure of programs and the turning off of the server computer.

Screenshot showing the PUSH BACK display page

Installation of IOS - Server and Client

The software package is downloaded from the developer’s website and consists of a self-extracting .exe file.

As IOS has networking capability, it's not necessary to install IOS to the computer that has flight simulator installed; it will operate on a client computer. Additionally, a wizard is used to direct you through the installation process and configuration. Networking to a client is done via SimConnect. FSUPIC and WideFS are not required.

Although networking is achieved through the use of SimConnect which can, at times, be problematic, I did not experience any issues.

Configuration

Configuring the program to suit your requirements is done from the SETTINGS page. Variables can be altered for each aircraft, and aircraft profiles can easily be created that save particular parameters or conditions. Likewise, the software can be altered to enable a particular font style and colour to be displayed along with a zoom value and size. The process is straightforward.

Pretty much everything in IOS is able to be configured to your liking.

One aspect of IOS I found to be very handy, was that when you close the instructor station it will keep the last known settings. This means the parameters for the next flight session (if not altered) will be identical to the last.

Ease of Use

Screenshot showing the FAILURES display page. Note the open conditions call-out box. There are several sub-pages (sub-tabs) that deal with failures. Failures are an important asset to enthusiasts striving for realism

The IOS program is set-out intuitively and the various pages (modules) follow a logical sequence with like-minded themes bundled together on the same page. The twelve page main menu located at the bottom of each page is promulgated across all pages and enables quick access to various features.

Unlike other instructor stations, all information relating to a specific theme is located on the one main page (for example, failures or position page); it is not necessary to navigate between several pages trying to find the information. Furthermore, the screen display can resized to either fill your display or only part fill it.

Another advantage is the implementation of large-style buttons that enable quick and accurate identification of a module. Everything is easy to find and access.

Program Administration

Program administration encapsulates the opening and closing of programs from one or multiple computers.

Without an instructor station or the use of batch files, several programs must be opened on the client and server computer to begin a flight. This takes time and the process can be unwieldy.

If the instructor station is configured correctly, it is a two-step process to begin a flight. First the computers must be turned on. Second, from the client the FS-ControlControl IOS icon is depressed. Once IOS opens on the client computer it will communicate with the server computer (via SimConnect) and open any number of programs on the server (assuming they have been configured correctly in the IOS NETWORK page).

Once Flight Simulator opens and you are on the flight line it’s only a matter of using the instructor station to alter any variables particular to the flight (airport, aircraft position, weather, fuel, weight, etc). All changes are automatically promulgated across the network to Flight Simulator.

The important aspect to note, is that other than turning on the server and client computers, everything is done from the one screen on the client computer using the one mouse/keyboard. Likewise, when closing the simulator session everything can be done, including turning off the server computer, from the instructor station.

Cross-Platform Operations

The IOS operates with Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX/FS10) including Steam Edition, and with Lockheed Martin Prepar3D® 1.x, 2.x and 3.x. in a Windows environment. A separate APP is available for Android and Apple (iOS). The software works traditionally using the keyboard and mouse in addition to being optimized for touch screens. IOS can be run either on the computer that has Flight Simulator installed or from a networked client computer.

Stability and Speed

The last thing anyone wants is a crash to desktop caused by a bug-ridden piece of software that exhibits stability issues, poor performance, and does not operate consistently.

The stability of the instructor station is excellent. In my simulator set-up the IOS is installed on a client computer and networked to Flight Simulator located on a server computer. The software loads quickly and interacts with the simulator seamlessly.

The speed at which software interacts with Flight Simulator is important and it’s pleasing to note that IOS commands do not exhibit any significant time lag between the client and server computers. There is no time lag when switching between any of the interface screens on the instructor station. Surprisingly, this includes the MAP mode. Often a high definition map with several overlays cannot generate its resultant map within an acceptable time.

This said, internet connection speed may cause users to experience different speeds.

The time taken to open the instructor station from the icon on the client computer is approximately 10-15 seconds.

Screenshot showing the CONDITIONS display page. This page has several sub-pages that deal with conditions. For example, real weather, presets, season, ILS visibility and accelerated time. Note the display box in the lower left side that shows the frame rates

Updates to IOS (Annual Fee)

The software developer is very proactive and software updates with improvements, minor fixes and new features are regularly provided free of charge.

