[194] | 1 | <html>
|
---|
[204] | 2 | <head>
|
---|
| 3 | <title>MAVA Logger X User's Manual</title>
|
---|
| 4 | <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />
|
---|
| 5 | </head>
|
---|
[194] | 6 | <body>
|
---|
[204] | 7 | <div align="center"><h1>MAVA Logger X User's Manual</h1></div>
|
---|
[194] | 8 |
|
---|
[228] | 9 | <h2><a name="overview">Overview</a></h2>
|
---|
[194] | 10 |
|
---|
| 11 | <p>
|
---|
| 12 | MAVA Logger X is an application that monitors the execution of a
|
---|
[251] | 13 | Malév Virtual flight, and collects data that can be sent to
|
---|
| 14 | the <a href="http://virtualairlines.hu">MAVA website</a> for further
|
---|
| 15 | evaluation. This manual describes how to use this program. To be
|
---|
| 16 | able to use all features of the program, you need to have a working
|
---|
| 17 | Internet connection, even if you don't fly on-line on VATSIM or
|
---|
| 18 | IVAO. However, it is possible to perform a flight completely offline
|
---|
| 19 | as well.
|
---|
[194] | 20 | </p>
|
---|
| 21 |
|
---|
[251] | 22 | <p><a name="flightRating"/>
|
---|
[219] | 23 | While monitoring your flight, the program continuously checks if your
|
---|
[194] | 24 | airplane's configuration is always within the parameters prescribed
|
---|
| 25 | by the airline's operating procedures. For example, you have to turn
|
---|
| 26 | on or off the various lights of your aircraft according to rules,
|
---|
| 27 | you cannot exceed certain weight or speed limits, and so on. Any
|
---|
[219] | 28 | deviation from the expected parameters, also known as a fault, can
|
---|
[194] | 29 | result in points subtracted from the initial 100 points (or
|
---|
| 30 | percentage). The result is your <i>flight rating</i>. Some
|
---|
| 31 | deviations are so serious, that they are deemed <i>NO GO</i> faults
|
---|
| 32 | and result in the rejection of your flight.
|
---|
| 33 | </p>
|
---|
| 34 |
|
---|
| 35 | <p>
|
---|
| 36 | Besides the faults the program also monitors many other parameters,
|
---|
[460] | 37 | which are recorded in a textual <a href="#logTab"><i>log</i></a>.
|
---|
[251] | 38 | This log is sent as a part of your PIREP
|
---|
[460] | 39 | (<b>PI</b>lot's <b>REP</b>ort), and will be analyzed, and possibly
|
---|
[251] | 40 | commented on by more experienced pilots of Malév Virtual. This way
|
---|
| 41 | you can perfect the way you execute your flights.
|
---|
[194] | 42 | </p>
|
---|
| 43 |
|
---|
[251] | 44 | <p><a name="flightStages"/>
|
---|
[194] | 45 | The application breaks up your flight into
|
---|
[460] | 46 | several <i>stage</i>s. The advancement from one stage to another is
|
---|
[194] | 47 | detected automatically. These stages and the conditions under which
|
---|
| 48 | they are entered are as follows:
|
---|
| 49 | <ol>
|
---|
| 50 | <li><b>boarding</b>: This is the initial stage when you start the
|
---|
| 51 | flight.</li>
|
---|
| 52 | <li><b>push-back and taxi</b>: If you release the parking brakes
|
---|
| 53 | or your ground speed becomes 5 knots or greater during the
|
---|
| 54 | boarding stage, your flight enters this stage.</li>
|
---|
[460] | 55 | <li><b>takeoff</b>: If you turn on the strobe lights
|
---|
[481] | 56 | during taxi or after a rejected takeoff (RTO). If your plane's
|
---|
| 57 | strobe lights cannot be detected properly, switching the transponder
|
---|
| 58 | to mode C causes the program to enter into this stage. If your plane has
|
---|
| 59 | no strobe lights, the program will track your status after
|
---|
[460] | 60 | exceeding 50 knots during the <i>taxi</i> stage, and if you lift
|
---|
[470] | 61 | off within less than 40 seconds, it will be considered a takeoff.</li>
|
---|
[194] | 62 | <li><b>climb</b>: When you retract the gears or you reach 3000
|
---|
| 63 | feet altitude AGL with a positive climb rate after takeoff.</li>
|
---|
| 64 | <li><b>RTO</b>: If you switch off both the landing and the
|
---|
| 65 | strobe lights, and your speed is reduced below 50 knots while on
|
---|
| 66 | the ground during takeoff.</li>
|
---|
| 67 | <li><b>cruise</b>: When the aircraft's altitude is within 2000
|
---|
| 68 | feet of the cruise altitude and you are climbing.</li>
|
---|
| 69 | <li><b>descent</b>: If the altitude decreases to more than 2000
|
---|
| 70 | feet below the cruise altitude during cruise.</li>
|
---|
| 71 | <li><b>landing</b>: If the gears are lowered and the altitude is
|
---|
| 72 | less than 2000 feet AGL during descent or go-around.</li>
|
---|
| 73 | <li><b>go-around</b>: If you retract the gears during landing.</li>
|
---|
| 74 | <li><b>taxi after landing</b>: When the aircraft is in the
|
---|
| 75 | ground and its ground speed is below 50 knots after landing.</li>
|
---|
| 76 | <li><b>end</b>: If the N<sub>1</sub> of the turbines becomes
|
---|
| 77 | less than 0.5, or the RPM of the piston engines becomes 0 during
|
---|
| 78 | parking. This is the final stage.</li>
|
---|
| 79 | </ol>
|
---|
| 80 |
|
---|
| 81 | <p>
|
---|
[460] | 82 | To enhance the simulation, the program can play various
|
---|
[251] | 83 | <a href="#prefsSounds">sound</a> files
|
---|
[194] | 84 | during the various stages of your flight, such as the announcements
|
---|
| 85 | made by the flight attendants. These files are supplied with the
|
---|
| 86 | application, and they can be played automatically, or when you press
|
---|
| 87 | a certain hotkey in the flight simulator. You can also organize
|
---|
[251] | 88 | pre-recorded sound files
|
---|
[460] | 89 | into <a href="#checklistEditor">checklists</a> for the each aircraft
|
---|
[194] | 90 | type, and these files can also be played back one-by-one when you
|
---|
[460] | 91 | repeatedly press a key combination in the simulator. See
|
---|
[251] | 92 | <a href="#prefsSounds">below</a> for more information on this.
|
---|
[194] | 93 | </p>
|
---|
| 94 |
|
---|
[251] | 95 | <p><a name="onlineACARSSystem"/>
|
---|
[219] | 96 | Malév Virtual have implemented an <i>Online ACARS System</i>, which
|
---|
[194] | 97 | displays the status of the flights in progress. The data appears on
|
---|
[258] | 98 | the front page of the <a href="http://virtualairlines.hu">MAVA
|
---|
[460] | 99 | website</a> and also on a
|
---|
[258] | 100 | <a href="http://virtualairlines.hu/acars2/show.html">map</a>.
|
---|
[194] | 101 | </p>
|
---|
| 102 |
|
---|
[251] | 103 | <p><a name="onlineGateSystem"/>
|
---|
[219] | 104 | Malév Virtual have also implemented an <i>Online Gate System</i>
|
---|
[194] | 105 | which maintains a database of the aircraft in the airline's fleet
|
---|
| 106 | and their location. An aircraft may be parked at the Budapest
|
---|
| 107 | Ferihegy Airport, in which case the number of the gate or stand it
|
---|
| 108 | is located at is recorded in the database. If so, this number is
|
---|
[258] | 109 | <a href="#connectPage">displayed</a> to you when starting your
|
---|
| 110 | flight from Ferihegy, and you are recommended to place your aircraft
|
---|
| 111 | at the indicated gate or stand in the simulator. If your flight
|
---|
| 112 | begins at Ferihegy and the aircraft is away (usually due to someone
|
---|
[460] | 113 | else's flight), you can <a href="#gateSelectionPage">select</a>
|
---|
[258] | 114 | from which gate or stand you start your flight. The database of the
|
---|
[460] | 115 | Online Gate System can also be <a href="#gatesTab">displayed</a>
|
---|
[258] | 116 | by using the application.
|
---|
[219] | 117 | </p>
|
---|
| 118 |
|
---|
| 119 | <p>
|
---|
| 120 | These online systems can only be used when flying online.
|
---|
[194] | 121 | </p>
|
---|
| 122 |
|
---|
| 123 | <p>
|
---|
| 124 | The program can automatically update itself. When it starts up, it
|
---|
| 125 | checks if there is a newer version available. If so, it downloads
|
---|
| 126 | its files and replaces the program's current files with the new
|
---|
| 127 | ones. Then the program is restarted so that you can use the new
|
---|
| 128 | version. Besides acquiring bug fixes, updating is also important,
|
---|
| 129 | because the program can be extended with new checks or more refined
|
---|
| 130 | checks, and if you are using too old a version, the PIREP reviewers
|
---|
| 131 | may refuse your flight.
