South West Flight Simulation

Saturday, 19 September 2020

Pre-order for 2021

Monday, 14 September 2020

The Passenger Experience...Now Boarding!

We are about to explore two newcomers to the genre of passenger immersion add-ons, and by way of example, allow me to use a well known ground handling add-on which adds tiny animated figurines to your airport aprons.

Yes folks, this may well become your happiest flightsim moment or your very worst nightmare, and that’s because Jekyll and Hyde personalities are about to be given to your Lilliputian marionettes - not only can they walk, but now they can talk, and not only that, they now have an abundance of spirit along with excess attitude too.

We don't often give a second thought to those fare paying peeps in the back, sometimes referred to as "self loading cargo", and we've never been particularly worried about whether they are clasping a drink in their hands or clasping their hands together in prayer. I would venture that this is because simulator pilots have enough to do up front with their procedures, checklists, briefings, and sterile flightdecks.

And yet the following packages aim to increase the flight crew's workload by adding this new dimension. Now, not only must we contend with iced fuel lines, busted engines, and bird strikes, but the thorny issues of malcontent passengers, troublesome hen parties, missed connections, disillusioned club classes, and buoyant stag party groups is quite literally knocking on our (locked) flightdeck doors.

In the past, Gold braided Captains have paced up and down the aisle to meet and greet their passengers, to provide reassurances, and as airline ambassadors to politely drum up further business. If it wasn't for passenger loyalty, then furlough or severence might have been but a flight or two away. Today, however, it is your job to keep to your company schedule, and to provide smooth rides with silky landings. You may even need to keep the peace or dish out some discipline.

Each package handles the actual experience differently, but in essence, you must keep an eye on the comfort levels, enjoyment, and overall satisfaction of your customers by ensuring, for instance, that boarding doesn't take too long or that you avoid delays and bad weather.

Amongst other things, you'll get to hear cabin announcements and deal with irksome people and maddening circumstances. In short, you'll face the very same awkward situations as seen in many of those fly-on-the-wall airline documentaries that no doubt we have all witnessed.

So then, my advice as a seasoned expert is twofold; first, I would say to you to neglect your passengers at your peril, and second would be to expect the unexpected....

Self Loading Cargo by Lanilogic Technology Solutions

This product is no longer recommended.

When asked about inconsistencies in the cabin service mechanism for alcoholic beverages, drinks, and/or meals, the developer has focused more on consulting the PDF manual for answers rather than by trying to understand the issues faced and so directly assisting with the product mishandling, misunderstanding, and/or deficiencies.

Too often, my passengers have gone hungry for the duration of the flight despite (1) the time of day being appropriate to food service (otherwise why would passengers be hungry?), and (2) all five cabin crew members being in “passenger monitoring mode”, which essentially means that they aren’t busy and therefore theoretically able to serve food.

My recommendation to the developer would be to provide assistance to end users especially if end users cannot find the answer within the PDF; no one has greater knowledge of a product than the developer, so please pass the information onwards.

About reading PDF manuals; not all pages are relevant to a specific enquiry, and irrespective iof whether the answer is present, it does not mean that the end user has (1) found or identified that content, or (2) digested and understood the necessary detail.

The bottom line is that I maintain that there exists a flaw in SLCs programming, whereas the developer does not. Read the manuals he says, and yet I have, in fact several times.

With respect to this, the developer has not engaged with me to clarify my (our mutual) misunderstanding.

It would seem that you get what you pay for....

PACX by TFDi

PACX is another very comprehensive package created by the authors of the delightful TFDi Boeing B717, and comes with countless WAV files, scenarios, and events possible.

This is another very detailed multi flightsim platform Windows-only package, and one that is equally immersive. The cost is $29.99 but a discount has been promised for 2019's Cyber Monday. Check out the linked video below to see first hand what this can bring to your simulated world.

This package includes a huge array of sound files, 600 of them to be exact, and it has a number of notable features that are quite unique, including the ability to interact with it, namely your passengers, "vocally".

Here's how TFDi describe the PACX Experience...