However, the update period is only for one year following purchase. After this period has lapsed, an annual fee will need to be paid to enable future updates to be used. The annual fee is only for updates, the original software will still function.

Do you need to update ? If you are happy with what you have, then no. However, if you are seeking specific functionality then an update may have this functionality. A list showing the updates can be read in the INFO section of the software.

The developer realizes that each person’s requirements for an instructor station is different, and as such, entertains ideas and suggestions for additional features or improvements from end-users.

Support

FS-FlightControl does not have a dedicated forum, however the developer replies promptly to all e-mails sent via the software help page.

A benefit of sending e-mail directly from the software is that the log files from your system are automatically attached to any outgoing message. This enables the developer to easily understand the issue, saves time in asking for further information, and leads to a faster resolution.

Dedicated Manual

A manual for any in-depth software is an absolute necessity. It is pleasing to note that the developer has written a manual and does not rely on a forum to provide answers to common questions.

The manual, which reflects the latest software build, is accessed from the FS-FlightControl IOS website. If necessary a .pdf is available on request.

Additionally, the manual can also be accessed directly from the software. Each page has several small question marks (?) that when clicked navigate the user to the appropriate help section in the manual. If you find the questions marks unsightly, then they can be turned off from the SETTINGS page.

Software Trial

This review has only examined several of the features that the instructor station is capable of. To enable a comprehensive examination of the software, IOS can be installed with full functionality (including any prospective updates) for a period of 14 days. After this time has elapsed, the software will need to be purchased.

Final Call

Considering the scope of what an instructor station does and how it can be used to enhance the effectiveness of a simulator, there is little doubt that a good IOS is essential.

I've spent considerable time using the FS-FlightControl IOS and although this review touches on but a few of the features of IOS, I believe this software to be superior to other contemporary products. It certainly has enhanced how I use the simulator leading to a more enjoyable experience.

The IOS software and further information can be downloaded at FS-FlightControl IOS.

Please note I have no affiliation with FS-FlightControl. I have not been provided with ‘free’ software, nor did I receive a discount in return for a favourable review. The comments and recommendations I have made are my own.
Flight Simulator, in this article, refers to the use FSX/FS10. I use the B737 avionics suite developed by ProSim-AR.

Update

Since this review there have been several updated releases that have implemented a number of new ideas and rectified shortcomings.

ProSim-AR users will be pleased that an update includes the ability to import and export flight plans to the ProSim-AR database as an .xml file (10 character file name). The update also enables synchronisation with the FMS, and display of the flight plan on the IOS map.

September 18, 2013

Handy Software to Determine Hard Drive Usage - HD Graph

September 18, 2013/ Flaps 2 Approach

Every now and again I find a program which is very handy. We all know that flight simulator is hard drive hungry; once scenery files and other specialist files are added the hard drive can fill up very quickly.

HD Graph is a standalone program (does not need to be installed to your computer) that allows you to interrogate your hard drive to graphically display the hard disk space usage. It shows all the directories and subdirectories of the hard drive on a single graph, allowing to see the largest directories at a glance.

At the moment the tool is available free of charge from the HD Graph website.

April 09, 2013

Batch Files & Flight-1 Program Launcher - Time Savers

April 09, 2013/ Flaps 2 Approach

Using Flight Simulator from a flight deck is not as straightforward as many may believe. Before a flight can commence several programs must be started on two or more computers. These programs include, but are not limited to; Flight Simulator, ProSim737 (main module, MCP, audio, instructor station, CDU & display modules), FSRAAS, Electronic Flight Bag, WideFS, PM Sounds and so on...

Although it's not exceptionally time consuming, it does become tiresome using the mouse to activate each program, even if you have shortcuts established on the Microsoft shortcut bar.

There are numerous methods that can be used to open programs: FSUIPC, WideFS, add on programs such as Flight-1, or a batch file. However, many virtual pilots lack the necessary skills or confidence to successfully interpret FSUIPC or write a batch file that works the way it's supposed to.

Flight-1 Program Launcher

Flight-1 Program Launcher is a very easy program that makes starting a flight session exceptionally easy. In two mouse clicks you can have ALL the required programs opened and ready to use.