|
---|
| 132 | </p>
|
---|
| 133 |
|
---|
[493] | 134 | <p>
|
---|
| 135 | The program also includes a built-in <a href="#bugReportWindow">bug
|
---|
| 136 | reporting</a> facility, which can be used to report any trouble
|
---|
| 137 | encountered while using it.
|
---|
| 138 | </p>
|
---|
| 139 |
|
---|
[228] | 140 | <h3><a name="gui">Graphical User Interface</a></h3>
|
---|
[194] | 141 |
|
---|
| 142 | <p>
|
---|
| 143 | The GUI of the application is made up of traditional building blocks
|
---|
| 144 | (buttons, checkboxes, lists, text entry boxes, etc.) found in other
|
---|
| 145 | applications as well. Many such controls have informative tooltips
|
---|
| 146 | that supplement the contents of this User's Guide in helping you
|
---|
| 147 | using the application. Many controls are also accessible by pressing
|
---|
| 148 | the <b>Alt</b> plus the underlined letter in the control's label.
|
---|
| 149 | </p>
|
---|
| 150 |
|
---|
| 151 | <p>
|
---|
| 152 | The most often used part of the program is the main window, to be
|
---|
| 153 | described in detail below. When you minimize or close the window, it
|
---|
| 154 | disappears by default, but the program continues to run. You can
|
---|
| 155 | redisplay the window by clicking on the tray icon of the program,
|
---|
| 156 | which looks like the one on the picture below.
|
---|
| 157 | </p>
|
---|
| 158 |
|
---|
[228] | 159 | <div align="center">
|
---|
| 160 | <table>
|
---|
| 161 | <tr>
|
---|
| 162 | <td>
|
---|
| 163 | <img src="statusIcon1.png" alt="The status icon" hspace="20"/>
|
---|
| 164 | </td>
|
---|
| 165 | <td>
|
---|
| 166 | <img src="statusIcon2.png" alt="The status icon menu" hspace="20"/>
|
---|
| 167 | </td>
|
---|
| 168 | </table>
|
---|
| 169 | </div>
|
---|
| 170 |
|
---|
[194] | 171 | <p>
|
---|
| 172 | If you click on the tray icon when the program's window is hidden,
|
---|
| 173 | the window will be displayed. If you hover the mouse pointer over
|
---|
| 174 | the icon, the flight stage and the current rating will be
|
---|
| 175 | displayed. The tray icon has a right-button menu as well with the
|
---|
[460] | 176 | following items:
|
---|
[194] | 177 | <ul>
|
---|
| 178 | <li><b>Show main window</b>: displays or hides the main window.</li>
|
---|
[460] | 179 | <li><b>Show monitor window</b>: displays or hides the
|
---|
[265] | 180 | <a href="#monitorWindow">monitor window</a>.</li>
|
---|
[194] | 181 | <li><b>Quit</b>: quit the application. A confirmation window will
|
---|
| 182 | be displayed.</li>
|
---|
| 183 | </ul>
|
---|
| 184 | </p>
|
---|
| 185 |
|
---|
| 186 | <p>
|
---|
| 187 | You can also quit the application by selecting the <b>File/Quit</b>
|
---|
| 188 | menu item, or by pressing <b>Ctrl+Q</b>.
|
---|
| 189 | </p>
|
---|
| 190 |
|
---|
| 191 | <p>
|
---|
| 192 | If you start the application, when it is already running, the main
|
---|
| 193 | window of the already running instance will be displayed instead of
|
---|
| 194 | starting a new instance of the program.
|
---|
| 195 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 196 |
|
---|
[228] | 197 | <h2><a name="mainWindow">The Main Window</a></h2>
|
---|
[194] | 198 |
|
---|
| 199 | <p>
|
---|
| 200 | The figure below depicts the main window of the application. The top
|
---|
[219] | 201 | of it contains the usual menu bar, which will be described in more
|
---|
| 202 | detail later. The content area consists of several tabs the use of
|
---|
| 203 | which is described below.
|
---|
[194] | 204 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 205 |
|
---|
[251] | 206 | <a name="mainWindowShot"/>
|
---|
[228] | 207 | <div align="center"><img src="mainWindow.png" alt="The main window"/></div>
|
---|
| 208 |
|
---|
[194] | 209 | <p>
|
---|
[219] | 210 | The bottom of the window is a status bar. Its left side contains the
|
---|
[194] | 211 | icon indicating the status of the connection to the simulator. Since
|
---|
| 212 | the application continuously monitors the parameters of your
|
---|
| 213 | aircraft, it needs to communicate with the simulator. The icon's
|
---|
| 214 | colour indicates the health of this communication channel.
|
---|
| 215 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 216 |
|
---|
[194] | 217 | <p>
|
---|
| 218 | If it is grey, the program is not connected. This is normal before
|
---|
| 219 | and after the flight. If it is green, the connection is alive and
|
---|
| 220 | working properly. If it is red, the connection is broken. In this
|
---|
| 221 | case a dialog window is displayed. The most likely cause for such a
|
---|
| 222 | disruption is the crash of the simulator. If this is the case,
|
---|
| 223 | restart the simulator and try to restore the flight to a state as
|
---|
| 224 | close to the one before the crash as possible. Then click
|
---|
| 225 | the <b>Reconnect</b> button, and the program will try to
|
---|
| 226 | re-establish the connection to the simulator. It preserves all data
|
---|
| 227 | of your flight, so you can continue where you left off easily.
|
---|
| 228 | </p>
|
---|
| 229 |
|
---|
| 230 | <p>
|
---|
| 231 | If the reason for the failure of the connection is something else,
|
---|
| 232 | do whatever is needed to be done to restore it. Of course, it is
|
---|
| 233 | possible that the logger application itself fails, in which case
|
---|
| 234 | you, unfortunately, have to restart the flight. Do not forget to
|
---|
[228] | 235 | notify the author if this happens. In this case, try to copy and
|
---|
[251] | 236 | save the <a href="#debugLog">debug log</a> and send it with your bug
|
---|
[460] | 237 | report.
|
---|
[194] | 238 | </p>
|
---|
| 239 |
|
---|
| 240 | <p>
|
---|
| 241 | If you click the <b>Cancel</b> button in the reconnection dialog,
|
---|
| 242 | the logger will be reset as if it were stopped and restarted.
|
---|
| 243 | </p>
|
---|
| 244 |
|
---|
| 245 | <p>
|
---|
| 246 | To the right of the connection status icon, you can see the current
|
---|
[251] | 247 | <a href="#flightStages">stage</a> of the flight, if the monitoring
|
---|
| 248 | has begun. Otherwise it is a single dash. It is followed by the
|
---|
| 249 | simulator time, if the program is already connected to the
|
---|
| 250 | simulator. Then comes the current <a href="#flightRating">flight rating</a>.
|
---|
[194] | 251 | </p>
|
---|
| 252 |
|
---|
| 253 | <p>
|
---|
[219] | 254 | The right of the status bar is normally empty, but if there is some
|
---|
[194] | 255 | potentially long operation going on (typically communicating with
|
---|
| 256 | the MAVA servers), information about the operation is displayed
|
---|
| 257 | here. This is accompanied by the cursor becoming that of signaling
|
---|
| 258 | a busy state and most parts of the main window becoming
|
---|
| 259 | unresponsive.
|
---|
| 260 | </p>
|
---|
| 261 |
|
---|
[228] | 262 | <h3><a name="tabFlight">The Flight Tab</a></h3>
|
---|
| 263 |
|
---|
[194] | 264 | <p>
|
---|
[228] | 265 | The flight tab is the most important tab. It consists of a sequence of
|
---|
[194] | 266 | pages similar to wizards found in many programs. The first several of
|
---|
| 267 | these pages guide you through the various steps of the preparations
|
---|
| 268 | for your flight, while the last pages allow you to enter some
|
---|
| 269 | information about your flight necessary for its evaluation and to
|
---|
| 270 | send the PIREP (Pilot's Report) assembled by the program to the MAVA
|
---|
[255] | 271 | server.
|
---|
[194] | 272 | </p>
|
---|
| 273 |
|
---|
| 274 | <p>
|
---|
| 275 | Each page has a title at the top indicating the purpose of the
|
---|
| 276 | page. There is a short text below this, which describes what the
|
---|
| 277 | page contains and/or what is expected from you to do with the page.
|
---|
| 278 | Below the text you can find the main information and possibly data
|
---|
| 279 | entry areas for the page. Finally, you can find the button row at
|
---|
| 280 | the bottom.