PACX offers a variety of systems to provide a realistic in-flight and post-flight experience.
Various incidents ranging from minor reseating delays to severe medical issues can happen. It is up to you to handle them properly. This may mean you simply expedite the flight, or you may have to make an immediate diversion. The choice is yours.
Extra announcements for customs declarations on international fights and Wi-Fi usage information for Wi-Fi equipped aircraft increase the immersion.
Automatic and realistic handling of in-flight service by the flight attendant make the flight feel alive.
Interaction can be initiated by pressing the appropriate in-cockpit controls on select third party aircraft like the TFDi Design 717, Quality Wings 787, PMDG 737NGX, PMDG 747 QOTS II, and PMDG 777.
Career mode allows you to rank up and vary your passengers according to airline parameters.
Awards can be earned for activity, on-time performance, and more.

A few final thoughts...

There have been many other passenger experience packages in the past, including FSPassengers (ESP), FSCaptain (ESP), PassengersFX NG (XP), plus a few more, but none have the depth of the two add-ons mentioned here, PACX and SLC.

Also, SLC and PACX are both multi platform insofar as they support FSX, P3D, and X-Plane, but I have found no mention of MS FS2020. I would think, however, that since the developers have already catered for FSX & P3D, they would include 2020 without a second thought, but whether they charge for it is another matter.

Just to be clear, ground handling add-ons are not required, I was merely suggesting that those animated figures were given, courtesy of SLC or PACX, personality.

Friday, 11 September 2020

X-Plane 11.50 now available

Not all add-ons are compatible with Vulkan and Metal. In particular, when Vulkan and Metal are enabled, 3-d drawing callbacks and map drawing callbacks are not sent to plugins.

If an add-on appears to not work correctly, you can disable Vulkan and Metal and restart X-Plane.

Known Addon Issues

Needs update from developer to work with Vulkan/Metal:

Aircraft using DreamEngine Sound
Bandicam (prevents sim launch)
BetterPushback
Goodway
Ground Traffic
Flight Factor A320
Flight Factor 767
Flight Factor 777
JAR A320
JAR A330
JCS Talon T38
librain
SimVim
ToLiss A319 & A321
X-Aviation Torque Sim Pocket Rocket
xEnviro
XJet
X-Life
XPRealistic Pro
xSquawkBox
xSwift

Saturday, 5 September 2020

Long Haul “Bullseye!”: Maho Ahoy!

Standard Tuesday and Thursday SWFS/MA online ATC flights are generally A-to-B routes with given departure and arrival airports, plus any SID/STAR/APP procedures.

All pilots have to do is create their own flight plans, then join the group on TS3 & JoinFS, and of course obediently comply with all instructions given by our experienced ATC officers!

Every now and then, however, we might list a “Bullseye!” flight which differs from standard flights as only the arrival airport is presented, leaving pilots free to choose their own departure airports from literally anywhere, be it around the corner or around the globe!
Think of these as normal Tues/Thurs flight nights but without the departure phase, which also means that ATC services will be available only for the arrival phase.

Route planning, fuel requirements, and cruise levels are down to the individual pilot, and for this we recommend using a formal flght planner such as SimBrief (freeware) or Aerosoft's PFPX (payware).

Newsflash!...

We have planned a “Bullseye!” flight into Princess Juliana TNCM, Sint Marteen, on Tuesday 8th September.

Simply depart your chosen airport in time to arrive in TNCM ATC controlled airspace at about 21:00 (20:00Z) before your TOD, but do join us on TS3 from 20:00 (19:00Z) for our customary TS3 banter.

If you feel up to flying a long haul flight into Princess Juliana, then a small number of SWFS/MA pilots are looking to depart Manchester Airport EGCC early on Tuesday afternoon, so why not join us on TS3 and JoinFS (hub: HAIDF)?

Unlike VATSIM or IVAO, with SWFS/MA you don’t have to sit in the cockpit for the entire flight. If you have things to do, then after takeoff engage George to take care of the aeroplane as you go about your routines, but do free to check in occasionally on TS3 for a chat and progress update.