Simplicity

The program is standalone, meaning it can reside anywhere on your computer system and does not install into the flight simulator folder directory. The program interface is very easy to use.

After installation you need to create a list of programs you want the launcher to open. To do this you click the browse button on the launcher's interface and search for the executable file (.exe) of the target program, and add it to the list and save.

The Flight-1 Launcher only opens programs, it does not close them

You can select which program starts first, second and so forth.... When you save your preferences a small autostart.cfg file is created in the Flight-1 program folder; this is your preference list (example at left).

Flight-1 launcher - works out of the box

I've been using this nifty program for a few weeks now and have had no issues what-so-ever with it. It works "out of the box" as designed, and best of all it's shareware!

Flight-1 Program launcher is a free add on available at Flight-1 website.

Writing Your Own Batch File

It's a simple process to bypass the above-mentioned program and write your own batch file. If you write your own batch file you can also include a batch that closes the programs in addition to opening them. I've outlined how to make a batch file to close programs. The same can be done for opening programs but, with different syntax.

Open Notepad ad the editor. Go to "Start" and click on "Accessories." Select "Notepad" from the menu.
Find the file names of the programs you want to close. With the programs running that you want to close, right-click on the task bar and click the "Task Manager" option. Select the "Processes" tab to view a list of file names that are currently running.
Use the "taskkill" command (or whatever command you wish) along with the file names you got from Task Manager. Write a separate command for each file you want to close. Each command line should look like the following example: taskkill /im filename.exe. If one of the programs you are closing is Firefox, the command line would read: taskkill /im firefox.exe.
Save your new application as a .BAT file. Select "Save As" and manually type ".BAT" at the end of the file name you gave to the batch file you just created.
Run the batch file. Double-click on the new application to run it. All the programs you included in the batch file should shut down properly.

A shortcut can then be made to the created file and placed into your shortcut folder. To edit the batch file, right click the file and select edit.

The syntax required to ensure a batch file works correctly can vary between computer operating systems and your requirements. I'd recommend a quick search on the Internet to determine the best syntax to use (Google "how to write a opening batch file").

A benefit of using a batch file is that you have to only click one button with your mouse to open or close all the programs required to operate Flight Simulator.

A typical batch file used to open programs is outlined below. This batch file refers to the main flight simulator computer.

@Echo off
Echo. Loading software. ALPHA MAIN COMPUTER (alpha is the name of the computer)
start /d "C:\pmSounds" pmSounds.exe
TIMEOUT 2
start /d "C:\Pro Sim\ProSim737" Prosim737.exe
TIMEOUT 9
start /d "C:\Pro Sim\ProSimMCP" ProsimMCP.exe
TIMEOUT 7
start /d "C:\Pro Sim\ProSimAudio" ProsimAudio.exe
TIMEOUT 3
start /d "C:\FsRaas20" FsRaas20.exe
TIMEOUT 2
start /d "C:\LOLA" LoLa17.exe
TIMEOUT 3
start /d "C:\FS10" fsx.exe

Another method of writing the above batch file is outlined below - although the syntax between the batch files is different the outcome is identical.

@Echo off
Echo. Loading software. ALPHA MAIN COMPUTER
ping -n 2 127.0.0.1 >nul
start /d "C:\pmSounds" pmSounds.exe
ping -n 2 127.0.0.1 >nul
start /d "C:\Pro Sim\ProSim737" Prosim737.exe
ping -n 4 127.0.0.1 >nul
start /d "C:\Pro Sim\ProSimMCP" ProsimMCP.exe
ping -n 2 127.0.0.1 >nul
start /d "C:\Pro Sim\ProSimAudio" ProsimAudio.exe
ping -n 2 127.0.0.1 >nul
start /d "C:\FsRaas20" FsRaas20.exe
ping -n 2 127.0.0.1 >nul
start /d "C:\LOLA" LoLa17.exe
ping -n 2 127.0.0.1 >nul
start /d "C:\FS10" fsx.exe

The numeral after TIMEOUT and png -n relates to the number of seconds that must pass before the next program opens.

For those that are curious, @Echooff triggers a command to prevent the command text from being visible on the screen when the batch file is executed.