|
---|
| 281 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 282 |
|
---|
[194] | 283 | <p>
|
---|
| 284 | Most of the pages contain two buttons: <b>Next</b> and
|
---|
| 285 | <b>Previous</b>. These help in navigating between the pages. In most
|
---|
| 286 | cases you can go back to previously visited pages by using
|
---|
| 287 | the <b>Previous</b> button, although you cannot edit the contents of
|
---|
[255] | 288 | some of the pages once finalized by moving to the next page using
|
---|
[194] | 289 | the <b>Next</b> button. There are a few exceptions though, as
|
---|
| 290 | detailed below.
|
---|
| 291 | </p>
|
---|
| 292 |
|
---|
[219] | 293 | <p>
|
---|
| 294 | Many of the pages also contain a <b>Cancel flight</b>
|
---|
| 295 | button. Clicking this button will allow you to cancel the flight and
|
---|
[460] | 296 | go back to the <a href="#flightSelectionPage">flight selection</a>
|
---|
[255] | 297 | if you have logged in to the MAVA server, or to the login page, after
|
---|
[251] | 298 | a confirmation of your intent.
|
---|
[219] | 299 | </p>
|
---|
| 300 |
|
---|
[228] | 301 | <h4><a name="loginPage">The <i>Login</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
[194] | 302 |
|
---|
| 303 | <p>
|
---|
[460] | 304 | The program starts with the Login page (see the
|
---|
[251] | 305 | <a href="#mainWindowShot">picture</a> above) where you can enter the
|
---|
| 306 | your pilot's ID and password for the MAVA website. Both data are
|
---|
| 307 | given to you when joining Malév Virtual. The pilot's ID usually
|
---|
| 308 | starts with the letter <q>P</q> followed by three digits.
|
---|
[194] | 309 | </p>
|
---|
| 310 |
|
---|
| 311 | <p>
|
---|
| 312 | If you check <b>Remember password</b>, the password will be saved by
|
---|
| 313 | the program, so you don't have to enter it all the time. Note,
|
---|
[255] | 314 | however, that the password is saved in a readable form into a
|
---|
[460] | 315 | configuration file, so use this possibility only if your home
|
---|
| 316 | directory can be accessed only by people you trust. The pilot's ID
|
---|
[251] | 317 | is saved anyway.
|
---|
[194] | 318 | </p>
|
---|
| 319 |
|
---|
| 320 | <p>
|
---|
| 321 | If you are about to perform the entrance flight, check
|
---|
| 322 | <b>Entrance exam</b>. In this case you don't have to (and cannot)
|
---|
| 323 | enter the password, as that is not needed for the entrance exam.
|
---|
| 324 | </p>
|
---|
| 325 |
|
---|
| 326 | <p>
|
---|
| 327 | The login to the MAVA server, and proceed to the next page, press
|
---|
| 328 | the <b>Login</b> button.
|
---|
| 329 | </p>
|
---|
[219] | 330 |
|
---|
| 331 | <p>
|
---|
| 332 | If you would like to fly without an Internet connection, use
|
---|
| 333 | the <b>Fly offline</b> button. This immediately takes you to the
|
---|
[255] | 334 | next page, without trying to log in to the MAVA server.
|
---|
[219] | 335 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 336 |
|
---|
[228] | 337 | <h4><a name="flightSelectionPage">The <i>Flight selection</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
[194] | 338 |
|
---|
[228] | 339 | <img src="flightSelection.png" alt="The Flight selection page"/>
|
---|
[460] | 340 |
|
---|
[194] | 341 | <p>
|
---|
| 342 | This page displays the list of the flight you have booked previously
|
---|
[251] | 343 | on the MAVA website, if you have <a href="#loginPage">logged in</a>
|
---|
| 344 | properly. If you chose to fly offline, the list is empty.
|
---|
[219] | 345 | </p>
|
---|
| 346 |
|
---|
| 347 | <p>
|
---|
| 348 | If you have selected a flight, you can also save it by using
|
---|
| 349 | the <b>Save flight</b> button. This is useful when planning to fly
|
---|
| 350 | offline at some later time. When preparing for that flight, you can
|
---|
[255] | 351 | properly log in to the MAVA server, and acquire the list of your
|
---|
[219] | 352 | booked flights. Then you can save the flight you wish to perform
|
---|
| 353 | later offline, on which occasion, you can load the saved flight.
|
---|
| 354 | </p>
|
---|
| 355 |
|
---|
| 356 | <p>
|
---|
| 357 | You may need to refresh the list of flights. For example, you notice
|
---|
| 358 | that you have forgotten to book the flight you want to perform. Then
|
---|
| 359 | you can book the flight on the MAVA website, and press
|
---|
| 360 | the <b>Refresh flights</b> button to update the list.
|
---|
| 361 | </p>
|
---|
| 362 |
|
---|
| 363 | <p>
|
---|
| 364 | You can also load a flight from a file by pressing the <b>Load
|
---|
| 365 | flight from file</b> button. This displays a file selection dialog
|
---|
| 366 | where you select the flight file (usually with a suffix
|
---|
| 367 | of <code>.vaflight</code>). This is mostly useful when flying
|
---|
| 368 | offline, or during the entrance exam.
|
---|
[194] | 369 | </p>
|
---|
| 370 |
|
---|
| 371 | <p>
|
---|
[251] | 372 | Select a flight from the list, and press the <b>Next</b> button to
|
---|
[194] | 373 | proceed with that flight.
|
---|
| 374 | </p>
|
---|
| 375 |
|
---|
[258] | 376 | <h4><a name="gateSelectionPage">The <i>LHBP gate selection</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
[460] | 377 |
|
---|
[228] | 378 | <img src="gateSelection.png" alt="The LHBP gate selection page"/>
|
---|
[460] | 379 |
|
---|
[194] | 380 | <p>
|
---|
| 381 | This page is displayed after the flight selection page only if your
|
---|
| 382 | flight starts at the Budapest Ferihegy Airport and the number of the
|
---|
| 383 | gate or stand at which your aircraft is located cannot be
|
---|
| 384 | determined.
|
---|
| 385 | </p>
|
---|
| 386 |
|
---|
| 387 | <p>
|
---|
| 388 | Select a number from the list presented, and press <b>Next</b>.
|
---|
| 389 | </p>
|
---|
| 390 |
|
---|
[228] | 391 | <h4><a name="connectPage">The <i>Connect to the simulator</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
[194] | 392 |
|
---|
[228] | 393 | <img src="connect.png" alt="The Connect to the simulator page"/>
|
---|
[460] | 394 |
|
---|
[194] | 395 | <p>
|
---|
| 396 | This page displays some important information about your flight,
|
---|
| 397 | such as the type and tail number of the aircraft to use, the
|
---|
| 398 | departure airport and possibly the gate.
|
---|
| 399 | </p>
|
---|
| 400 |
|
---|
| 401 | <p>
|
---|
[255] | 402 | Select the aircraft indicated and park it at the departure airport
|
---|
| 403 | in the simulator,
|
---|
[194] | 404 | then press <b>Connect</b> to establish the connection with the
|
---|
| 405 | simulator. If the connection cannot be established, a dialog will be
|
---|
| 406 | displayed about it, and you can <b>Try again</b> the connection
|
---|
[255] | 407 | or <b>Cancel</b> to go back to the flight selection or to the login page.
|
---|
[194] | 408 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 409 |
|
---|
[194] | 410 | <p>
|
---|
| 411 | Note, that after a successful connection, the monitoring of your
|
---|
| 412 | flight does not begin immediately, but some data can be queried by
|
---|
| 413 | the logger at this stage.
|
---|
| 414 | </p>
|
---|
| 415 |
|
---|
[228] | 416 | <h4><a name="payloadPage">The <i>Payload</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
[194] | 417 |
|
---|
[468] | 418 | <img src="payload.png" alt="The Payload page"/>
|
---|
[460] | 419 |
|
---|
[194] | 420 | <p>
|
---|
| 421 | This page displays the components of the flight's payload and the
|
---|
[460] | 422 | calculated Zero-Fuel Weight (ZFW). You can modify all input data,
|
---|
| 423 | but generally it is needed to enter the cargo weight you determined
|
---|
| 424 | for the flight, if it is different from 0. You can also press the <b>ZFW
|
---|
[194] | 425 | from FS</b> button, which queries the ZFW from the simulator and
|
---|
| 426 | displays the retrieved value. If the ZFW calculated from the payload
|
---|
| 427 | data differs too much from the queried one, the calculated value is
|
---|
| 428 | displayed in red. This the right time to set up the payload in the
|
---|
| 429 | simulator. If you forget about it, it will be a NO GO fault.
|
---|
| 430 | </p>
|
---|
| 431 |
|
---|
| 432 | <p>
|
---|
| 433 | If you have finished with this page, press the <b>Next</b>
|
---|
[251] | 434 | button. At this point, the <a href="#helpTab"><i>Help</i> tab</a>
|
---|
| 435 | becomes available, which you can use if you have failed to set up
|
---|
| 436 | the correct payload in the simulator. See a more detailed
|
---|
[460] | 437 | description of it <a href="#helpTab">below</a>.