Closing Programs - Batch Closure File

The best method to close your simulation dependent programs is to create a closure batch file that closes each program sequentially.

Although it's a simple task to closes programs simultaneously (end processes in Windows Task Manager), there is debate in the computer community to whether killing a program straight-out is a good idea; one school of thought suggests that killing several programs simultaneous may cause problems, if a program is writing files to its file structure and not enough time is allowed for this to be completed.

For this reason, I'm hesitant to close Flight Simulator (or other programs) using a closure batch file without a timeout or delay sequence. Needless to say, it's an easy process to configure a time delay into a batch file to create a delay before closing each program.

Time-outs

Depending upon your computer specifications some programs may open and close at differing speeds. If you want to ensure that a program is opened or closed before the next program, then a delay sequence will need to be timed into your batch file. There are several ways to do this and the syntax varies.

Below is a typical batch file used to close programs on the main flight simulator computer or server.

@Echo off
Echo. Closing software. ALPHA MAIN COMPUTER
taskkill /im PMSounds.exe
TIMEOUT 3
taskkill /im wideclient.exe
TIMEOUT 5
taskkill /im ProSimAudio.exe
TIMEOUT 3
taskkill /im ProsimMCP.exe
TIMEOUT 5
taskkill /im Prosim737.exe
TIMEOUT 10
taskkill /im FsRaas20.exe
TIMEOUT 5
taskkill /im LoLa17.exe
TIMEOUT 5
taskkill /im FSRealTime.exe
TIMEOUT 2
taskkill /im fsx.exe

The timeout command is used to trigger a delay between the closure of the programs, ensuring that any read/write requirements are able to occur before the next program closes. The numeral denotes seconds. The timeout settings on this file are a little long and probably should be shortened.

IM specifies the image name of the process to be terminated. For example, PMSounds.exe

You will note I've used Taskkill to close the programs. Taskkill will cause the program to terminate gracefully (1), asking for confirmation if there are unsaved changes. To forcefully kill the same process, add the /F option to the command line. Be careful with the /F option as it will terminate all processes without confirmation or saving of data.

(1) Information regarding Taskkill obtained from several Internet resources.

I am NOT a computer technician. The batch files I created for my simulator set-up have worked flawlessly and I am confident, with the correct syntax for your system, they will also work for you.

If you are like me and tire of opening and closing several programs with a mouse, then try a batch file, or at the very least download and trial the Flight-1 Program Launcher.

February 03, 2013

B737 Training - Videos by Angle of Attack (AoA) - Basic Review

February 03, 2013/ Flaps 2 Approach

“In the later part of the evening and occasionally into the wee hours of the morning, a hearty group of individuals - most of them seemingly rational, grown men and women with professional daytime jobs - sit perched in front of computer monitors with sweaty palms tightly clenching flight yokes. Distant cries of "Honey, come to bed" have long since fallen on deaf ears as, with razor-sharp concentration, these virtual airmen skilfully guide their chosen aircraft down glide paths to airports across the world. The late night silence is shattered by screeches of virtual rubber on the runway immediately followed by the deafening whine of reverse engine thrusters and finally a sign of relief from the flight deck - also known, in many instances as a desk! “

Why do we enjoy flight simulator?

Is it the technical challenge learning integrated computer generated management systems, or the enjoyment of landing a virtual jetliner on a runway in limited visibility and a crosswind. Perhaps it’s the perception of travelling to far flung locations that you probably would never visit, or maybe it’s the enjoyment received from constructing something from nothing (a flight deck).

Which Aircraft Today - Basic Airmanship

There are many people very happy messing about with whatever they are flying. Some will be using home computers and a joystick, others small generic style flight decks – all will have, to some degree, a level of airmanship.

Whatever level, every individual will require at some point instruction in “how to fly” and "how to use the various avionics and instrumentation" - more so in B737 than a Cessna 172.

Flight Training –Remove Automation

A high-end simulator is a substantial investment both in time and funds. Therefore, to obtain the best “Bang for Buck” as the Americans say, it’s more satisfying to accomplish a flight the correct way rather than the wrong way. The B737 has numerous interfacing flight management systems and it’s important to understand what these systems do and how they interact with each other in certain phases of flight.

Flying the B737 in auto pilot mode is not difficult; the Flight Management System (FMS) does most of calculations and work for you and if you use autoland - well what else is there to do but watch. But flying this way can be counterintuitive as you don’t really have full control of the aircraft; to fully appreciate the aircraft for what it is, you must deactivate the auto pilot and other automation and fly “hands on”.

Once the automation is deactivated, task levels multiply as several layers of information present themselves; information that must be assimilated quickly to enable correct decisions to made. There's little room for second guessing and you must have a good working knowledge of how the various flight controls and systems interact with each other. Add to this, inclement "virtual" weather, limited visibility, navigational challenges, landing approaches, charts, STARS, NDBS, VORS and a crosswind, and you'll find you have a lot to do in a relatively short space of time; if you want to land your virtual airliner in one piece. And, this is not mentioning your pet dog nuzzling your leg wanting immediate attention or your girlfriend querying why the dirty dinner dishes haven't be washed!!

A page scanned from the 737-800 FCOM. books contain a lot of information, however, they rely on the reader talready having a good understanding of the 737 systems

Technical Publications

A lot of information is readily obtainable from technical publications, on-line sources, and from the content of forums. There are several excellent texts available that go into depth regarding the technical aspects of the B737 and cover off on a lot of the topics a real and virtual pilot may need to know (I will be looking at a few of them in future posts). But, for the most part these texts are technical in nature and are do not include the "how to" of flight training.

One very good source of information is the B737 Flight Crew Operations Manual (FCOM).

Tutorials - PMDG

Two “how to” tutorials written by Tom Metzinger and Fred Clausen are in circulation. These tutorials deal with the Precision Manuals Development Group (PMDG) B737 NG. These tutorials provide an excellent basis to learning how to fly the B737 and what you need to do during certain phases of flight. Two further tutorials are available for the 737 NGX, however, they are not freely obtainable unless you have purchased the PMDG B737 NG or NGX software package.

That Nagging Feeling……Correct or incorrect ?

Despite the books, tutorials and manuals, there's always that nagging feeling that something has not been covered, is incorrect, or has been misunderstood. We all have heard the saying “there are several ways to skin a cat”; flying is no different. A B737 line instructor informed me that there is "a huge amount of technique allowed when flying the B737". "There are certainly wrong ways to do things; but, there is often no single right way to do something". Often the method selected is not at the discretion of the pilot flying, but more the decision of airline management, company policies and ATC.

Visit any FS forum and you will quickly realize that many virtual flyers do things differently. So where does this leave the individual who wants to learn the correct way?

Short of enrolling into a real flight class, which is time consuming, very expensive and a little “over the top” for a hobby, the next option is to investigate various on-line training schools. To my knowledge, there aren’t many formal style training classes available that provide training in the B737.

Angle of Attack Flight Training (AoA)

Angle of Attack has developed a reasonably priced and thorough training program that incorporates ground, line and flight training for a number of differing aircraft types. Only recently has AoA completed their B737 ground and flight training video presentations, in what amounts to many hours of valuable training.

Much of the training material is presented in video format which can either be downloaded to your computer, mobile device or viewed on-line. The content of the videos is very high resolution, well structured, professionally narrated, easy to follow, and most importantly – interesting and informative.

HD Video, Tutorials, Flows & Checklists for all B737 Systems

AoA have followed the real-world aviation industry standard by providing a lot of system training using "flows". A flow is a animated diagram showing step by step the correct method of doing something. In many instances a .pdf document can be downloaded to provide a "memory jogger" for you to replicate the flow when in the simulator.

Many of the training videos build upon knowledge already gained from texts such as the Flight Crew Operations Manual (FCOM), and the use of video as opposed to only reading, provides a differing method of education which helps you to develop a greater understanding.

Video flight tutorials which take you through from pushback to shutdown and demonstrate the correct procedure for conducting a flight.

AoA only provides training for the B737 NGX, however, much of the material is backwards compatible with the B737 NG series airframes. The video training utilises the 737 NGX model produced by Precision Manuals Development Group (PMDG) and does not use a real aircraft.

Despite these two shortcomings (NGX & not a real aircraft), the training offered is exceptional, one of a kind, and in my opinion reasonably priced.