|
---|
[194] | 438 | </p>
|
---|
| 439 |
|
---|
[228] | 440 | <h4><a name="timePage">The <i>Time</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
[194] | 441 |
|
---|
[228] | 442 | <img src="time.png" alt="The Time page"/>
|
---|
[460] | 443 |
|
---|
[194] | 444 | <p>
|
---|
| 445 | This page displays the departure and arrival times of your
|
---|
| 446 | flight in UTC. Press the <b>Time from FS</b> button to query the
|
---|
| 447 | current UTC time of the simulator. To be able to simulate the real
|
---|
[219] | 448 | lighting circumstances of the flight, the simulator's time should match
|
---|
[194] | 449 | the time of the flight according to the schedule. Therefore you are
|
---|
| 450 | expected to set the simulator's time properly. It is recommended to
|
---|
| 451 | set it to about 15 minutes before the departure at this stage so
|
---|
| 452 | that you have enough time to set up your flight.
|
---|
| 453 | </p>
|
---|
| 454 |
|
---|
| 455 | <p>
|
---|
| 456 | When you have set the time of the simulator properly, press
|
---|
| 457 | the <b>Next</b> button.
|
---|
| 458 | </p>
|
---|
| 459 |
|
---|
[228] | 460 | <h4><a name="fuelPage">The <i>Fuel</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
[194] | 461 |
|
---|
[228] | 462 | <img src="fuel.png" alt="The Fuel page"/>
|
---|
[460] | 463 |
|
---|
[194] | 464 | <p>
|
---|
| 465 | This page contains a graphical representation of the fuel tanks of
|
---|
| 466 | your aircraft. The yellowish colour represents the current level of
|
---|
| 467 | the fuel in the tank, and turquoise slider is the expected level,
|
---|
[460] | 468 | which is also displayed numerically (in kilograms) below each graph.
|
---|
[194] | 469 | </p>
|
---|
| 470 |
|
---|
| 471 | <p>
|
---|
| 472 | You can enter the requested amount of fuel numerically, or you can
|
---|
[251] | 473 | set it by the turquoise sliders, though this method is less accurate. The
|
---|
| 474 | lever can be moved by clicking withinin the fuel tank's representation,
|
---|
[194] | 475 | and you can drag it if you keep the button pressed. If your mouse
|
---|
| 476 | has a wheel, that can also be used to modify the expected level. To
|
---|
| 477 | use the wheel, keep the mouse pointer within the fuel tank's
|
---|
| 478 | graphic. Each click of the wheel increment or decrements the amount
|
---|
| 479 | by 10 kilograms. If you hold down the <b>Shift</b> key, the
|
---|
| 480 | increment will be 100, if you hold down the <b>Ctrl</b> key, the
|
---|
| 481 | increment will be 1.
|
---|
| 482 | </p>
|
---|
| 483 |
|
---|
| 484 | <p>
|
---|
| 485 | When all tanks have the correct amount of fuel set, press
|
---|
| 486 | the <b>Next</b> button. This causes the pumping of the fuel to
|
---|
| 487 | start. The progress is represented by the yellowish fuel bars
|
---|
| 488 | growing or shrinking (fuel may be pumped out of a tank as
|
---|
| 489 | well). This is a relatively quick process and should finish within a
|
---|
[460] | 490 | few seconds.
|
---|
[194] | 491 | </p>
|
---|
| 492 |
|
---|
[228] | 493 | <h4><a name="routePage">The <i>Route</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
[460] | 494 |
|
---|
[228] | 495 | <img src="route.png" alt="The Route page"/>
|
---|
[460] | 496 |
|
---|
[194] | 497 | <p>
|
---|
| 498 | This page displays the cruise level and the flight plan route. The
|
---|
| 499 | cruise level starts out at FL240, but the route comes from the
|
---|
| 500 | booked flight. Set the cruise level to the one you have calculated
|
---|
| 501 | with, and modify the flight plan if needed. For example, if you will
|
---|
| 502 | enter some airspace that will require you to change the flight
|
---|
| 503 | level, you should add that here.
|
---|
| 504 | </p>
|
---|
| 505 |
|
---|
| 506 | <p>
|
---|
| 507 | When satisfied with the information on the page, press
|
---|
| 508 | the <b>Next</b> button to advance. Note, that these data can be
|
---|
| 509 | edited later as well if you come back to this page.
|
---|
| 510 | </p>
|
---|
| 511 |
|
---|
[228] | 512 | <h4><a name="briefingPage">The <i>Briefing</i> Pages</a></h4>
|
---|
[460] | 513 |
|
---|
[228] | 514 | <img src="briefing.png" alt="The Briefing page"/>
|
---|
[460] | 515 |
|
---|
[194] | 516 | <p>
|
---|
| 517 | These pages display the NOTAMs and the METAR for the departure and
|
---|
| 518 | the arrival airports. You can edit the METAR if your network
|
---|
| 519 | provides a different weather, or you do not fly with real
|
---|
| 520 | weather. The METAR of the arrival airport will be updated when
|
---|
| 521 | entering the landing stage, unless you have edited it before. The
|
---|
| 522 | METARs can be edited during the whole duration of the flight. If you
|
---|
[255] | 523 | do so, please, comment on it in the <i>Comments</i> section of
|
---|
[251] | 524 | the <a href="#flightInfoTab"><i>Flight info</i> tab</a>.
|
---|
[194] | 525 | </p>
|
---|
| 526 |
|
---|
| 527 | <p>
|
---|
| 528 | On the second briefing page (that of the arrival airport), confirm
|
---|
| 529 | that you have read the briefing and are ready to start the flight by
|
---|
| 530 | clicking the button. This begins the monitoring of your flight with
|
---|
| 531 | the boarding stage.
|
---|
| 532 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 533 |
|
---|
[228] | 534 | <h4><a name="takeoffPage">The <i>Takeoff</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
[194] | 535 |
|
---|
[468] | 536 | <img src="takeoff.png" alt="The Takeoff page"/>
|
---|
[460] | 537 |
|
---|
[194] | 538 | <p>
|
---|
| 539 | On this page you have to enter the name of the departure runway, the
|
---|
| 540 | name of the Standard Instrument Departure procedure you follow after
|
---|
| 541 | takeoff and the takeoff V-speeds. While you can edit these data
|
---|
| 542 | anytime, it is recommended to do so before takeoff.
|
---|
| 543 | <p>
|
---|
| 544 |
|
---|
| 545 | <p>
|
---|
[244] | 546 | Note that if you are flying one of the Tupolev or Yak aircraft, the
|
---|
| 547 | page will look different, as speeds will have to be entered in
|
---|
| 548 | kilometres per hour.
|
---|
| 549 | </p>
|
---|
| 550 |
|
---|
| 551 | <p>
|
---|
[460] | 552 | For most aircraft in the fleet you should also enter the takeoff
|
---|
| 553 | derate setting. Its exact format and value depends on the type.
|
---|
| 554 | </p>
|
---|
| 555 |
|
---|
| 556 | <p>
|
---|
| 557 | You can also select here whether you have turned on any anti-ice
|
---|
| 558 | systems (apart from the pitot heat). However, for most aircraft, the
|
---|
| 559 | logger can detect the setting, and if anti-icing is turned on, the
|
---|
| 560 | check box will be checked automatically. If you have checked it
|
---|
| 561 | yourself, it will not be unchecked by the program (unless it gains
|
---|
| 562 | self-awareness sometime in the future).
|
---|
| 563 | </p>
|
---|
| 564 |
|
---|
| 565 | <p>
|
---|
[194] | 566 | You can proceed to the next page after takeoff, and if all data has
|
---|
| 567 | been entered, by pressing the <b>Next</b> button.
|
---|
| 568 | </p>
|
---|
| 569 |
|
---|
[460] | 570 | <h4><a name="cruisePage">The <i>Cruise</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
| 571 |
|
---|
[468] | 572 | <img src="cruise.png" alt="The Cruise page"/>
|
---|
[460] | 573 |
|
---|
| 574 | <p>
|
---|
| 575 | This page displays your cruise altitude as set on the
|
---|
| 576 | <a href="#routePage">Route page</a>. If you need to modify your
|
---|
| 577 | cruise level due to airspace requirements, step climb or any other
|
---|
| 578 | justified reason, you can set the new level here and then press
|
---|
| 579 | the <b>Update</b> button when you have reached the specified level.
|
---|
| 580 | </p>
|
---|
| 581 |
|
---|
| 582 | <p>
|
---|
[461] | 583 | If you are preparing for landing, you can press the <b>Next</b>
|
---|
[460] | 584 | button to go to the next page.