Navigate to the Angle of Attack website for further information.

June 14, 2012

Runway Awareness & Advisory System (RAAS) - FS Add On

June 14, 2012/ Flaps 2 Approach

A runway incursion is an incident where an unauthorized aircraft, vehicle or person is on a runway. This adversely affects runway safety, as it creates the risk that an airplane taking off or landing will collide with the object. Runways incursions are not uncommon. One carrier, Alaska Airlines has introduced an additional warning system in their flight decks to counter against this potential problem. The system is called RAAS or Runway Awareness and Advisory System.

The Runway Awareness and Advisory System developed by Honeywell in 2003, provides pilots with audible alerts when they approach and enter taxiways and runways. The system confirms runway identifications to help ensure pilots are on the correct runway with enough distance to complete takeoff, and provides an audible warning if a pilot inadvertently accelerates for takeoff while on a taxiway.

RAAS is not compulsory in the real world, but is an option that is purchased by an airline. The use of RAAS is a nice addition to include in your flight deck. Dongjin Shin, a software engineer has developed RAAS for us to use in flight simulator. His program is called FsRAAS Runway Advisory.

Software Installation and Make Runways

The program is a stand-alone program, meaning it does not need to be installed into flight simulator; it can be run from anywhere on your computer, however, I have been 'informed' the recommended place for installation of the software is in the same folder that FSUPIC is installed (FS10 root directory/modules).

Once the program has been installed, it is necessary to synchronise the runway data in your scenery file with FsRAAS. To not do this will cause erroneous call-outs. To synchronise the runway .bdl file you run MakeRunways 4.692 developed by Peter Dowson. This software is stand-alone and can be downloaded for free (MakeRunways). Follow the instructions carefully and once the software has been run, copy the generated r4.csv file found in the modules folder to the same folder that you have FsRAAS installed. Copying this file will ensure that FsRAAS is synchronised with the airports in your scenery file. It's important to remember that if you update your scenery, MakeRunways will need to run again and the file copied across to FsRAAS folder.

FsRAAS can be started before or after FSX; I prefer to start the program after FSX has been configured for flight. I have a shortcut to FsRAAS on my desktop menu and after FSX is running I click the shortcut and FsRAAS immediately starts and minimises. At the moment, FsRAAS cannot be run from client computers as it does not support WideFS. However, the computer workload of running this very small add on is not noticeable on high-end computers. The program does require FSUPIC for correct operation.

Evaluation

My initial evaluation of FsRAAS has been excellent and I’ve incorporated this program into my flight deck. The program will provide, at the minimum, the following audible call-outs;

Approaching/crossing taxiway
Approaching/crossing runway
Flaps not set call out (flaps flaps flaps)
Lined up on runway (ie: runway 34R call-out)
Runway distance remaining after take off roll (eg: 2000 feet remaining call-out)
Runway distance remaining after landing and roll out
Approaching runway on final approach (approaching 34R call-out)

The software's .ini file can be easily altered to reflect certain changes in the various call outs such as distance to a runways, approach speed, etc. The .ini file is found in the FsRAAS folder.

My only vague criticism (if pushed) is that the call-outs are slightly delayed when approaching a runway or taxiway. The program is currently a free program and can be downloaded directly from Shin's blog site, or search the AVSIM library for FsRAAS11-1, or the latest release FsRAAS 2.

Below is a short embedded video of the FsRAAS courtesy of the developer.

Update

on 2012-07-03 06:16 by FLAPS 2 APPROACH

A new version of FsRAAS has been released which rectifies some of the shortcomings in the original version and adds additional functionality. It is called, not surprisingly FsRAAS V2.

Update

on 2018-03-23 11:53 by FLAPS 2 APPROACH

Recently, FsRAAS V2 stopped working on my client. Despite considerable fault-finding I could not establish why this occurred. Speaking with other enthusiasts, I discovered that I was not alone as others had the identical problem. Therefore, I did further research to determine if another RAAS add on was available.

Note that FsRAAS V2 does not operate on the Prepar 3D simulator platform.

I purchased from FS2Crew FS2Crew Professional RAAS. The Software replicates the original callouts produced by Honeywell (the developer of the RAAS system).

To read a full review of FS2Crew Professional RAAS, navigate to RAAS Professional - Review.

May 26, 2012

Are The Engines Running - B738 Sound

May 26, 2012/ Flaps 2 Approach

One of the main purposes of building a flight deck is to increase the realism and immersion levels when simulating flight. You want to move real yokes, flick real switches and spin real rotaries whilst maintaining focus on real instruments within a modern glass flight deck.

Simmers go to exuberant lengths to create the illusion of flight. Purpose built flight decks, aircraft shells, real aviation equipment and stunning external visuals all add to the immersion effect. But, what about sound – in particular realistic aircraft engine sounds.

But what about sound……

All of us have had that dejavoo feeling when we have smelt a certain smell or heard a certain noise and are projected back to that event and time. Vietnam veterans often have vivid flash-backs when they hear news helicopters flitting overhead. We all can recall a song within out romantic past which conjures up images of a past partner or event. The power of sound and smell cannot be underestimated.

If the engine sound of your chosen aircraft is perfect or near perfect you will barely notice it – the sound will blend with everything else. However, if the sound is not correct or is video arcade game-like, you will always be thinking how it can be improved. This is especially so if you’re using the standard stock FS9 (FS2004) or FSX aircraft engine sound.

I feel confident saying that: “with decent sound, your one notch higher concerning realism and immersion”.

Sound makes a huge difference to the simulation experience. When on final approach, concentrating on flight adjustments and jigging with the throttle to obtain the correct thrust, the sound you hear, if realistic, will make you forget you’re sitting in your spare room! It’s like that smell or sound I mentioned earlier – you’re mentally transported back to the source. I recently trialled the PMDG 737-800NGX in the simulator, and the first thing my girlfriend in an adjoining room exclaimed was “that sounds like a real plane”.

The recently released PMDG 737NGX has an exceptional sound package; however, not everyone flies this aircraft model. What is available to augment or replace the default flight simulator sound files?

Turbine Sounds Studio (TSS)

Turbine Sounds Studio (TSS) produces a variety of different sound packages that are direct recordings of the real aircraft engine sounds. The sounds have been professionally recorded from specific aircraft types and in my opinion are exceptionally good and eons ahead of anything supplied by Microsoft.

The package to purchase for the B737NG is the: Boeing 737NG CFM56-7B HD Sound Pack for FSX. If you fly the older classic series B737, TSS also produces a sound package specific to the 300,400 and 500 series aircraft. To actually hear a sample of the sounds, I recommend your navigate to their website at http://www.turbinesoundstudios.com/

turbine sound studios have a large collection of sound packages available

TTS – Software Installation

The software provides you with an executable file, which when selected, will download to your desktop a “sound” folder containing a number of engine, instrument and ambient sounds specific to the aircraft type. It’s just a matter of backing up your original sound folder in the aircraft of choice and copying the TSS sound folder in its place.

How To Add Custom Sounds

If you’re not happy with every sound in the package, it’s quite easy to remove or replace a particular sound with another favourite. Search for the sound folder, usually located within the aircraft folder (FS10/sim objects/aircraft). Within this folder you will discover various sounds and a sound.cfg file. If there are no sound files within the folder, they maybe aliased to another folder in another aircraft. Open the sound.cfg file and note the folder/file location. Follow the trail until you actually discover where the .wav files are stored.

It's important that when you replace sounds, that the replacement sound is in the same format and has the same file name as the file you are replacing. If the file name is different, you will need to alter the specific parameter in the sound.cfg file to reflect the file name change. The same is for the location of the sound (if this if different). The sound.cfg file must have the correct name, format and location of the actual .wav sound.

Always back-Up Before Editing

Always backup the folder and files you wish to edit BEFORE editing anything. If you make a mistake or something is not quite right, it's then easy and straightforward to put your system back to where it was beforehand.

In my set-up I am using the base NGX sound pack installed into the FS9 737-800; but I have customized a few of the sounds to those that I prefer.

If you want a more or less accurate sound set for the B737, but don't want to go to spend the time hand-picking, renaming and customizing your sound files, then either give TSS a fly or use the PMDG NGX sound set, which is a tad more realistic than the set provided with the PMDG FS9 737. Whichever set you choose (or combination thereof), it will be far better than the default sound that comes packaged with flight simulator.