|
---|
| 585 | </p>
|
---|
| 586 |
|
---|
[228] | 587 | <h4><a name="landingPage">The <i>Landing</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
| 588 |
|
---|
[468] | 589 | <img src="landing.png" alt="The Landing page"/>
|
---|
[194] | 590 |
|
---|
| 591 | <p>
|
---|
[251] | 592 | On this page you have to enter the name of the STAR and/or
|
---|
| 593 | transition you planned to follow (even if you get a different one,
|
---|
[460] | 594 | or simply vectors from ATC, in which case add a
|
---|
[251] | 595 | <a href="#flightInfoTab">comment</a> about it),
|
---|
| 596 | the approach type (e.g. <q>ILS</q>, <q>VOR</q>, <q>VISUAL</q>,
|
---|
| 597 | etc.), the name of the landing runway, and the landing reference speed,
|
---|
[194] | 598 | V<sub>ref</sub>. You can enter this data during the flight, or after
|
---|
[244] | 599 | you have landed, at your discretion. Note, that if you fly one of
|
---|
[251] | 600 | the Tupolev or Yak aircraft, the speed will have to be entered in km/h.
|
---|
[194] | 601 | </p>
|
---|
| 602 |
|
---|
| 603 | <p>
|
---|
[460] | 604 | This page also contains a checkbox for the anti-ice system, which is
|
---|
| 605 | handled the same way as the one on
|
---|
| 606 | the <a href="#takeoffPage">Takeoff page</a>.
|
---|
| 607 |
|
---|
| 608 | <p>
|
---|
[194] | 609 | When you have entered all data, press the <b>Next</b> button. It is
|
---|
| 610 | active only, if the flight has ended.
|
---|
| 611 | </p>
|
---|
| 612 |
|
---|
[228] | 613 | <h4><a name="finishPage">The <i>Finish</i> Page</a></h4>
|
---|
| 614 |
|
---|
[460] | 615 | <img src="finish.png" alt="The Finish page"/>
|
---|
[194] | 616 |
|
---|
| 617 | <p>
|
---|
| 618 | This is the final page of the flight wizard. It contains a summary
|
---|
| 619 | of your flight: the rating, the flight and block times, the distance
|
---|
| 620 | flown and the amount of fuel burnt.
|
---|
| 621 | </p>
|
---|
| 622 |
|
---|
| 623 | <p>
|
---|
| 624 | You also have to provide a few pieces of information. You have to
|
---|
| 625 | select the type of the flight from the list provided (scheduled,
|
---|
| 626 | old-timer, VIP, charter) and whether it was an online flight or
|
---|
| 627 | not. If you arrive at the Budapest Ferihegy Airport, and are using
|
---|
| 628 | the Online Gate System, you also need to specify the number of the
|
---|
| 629 | gate or stand you have parked you aircraft at.
|
---|
| 630 | </p>
|
---|
| 631 |
|
---|
| 632 | <p>
|
---|
[460] | 633 | If all necessary data has been entered, and the program is so
|
---|
| 634 | <a href="#prefsGeneral">configured<a>, it will automatically save
|
---|
| 635 | the PIREP.
|
---|
| 636 | </p>
|
---|
| 637 |
|
---|
| 638 | <p>
|
---|
[251] | 639 | With all data entered, you may want it review your flight (i.e. the
|
---|
| 640 | earlier pages or some of the other tabs), then save or send the
|
---|
| 641 | PIREP created from it. These can be accomplished by pressing one of
|
---|
| 642 | the buttons at the bottom. A saved PIREP can be loaded later and
|
---|
| 643 | sent, if the sending fails for some reason. When a PIREP is sent, it
|
---|
| 644 | becomes available for review by the designated PIREP reviewers of
|
---|
| 645 | Malév Virtual.
|
---|
[194] | 646 | </p>
|
---|
| 647 |
|
---|
[219] | 648 | <p>
|
---|
| 649 | You can also start a new flight using the <b>New flight</b>
|
---|
| 650 | button. If you have not saved or sent the PIREP, you will be asked
|
---|
| 651 | to confirm your intention. When starting a new flight you are taken
|
---|
[251] | 652 | to the <a href="#flightSelectionPage">flight selection page</a>, if
|
---|
[255] | 653 | you have logged in to the MAVA server, or to
|
---|
[251] | 654 | the <a href="#loginPage">login page</a>, if your flight has been an
|
---|
[460] | 655 | offline flight.
|
---|
[219] | 656 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 657 |
|
---|
[228] | 658 | <h3><a name="flightInfoTab">The Flight info Tab</a></h3>
|
---|
| 659 |
|
---|
[460] | 660 | <img src="flightInfoTab.png" alt="The Flight info tab"/>
|
---|
[194] | 661 |
|
---|
| 662 | <p>
|
---|
[460] | 663 | This tab allows one to enter some additional information about the
|
---|
[194] | 664 | flight, if necessary.
|
---|
| 665 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 666 |
|
---|
[194] | 667 | <p>
|
---|
| 668 | The <i>Comments</i> text area should contain any general information
|
---|
| 669 | that you would like the PIREP reviewer to know about. For example,
|
---|
| 670 | why you changed the METAR, why you lowered the gears accidentally
|
---|
| 671 | (i.e. pressed the wrong key on the keyboard), etc.
|
---|
| 672 | </p>
|
---|
| 673 |
|
---|
| 674 | <p>
|
---|
| 675 | The <i>Flight defects</i> text area should contain information about
|
---|
| 676 | any problems you encountered with the plane during the flight. For
|
---|
| 677 | example an engine stopped and why (if known), that flaps could not
|
---|
| 678 | be extended or retracted, etc.
|
---|
| 679 | </p>
|
---|
| 680 |
|
---|
| 681 | <p>
|
---|
[470] | 682 | In the <i>Delay codes</i> table you can mark one or more reasons why
|
---|
| 683 | the flight was delayed, if it was. This table is available only if you
|
---|
| 684 | have already selected the flight, since its contents depend on the
|
---|
| 685 | type of the aircraft being flown.
|
---|
[194] | 686 | </p>
|
---|
| 687 |
|
---|
[228] | 688 | <h3><a name="helpTab">The Help Tab</a></h3>
|
---|
| 689 |
|
---|
[460] | 690 | <img src="helpTab.png" alt="The Help tab"/>
|
---|
[194] | 691 |
|
---|
| 692 | <p>
|
---|
| 693 | This tab provides some help for calculating and setting the payload
|
---|
[251] | 694 | weight of the aircraft. It can be used once the
|
---|
| 695 | <a href="#payloadPage"><i>Payload</i></a>
|
---|
[194] | 696 | (i.e. the cargo weight) is finalized. To use this tab, check
|
---|
| 697 | the <b>Using help</b> checkbox. It causes the page to become
|
---|
| 698 | sensitive and filled with data. Note, that the fact of using the
|
---|
[251] | 699 | help is <a href="#logTab">logged</a>, so the PIREP reviewers will
|
---|
| 700 | know about it.
|
---|
[194] | 701 | </p>
|
---|
| 702 |
|
---|
| 703 | <p>
|
---|
| 704 | The most important information is after the <i>Payload:</i> label,
|
---|
| 705 | which is the payload weight of the aircraft. This value should be
|
---|
| 706 | set in the simulator as the airplane's payload weight. By pressing
|
---|
[219] | 707 | the <b>Simulator data</b> button, the data coming from the simulator
|
---|
| 708 | can be queried and displayed. If the data is out of the tolerances,
|
---|
[460] | 709 | it is displayed in red, otherwise in green.
|
---|
[194] | 710 | </p>
|
---|
| 711 |
|
---|
| 712 | <p>
|
---|
| 713 | The gross weight is also displayed with some maximum weights of the
|
---|
| 714 | aircraft, so it can be checked or estimated if you will remain within
|
---|
| 715 | those maximums during the flight.
|
---|
| 716 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 717 |
|
---|
[228] | 718 | <h3><a name="logTab">The Log Tab</a></h3>
|
---|
| 719 |
|
---|
[460] | 720 | <img src="logTab.png" alt="The Log tab"/>
|
---|
[194] | 721 |
|
---|
| 722 | <p>
|
---|
| 723 | This is the main log of your flight that will be analyzed by the
|
---|
| 724 | PIREP reviewers. Its contents is generated automatically by the
|
---|
| 725 | program, and most lines are prefixed by the simulator times the
|
---|
| 726 | information in the given line belongs to.
|
---|
| 727 | </p>
|
---|
| 728 |
|
---|
| 729 | <p>
|
---|
| 730 | While the log's contents is mainly useful for PIREP reviewers, it
|
---|
| 731 | can come handy when things start to happen very fast, and you have
|
---|
| 732 | no time check each fault message passing by (if you have enabled
|
---|
| 733 | such messages at all). Later, when things calm down, you can check
|
---|
| 734 | the log to see what happened exactly, so that you know why so many
|
---|
| 735 | fault points have been awarded. For example, you may even decide to
|
---|
[251] | 736 | abort the flight, if you think some of the faults are too
|
---|
[228] | 737 | embarrassing :) For quick identification, the lines containing the
|
---|
| 738 | fault messages are highlighted.
|
---|
[194] | 739 | </p>
|
---|
| 740 |
|
---|
[228] | 741 | <h3><a name="gatesTab">The Gates Tab</a></h3>
|
---|
| 742 |
|
---|
[460] | 743 | <img src="gatesTab.png" alt="The Gates tab"/>
|
---|
[194] | 744 |
|
---|
| 745 | <p>
|
---|
[251] | 746 | This tab displays information retrieved from
|
---|
[255] | 747 | the MAVA <a href="#onlineGateSystem">Online Gate System</a>.
|
---|
| 748 | If the program needs to retrieve data, this tab's contents
|
---|
[251] | 749 | are refreshed automatically, but you can also refresh them manually
|
---|
[219] | 750 | anytime using the <b>Refresh data</b> button.
|
---|
[194] | 751 | </p>
|
---|
| 752 |
|
---|
| 753 | <p>
|
---|
| 754 | The left side of the tab contains the fleet information. The tail
|
---|
| 755 | number of each aircraft is listed with the plane's status, as known
|
---|
| 756 | by the Online Gate System. The two major statuses are <i>LHBP-nn</i>
|
---|
| 757 | and <i>AWAY</i>. The former indicates that the aircraft is parked at
|
---|
| 758 | the Budapest Ferihegy Airport at gate or stand <i>nn</i>, while the
|
---|
| 759 | latter one denotes that the airplane is parked at another
|
---|
| 760 | airport. Another possible status is <i>PARKED</i>, which means that
|
---|
| 761 | the airplane is parked somewhere at the Ferihegy Airport, but we
|
---|
| 762 | (or at least the Gate System) don't know where. It may happen that
|
---|
| 763 | several aircraft are parked at the same gate or stand at
|
---|
| 764 | Ferihegy. In this case the tail numbers and the statuses of those
|
---|
| 765 | airplanes are displayed in red.
|
---|
| 766 | </p>
|
---|
| 767 |
|
---|
| 768 | <p>
|
---|
| 769 | The right side contains the list of the numbers of the gates and
|
---|
| 770 | parking positions. A number is black if no aircraft is positioned at
|
---|
| 771 | the corresponding gate or stand, and it is orange, if the location
|
---|
| 772 | is occupied.
|
---|
| 773 | </p>
|
---|
| 774 |
|
---|
[228] | 775 | <h3><a name="debugLog">The Debug log</a></h3>
|
---|
| 776 |
|
---|
[460] | 777 | <img src="debugLogTab.png" alt="The Debug log tab"/>
|
---|
[194] | 778 |
|
---|
| 779 | <p>
|
---|
| 780 | This tab is not visible by default, but can be displayed by
|
---|
| 781 | selecting <b>View/Show debug log</b> or by
|
---|
| 782 | pressing <b>Ctrl+D</b>. It is another kind of log, which is mainly
|
---|
| 783 | useful for debugging. If you experience some problem with the
|
---|
| 784 | program, please, include the contents of this log with your bug
|
---|
[251] | 785 | report. It can help a lot with finding a solution to the problem.
|
---|
[194] | 786 | </p>
|
---|
| 787 |
|
---|
[228] | 788 | <h2><a name="loadingPIREPs">Loading PIREPs</a></h2>
|
---|
[194] | 789 |
|
---|
| 790 | <p>
|
---|
[219] | 791 | Saved PIREPs can be loaded and sent by the program. This can
|
---|
[194] | 792 | become necessary, for example, if you cannot send a PIREP due to
|
---|
[219] | 793 | some network problem right after your flight, or when you
|
---|
| 794 | deliberately performed a flight without connecting to the Internet.
|
---|
[194] | 795 | </p>
|
---|
| 796 |
|
---|
| 797 | <p>
|
---|
| 798 | To load a PIREP select the <b>File/Load PIREP...</b> menu option or
|
---|
| 799 | press the <b>Ctrl+L</b> key. A file selection dialog appears, from
|
---|
| 800 | which you can select the PIREP to load. If you select a valid PIREP
|
---|
| 801 | file, it will be loaded and a new window will be displayed with the
|
---|
| 802 | most important data of your flight. By clicking <b>Send
|
---|
| 803 | PIREP...</b>, the PIREP will be sent (or at least an attempt will be
|
---|
| 804 | made at sending it). A dialog window will be displayed about the
|
---|
| 805 | results of the attempt.
|
---|
| 806 | </p>
|
---|
| 807 |
|
---|
[228] | 808 | <div align="center">
|
---|
[460] | 809 | <img src="pirepLoaded.png" alt="The loaded PIREP window"/>
|
---|
[228] | 810 | </div>
|
---|
| 811 |
|
---|
| 812 | <p>
|
---|
| 813 | You may also want to view a saved PIREP, for example, if it is a
|
---|
| 814 | PIREP about an entrance exam flight. To do so, click the <b>View
|
---|
| 815 | PIREP...</b> button. This displays the PIREP viewer window, which
|
---|
| 816 | groups the data into three tabs. The <i>Data</i> tab contains the
|
---|
| 817 | itemized data of the flight. The <i>Comments & defects</i> tab
|
---|
| 818 | displays the comments and or flight defects entered by the
|
---|
[460] | 819 | user. The <i>Log</i> tab contains the flight log.
|
---|
[255] | 820 | </p>
|
---|
[228] | 821 |
|
---|
| 822 | <div align="center">
|
---|
[460] | 823 | <img src="pirepViewer.png" alt="The PIREP Viewer"/>
|
---|
[228] | 824 | </div>
|
---|
| 825 |
|
---|
| 826 | <h2><a name="checklistEditor">Editing checklists</a></h2>
|
---|
| 827 |
|
---|
[460] | 828 | <img src="checklistEditor.png" alt="The Checklist Editor"/>
|
---|
[194] | 829 |
|
---|
| 830 | <p>
|
---|
| 831 | The checklists are lists of audio files. When checklist playback is
|
---|
[251] | 832 | enabled (see the <a href="#prefsSounds">description</a> of
|
---|
| 833 | the <i>Preferences</i> window below), and there is a checklist for
|
---|
| 834 | the type of the aircraft used for the flight, the files constituting
|
---|
| 835 | the checklist can be played one-by-one by pressing the checklist
|
---|
| 836 | hotkey repeatedly.
|
---|
[194] | 837 | </p>
|
---|
| 838 |
|
---|
| 839 | <p>
|
---|
[255] | 840 | The checklist editor window allows for editing the checklists. It
|
---|
[194] | 841 | can be displayed by selecting <b>Tools/Checklist Editor...</b> or
|
---|
| 842 | pressing <b>Ctrl+C</b>. The top of the window contains an aircraft
|
---|
| 843 | type selector.
|
---|
| 844 | </p>
|
---|
| 845 |
|
---|
| 846 | <p>
|
---|
[251] | 847 | The files making up the checklist for the currently selected aircraft
|
---|
[194] | 848 | are displayed on the right. You can move a file up or down by
|
---|
| 849 | dragging it with the mouse. You can also select one or more files
|
---|
| 850 | from the list. Then you can remove them with the <b>Remove</b>
|
---|
| 851 | button, or move them up or down by pressing <b>Move up</b>
|
---|
[460] | 852 | and <b>Move down</b>.
|
---|
[194] | 853 | </p>
|
---|
| 854 |
|
---|
| 855 | <p>
|
---|
| 856 | To add new files to the checklist, select them in the file selector
|
---|
| 857 | on the left, and press <b>Add to checklist</b>. The file(s) will be
|
---|
| 858 | appended to the end of the checklist.
|
---|
| 859 | </p>
|
---|
| 860 |
|
---|
| 861 | <p>
|
---|
| 862 | Note, that any changes you make are effective only if you press
|
---|
| 863 | the <b>OK</b> button when having finished the modifications. If the
|
---|
| 864 | flight has already started, no changes made to the corresponding
|
---|
| 865 | checklist have any effect during the flight (i.e. you will still use
|
---|
| 866 | the old checklist, or no checklist if there was none).
|
---|
| 867 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 868 |
|
---|
[285] | 869 | <h2><a name="calloutsEditor">Editing approach callouts</a></h2>
|
---|
| 870 |
|
---|
[460] | 871 | <img src="calloutsEditor.png" alt="The Approach callouts Editor"/>
|
---|
[285] | 872 |
|
---|
| 873 | <p>
|
---|
| 874 | The approach callouts are audio files specific to aircraft types, that are
|
---|
| 875 | played back during approach when passing certain altitudes. The
|
---|
| 876 | approach callouts editor window allows editing the list of these
|
---|
| 877 | callout files for each aircraft. The window can be displayed by
|
---|
[460] | 878 | selecting <b>Tools/Approach Callouts Editor...</b> or by pressing
|
---|
[285] | 879 | <b>Ctrl+E</b>.