In a future post I’ll tackle the issue of separating sounds to different speakers on different networked computers. This allows you to have ATC through the headset, engine sounds left and right of the flight deck and other sounds played through another pair of strategically placed speakers..

Well, I’m more or less pleased with my sounds. Should I throw some avgas on the carpet to get that aviation smell….

Update

on 2020-06-18 03:08 by FLAPS 2 APPROACH

Since the release of this product there have been many advances in sound capture and generation. Turbine Sound Studios (TSS) have produced a selection of products for varying aircraft types. To see the complete collection of available sounds, navigate to Turbine Sound Studios.

Note I have no affiliation with this store and do not receive any endorsement from them.

March 02, 2012

737 Fuel Management Program

March 02, 2012/ Flaps 2 Approach

Flight planning is a large part of flying the 737, in real life and virtually.

Yes you can fly with the three fuel tanks full, however, bear in mind that you will not be simulating a real flight. Airlines rarely fly an aircraft between two locations with a full fuel load, unless it’s required for operational use or safety.

Fuel is heavy, and the additional weight requires more power and fuel to move between locations. This equates to an increased expense. Airlines usually only carry enough fuel to reach their destination, taxi, and one or two alternate airports.

You can calculate the appropriate load sheets, distances between airports, winds, altitudes to be flown, and alternate airports. But this can be time consuming, and often you don’t want to simulate the paper trail that goes hand in hand with getting a 737 into the air. For those keen on paperwork and simulating everything, I recommend the program TOPCAT - Take-Off and Landing Performance Calculation Tool.

Ross Carlson has created a very handy and functional fuel management tool to use. The program is stand-alone and does not need to be installed into the flight simulator directory or to C://drive/Programs; the software can be installed to and run from any folder including your desktop. Initially designed to work with the Boeing 737NG developed by Precision Manuals Development Group, the utility works well for other 737 aircraft, provided they have the same operating limitations and fuel tank capacities that the software was designed.

The only issue to be wary of is that the aircraft you are flying matches the same weights as those used by PMDG.

Supports 737-600, 737-700, 737-800 and 737-900.
Values can be entered and displayed in pounds or kilograms.
Reads payload (passenger and baggage) weights via FSUIPC.
Calculates en route fuel burn based on cruise altitude and trip distance.
Calculates fuel burn to reach alternate airport.
Calculates increased or reduced fuel consumption due to forecast winds en route.
Allowances for taxi-out fuel burn, holding fuel burn, and minimum landing fuel.
Indicates if any parameters exceed aircraft operating limitations.
Sets actual fuel levels in your aircraft via FSUIPC.
One simple .exe file, no external DLL or data files required.
Loads first 1,000 pounds of fuel into the center tank to keep pumps submerged.
Accredited for use with registered non-registered copies of FSUIPC.

Operation

I've been using this fuel planner or quite sometime and it works quite well. I open a flight and then run the fuel planner and change the variables as required. Then, after I've boarded the fuel I exit the fuel planner program.

The only let down with the program, and this probably is an advanced feature not deemed necessary when the program was developed, is that it doesn't provide %CG which is used in a CDU to determine your takeoff trim.

Search google for PMDG fuel planner and you will find several sites that allow you to download the program. Alternatively, download the software from the file download tab.

January 25, 2012

Live ATC - Listen to ATC In Real Time

January 25, 2012/ Flaps 2 Approach

Many virtual aviators are confused when it comes to understanding the language used by air traffic control and pilots. The three questions often asked are:

What to say ?
When to say it ?
How to say it ?

There are several on-line tutorials available to learn air traffic control and aviation language, however, often a far easier and more interesting method is to actually hear ATC talking to pilots and vice versa. This in conjunction with a little reading can get you up and flying quickly without making mistakes when flying on-line.

To listen to live ATC, go to Live ATC, select your airport code and frequency and sit back a listen. The frequencies are already on the website, so all you need is the ICAO or IATA code of your airport.

Live ATC can be be listened to either via the web or if your "on the move" and really cannot be without ATC, then your android or i-phone. ATC is a volunteer organization, so expect some adverts on their website.