|
---|
| 880 | </p>
|
---|
| 881 |
|
---|
| 882 | <p>
|
---|
| 883 | The top part of the window displays the selector of the aircraft
|
---|
| 884 | type. Below it, you can find two buttons on the left, and the list
|
---|
| 885 | of the callouts with the altitudes they belong to on the right. The
|
---|
| 886 | list displays only the filename portion, but the if you hover the
|
---|
| 887 | cursor above an item, the full path will be displayed. The list is
|
---|
| 888 | always sorted according to the altitude, but you change the order
|
---|
| 889 | from descending to ascending.
|
---|
| 890 | </p>
|
---|
| 891 |
|
---|
| 892 | <p>
|
---|
| 893 | The <b>Add new callout</b> button shows a file selection dialog
|
---|
| 894 | window. After selecting a file, it will be added to a list with some
|
---|
| 895 | altitude, which can be edited immediately. If the name of the file
|
---|
| 896 | contains a number that is possible as an altitude, that will be used
|
---|
| 897 | as the altitude given to the file, otherwise some meaningful default
|
---|
[460] | 898 | is selected based on the lowest or highest altitude.
|
---|
[285] | 899 | There can be no two files with the same altitude. If you set an
|
---|
| 900 | altitude, which is already present in the list, a dialog box will be
|
---|
| 901 | displayed, and you can choose to replace the old file or to continue
|
---|
| 902 | editing. To edit an altitude already in the list, select that row,
|
---|
| 903 | and click on the altitude again.
|
---|
| 904 | </p>
|
---|
| 905 |
|
---|
| 906 | <p>
|
---|
| 907 | If you select one or more items in the list, the <b>Remove</b>
|
---|
| 908 | button becomes available, and pressing it will remove the selected items.
|
---|
| 909 | </p>
|
---|
| 910 |
|
---|
| 911 | <p>
|
---|
| 912 | Note, that any changes you make are effective only if you press
|
---|
| 913 | the <b>OK</b> button when having finished the modifications. If the
|
---|
| 914 | flight has already started, no changes made to the corresponding
|
---|
| 915 | list of callouts have any effect during the flight.
|
---|
| 916 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 917 |
|
---|
[228] | 918 | <h2><a name="prefs">The Preferences Window</a></h2>
|
---|
[194] | 919 |
|
---|
| 920 | </p>
|
---|
| 921 | The Preferences window can be displayed by
|
---|
| 922 | selecting <b>Tools/Preferences</b> or by
|
---|
| 923 | pressing <b>Ctrl+P</b>. Here you can set options that you usually
|
---|
[251] | 924 | don't have to change for every flight. This window consists of
|
---|
[194] | 925 | tabs grouping the options logically.
|
---|
| 926 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 927 |
|
---|
[228] | 928 | <h3><a name="prefsGeneral">The <i>General</i> Tab<a></h3>
|
---|
[460] | 929 |
|
---|
[468] | 930 | <img src="prefsGeneral.png" alt="The General Tab of Preferences"/>
|
---|
[228] | 931 |
|
---|
[194] | 932 | <p>
|
---|
| 933 | These are some general settings for various parts of the
|
---|
| 934 | program. The <i>GUI</i> frame contains options regarding the
|
---|
| 935 | behaviour of the graphical user interface. The <i>Language</i> combo
|
---|
| 936 | box can be used to selected what language the program should
|
---|
| 937 | use. Currently English and Hungarian are supported. The value
|
---|
| 938 | of <i>system default</i> means that the operating system's default
|
---|
| 939 | language is used if it is one of the supported ones or English
|
---|
| 940 | otherwise. Note, that the program must be restarted for the change
|
---|
| 941 | to take effect if you modify this setting. If the <b>Hide main window
|
---|
[219] | 942 | when minimized</b> checkbox is checked, and you minimize the window,
|
---|
[194] | 943 | it will actually disappear completely (i.e. not appear among the
|
---|
| 944 | other minimized windows). You can make it appear by using the tray
|
---|
[251] | 945 | icon. If the <b>Quit when the window close button is clicked</b>
|
---|
| 946 | checkbox is checked, the program will quit, after you have confirmed
|
---|
| 947 | it. Otherwise it will just disappear, and you can use the tray icon
|
---|
| 948 | to display it again.
|
---|
[194] | 949 | </p>
|
---|
| 950 |
|
---|
[204] | 951 | <p>
|
---|
| 952 | The <i>MAVA Online Systems</i> frame contains settings related to
|
---|
[251] | 953 | the online systems of MAVA, the <a href="#onlineGateSystem">gate</a>
|
---|
| 954 | and the <a href="#onlineACARSSystem">ACARS</a> systems mentioned
|
---|
| 955 | above. It is recommended to enable these for normal operations.
|
---|
[204] | 956 | </p>
|
---|
| 957 |
|
---|
| 958 | <p>
|
---|
| 959 | The <i>Simulator</i> frame contains settings for how the program
|
---|
| 960 | interacts with the simulator. Most options are self-explanatory, but
|
---|
| 961 | the ones related to smoothing requires some discussion. Flight
|
---|
[219] | 962 | Simulator is known to produce wind speed changes that are not
|
---|
[204] | 963 | entirely realistic and can result in the simulated aircraft
|
---|
| 964 | experiencing some very high indicated airspeeds, which in turn can
|
---|
| 965 | also cause the autopilot to suddenly increase the climb rate to
|
---|
[251] | 966 | counter the high speeds or other erratic behaviour. Since these
|
---|
| 967 | phenomena are difficult to protect oneself against without buying
|
---|
| 968 | extra products, like FSUIPC, the logger provides the possibility to
|
---|
| 969 | average the IAS and/or the VS over a few seconds so that spikes in
|
---|
| 970 | these values are smoothed. The <b>Enable the smoothing of IAS/VS
|
---|
| 971 | over N sec.</b> options allow controlling this feature. The number
|
---|
| 972 | of seconds may need experimenting with, but note that every change
|
---|
| 973 | for which you press the <b>OK</b> button is taken into account
|
---|
| 974 | immediately.
|
---|
[204] | 975 | </p>
|
---|
| 976 |
|
---|
[460] | 977 | <p>
|
---|
| 978 | If the <b>Save PIREP automatically</b> check box is checked, and you
|
---|
| 979 | have finished your flight and entered all required data, the PIREP
|
---|
| 980 | will be saved automatically into the directory given above.
|
---|
| 981 | </p>
|
---|
| 982 |
|
---|
[228] | 983 | <h3><a name="prefsMessages">The <i>Messages</i> Tab</a></h3>
|
---|
[460] | 984 |
|
---|
[468] | 985 | <img src="prefsMessages.png" alt="The Messages Tab of Preferences"/>
|
---|
[228] | 986 |
|
---|
[194] | 987 | <p>
|
---|
| 988 | The program can display messages about certain events in the
|
---|
| 989 | simulator and/or it can play a warning sound when those events
|
---|
| 990 | occur. The tab allows configuring this.
|
---|
| 991 | <p>
|
---|
| 992 |
|
---|
| 993 | <p>
|
---|
| 994 | The categories of the message are listed on the left. These are the
|
---|
| 995 | following:
|
---|
| 996 | </p>
|
---|
| 997 |
|
---|
| 998 | <ul>
|
---|
| 999 | <li><b>Logger Error Messages</b>: error messages about the
|
---|
| 1000 | internal working of the logger.</li>
|
---|
| 1001 | <li><b>Information Messages</b>: informational messages about,
|
---|
| 1002 | e.g., the flight stage, the end of an audio checklist, etc.</li>
|
---|
[460] | 1003 | <li><b>In-flight Stage Message</b>: messages about the flight stage for those stage when the plane is not on the ground</li>
|
---|
[194] | 1004 | <li><b>Fault Messages</b>: messages about the non-NO GO faults the program detects.</li>
|
---|
[195] | 1005 | <li><b>NO GO Fault Messages</b>: messages about the NO GO faults the program detects</li>
|
---|
[460] | 1006 | <li><b>Gate System Messages</b>: messages related to the
|
---|
[251] | 1007 | <a href="#onlineGateSystem">Online Gate System</a>. For example,
|
---|
| 1008 | when you have landed at Ferihegy, it can display the list of the
|
---|
| 1009 | available gates so that you can choose where to park, if there is
|
---|
[460] | 1010 | no ATC available.</li>
|
---|
[194] | 1011 | <li><b>Environment Messages</b>: other messages, e.g. the welcome
|
---|
| 1012 | message when the flight has ended.</li>
|
---|
| 1013 | <li><b>Help Messages</b>: help messages, e.g. warning about
|
---|
| 1014 | entering the V-speeds into the Takeoff page before takeoff.</li>
|
---|
| 1015 | <li><b>Visibility Messages</b>: messages about the visibility
|
---|
| 1016 | during descent and landing.</li>
|
---|
| 1017 | </ul>
|
---|
| 1018 |
|
---|
| 1019 | <p>
|
---|
| 1020 | There are two checkboxes associated with each messages category. If the
|
---|
| 1021 | left one (<i>Displayed in FS</i>) is checked, the messages of the
|
---|
| 1022 | category will be displayed in the simulator. If the right one
|
---|
| 1023 | (<i>Sound alert</i>) is checked, and a message of the given category
|
---|
| 1024 | is about to be displayed, a warning sound will be played. It is
|
---|
| 1025 | mainly intended to accompany the text messages, but the two options
|
---|
| 1026 | can be controlled separately, so you can select the sound alert, but
|
---|
| 1027 | not the displaying of the messages. This may be useful if you don't
|
---|
| 1028 | want these messages to clutter up the windscreen of your aircraft,
|
---|
| 1029 | but still get some notification that some problem occurred.
|
---|
| 1030 | </p>
|
---|
| 1031 |
|
---|
[228] | 1032 | <h3><a name="prefsSounds">The <i>Sounds</i> Tab</a></h3>
|
---|
[460] | 1033 |
|
---|
| 1034 | <img src="prefsSounds.png" alt="The Sounds Tab of Preferences"/>
|
---|
[228] | 1035 |
|
---|
[194] | 1036 | <p>
|
---|
| 1037 | This tab controls how the sounds are played by the application.
|
---|
| 1038 | </p>
|
---|
| 1039 |
|
---|
| 1040 | <p>
|
---|
| 1041 | The top part is for the background sounds. These are pre-recorded
|
---|
| 1042 | sound files that are played when certain conditions hold during the
|
---|
| 1043 | flight. Typical examples are the various announcements the flight
|
---|
| 1044 | attendants make during the flight. The <b>Enable background
|
---|
| 1045 | sounds</b> checkbox controls whether such sounds are enabled at
|
---|
| 1046 | all. If the <b>Pilot controls sounds</b> checkbox is enabled, the
|
---|
| 1047 | pilot should start the playback of these sound files by pressing a
|
---|
| 1048 | hotkey in the simulator. Note, that you should still be in the right
|
---|
| 1049 | flight stage (and sometimes fulfill other conditions) to be able to
|
---|
| 1050 | play the sound files. Also, one file can be played only once. If you
|
---|
| 1051 | enable this option, the hotkey to press in the simulator can be
|
---|
| 1052 | selected below. You can choose one of the alphanumeric keys (0-9,
|
---|
| 1053 | A-Z) optionally combined with one or both of the <i>Ctrl</i>
|
---|
| 1054 | and <i>Shift</i> modifiers. If this checkbox is not checked, the
|
---|
| 1055 | sound files will be played automatically.
|
---|
| 1056 | </p>
|
---|
| 1057 |
|
---|
| 1058 | <p>
|
---|
[285] | 1059 | If the <b>Enable approach callouts</b> checkbox is
|
---|
| 1060 | checked, and you have also <a href="#calloutsEditor">set up</a>
|
---|
[460] | 1061 | approach callouts for the aircraft being used, you will hear those
|
---|
[285] | 1062 | callouts during approach.
|
---|
| 1063 | </p>
|
---|
| 1064 |
|
---|
| 1065 | <p>
|
---|
[194] | 1066 | If the <b>Enable speedbrake sound at touchdown</b> checkbox is
|
---|
[219] | 1067 | checked, you will hear a distinctive sound when the spoilers deploy
|
---|
[194] | 1068 | automatically after touchdown.
|
---|
| 1069 | </p>
|
---|
| 1070 |
|
---|
| 1071 | <p>
|
---|
[255] | 1072 | The lower part, named <i>Checklists</i> contains some settings
|
---|
[194] | 1073 | related to the audio checklists belonging to the aircraft. They are
|
---|
[251] | 1074 | available only if the <b>Enable aircraft-specific checklist</b>
|
---|
[194] | 1075 | checkbox is selected. In this case another hotkey should be
|
---|
| 1076 | specified. If you press this hotkey, the next file from the
|
---|
[460] | 1077 | checklist will be played.
|
---|
[194] | 1078 | </p>
|
---|
| 1079 |
|
---|
[228] | 1080 | <h3><a name="prefsAdvanced">The <i>Advanced</i> Tab</a></h3>
|
---|
| 1081 |
|
---|
[460] | 1082 | <img src="prefsAdvanced.png" alt="The Advanced Tab of Preferences"/>
|
---|
[194] | 1083 |
|
---|
| 1084 | <p>
|
---|
| 1085 | This tab contains some settings that you normally should not
|
---|
| 1086 | change. Currently, these settings are related to the automatic
|
---|
| 1087 | update. If the <b>Update the program automatically</b> checkbox is
|
---|
| 1088 | not checked, the automatic update at program start-up will be
|
---|
| 1089 | omitted. The <i>Update URL</i> text entry field contains the URL
|
---|
| 1090 | from which to download the updates. Occasionally the developers of
|
---|
| 1091 | the application may tell you to change this something else, e.g. to
|
---|
| 1092 | test some development version. Or it may need to be changed due to
|
---|
| 1093 | organizational reasons, such as moving to a new server, etc.
|
---|
| 1094 | </p>
|
---|
| 1095 |
|
---|
[493] | 1096 | <h2><a name="bugReportWindow">The Bug Report Window</a></h2>
|
---|
| 1097 |
|
---|
| 1098 | <img src="bugreport.png" alt="The Bug Report Window"/>
|
---|
| 1099 |
|
---|
| 1100 | <p>
|
---|
| 1101 | The bug reporting window can be used to report any non-fatal bugs
|
---|
| 1102 | that occur during using the program. Bugs can be reported to
|
---|
| 1103 | appropriate topic in the MAVA forum, via e-mail or tickets created
|
---|
| 1104 | by hand on the project's website. However, utilizing this window not
|
---|
| 1105 | only creates the ticket, it also includes automatically the texts of
|
---|
| 1106 | the log and the debug log, making the life of the developers
|
---|
| 1107 | easier. Of course, it might happen that the program crashes in a way
|
---|
| 1108 | which makes this window inaccessible or to work incorrectly, in
|
---|
| 1109 | which case you must resort to the other possibilities.
|
---|
| 1110 | </p>
|
---|
| 1111 |
|
---|
| 1112 | <p>
|
---|
| 1113 | The bug report window can be displayed by selecting <b>Tools/Report
|
---|
| 1114 | bug</b> or by pressing <b>Ctrl+B</b>. The summary must be entered
|
---|
| 1115 | and it should be a short, one-sentence description or title of the
|
---|
| 1116 | problem. The <i>Description</i> part is not mandatory, but if you
|
---|
| 1117 | can think of any useful additional information, you might give it
|
---|
| 1118 | here. As the program automatically appends the log and the debug to
|
---|
| 1119 | the description, you should not copy them here. You can also give
|
---|
| 1120 | your e-mail address to receive automatic notifications of the status
|
---|
| 1121 | of your bug report, but consider that your e-mail address will then
|
---|
| 1122 | appear on the project's website in the bug report.
|
---|
| 1123 | </p>
|
---|
| 1124 |
|
---|
| 1125 | <p>
|
---|
| 1126 | By pressing <i>Send...</i>, you can create the bug report. If it is
|
---|
| 1127 | successful, you will receive a message telling so and including the
|
---|
| 1128 | ticket's ID that you may refer to later.
|
---|
| 1129 | </p>
|
---|
| 1130 |
|
---|
[228] | 1131 | <h2><a name="monitorWindow">The Monitor Window</a></h2>
|
---|
| 1132 |
|
---|
[468] | 1133 | <img src="monitorWindow.png" alt="The Monitor Window"/>
|
---|
[194] | 1134 |
|
---|
| 1135 | <p>
|
---|
| 1136 | The monitor window can be used when debugging the program. You can
|
---|
| 1137 | display it by selecting <b>View/Show monitor window</b> or by
|
---|
| 1138 | pressing <b>Ctrl+M</b>. It displays the various parameters from the
|
---|
| 1139 | aircraft as read from the flight simulator. During flight, it is
|
---|
| 1140 | updated once per second. If something is not detected properly by
|
---|
| 1141 | the logger, this window can be used to determine if the problem is
|
---|
| 1142 | in interpreting and translating the data read from the simulator, or
|
---|
| 1143 | when the translated data is being evaluated by other parts of the
|
---|
| 1144 | program.
|
---|
| 1145 | </p>
|
---|
[460] | 1146 |
|
---|
[194] | 1147 | </html>
|
---|