EastWest Airlines (VA) Australia Forum

[GM_EWA]

Michael

ETD EHAM is 0830Z or 7.30pm Aus Eastern daylight Savings Time. I think you're 2 hours ahead of us still which makes it 9.30pm for you. Flight time is around 02:20, so it'll fit in nicely with your bedtime

I'm doing the flight as I write. The Dart engines are just purring in my earphones. Very scenic about 115nm out of LFML.

Looking forward to your company. Michael
_________________
Andrew Watson
Liaison
The EastWest VA Group
EWA2/EWF2/VHABW

[roscoe]

Gents,
I must apologise profusely but I have to work tomorrow night at short notice and won't be back by Saturday's flight either. At this stage I will definitely make next Saturday's second leg.

Sorry gents.
_________________
Ross King
Chief Pilot
EastWest Australia VA
EWA003

[ctmegaw]

Guys,
Will be in the air RL when you guys launch tonight. Wishing you all the best and will try to catch a leg when I can.

Chris
EWA162

[GM_EWA]

Paul has provided another FS9 flight plan based on the Dash8/FSNav ones already available. This must be distinguished from the FS9 VOR-VOR plan I posted for David.

http://eastwestva.org/fs9plans/EHAM-LFML_FSNav.PLN

Right click on the link; choose Save Target As and save it to your My Documents\Flight Simulator Files folder.

The thinking behind this is to assist newcomers with a flight plan they can easily load into their FS9 GPS and follow, thereby staying in sight of those aircraft following the EURoute-sourced plan.

We will continue to post BOTH FS9 plans i.e. VOR-VOR and the other we'll refer to as FSNav-based. David, I've already done the LFML-LIRF VOR-VOR and will be posting it probably on Sunday morning.

If you have ANY questions at all about what's going on, please don't hesitate to ask. This is a golden opportunity for the more experienced virtual fliers to mentor those new to the world of IFR flying. I know it will be an enjoyable experience for us all.
_________________
Andrew Watson
Liaison
The EastWest VA Group
EWA2/EWF2/VHABW

[GM_EWA]

Just a reminder that we depart Amsterdam around 7.30pm Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time (0830Z) tonight. We're hoping for a good turnout for this the first leg of our 10th Birthday Event - to Marseilles. Flight time at a sedate 220KIAS is about 02:20.

To whet your appetite - and I know there are many vintage turboprop enthusiasts out there - here's a video I did of a departure Amsterdam. It's around 23.6Mb and runs for about 6 minutes.

http://eastwestva.org/video/vhewadepeham.wmv

As with others I'll put up, best to save it to your PC for uninterrupted playing i.e. no buffering. Right click on the link and choose Save Target As. You know what to do from there

I'm really looking forward to catching up with my EWA colleagus, past and present, and those non-EWA pilots supporting us in this milestone Event. Above all, what this trip is about is an opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery.
_________________
Andrew Watson
Liaison
The EastWest VA Group
EWA2/EWF2/VHABW

[BarryWard12345]

Hi all

A very enjoyable evening last night - my first IFR flight on Vatsim. Amsterdam to Marseilles. It was a good gentle introduction too - because there was no ATC on departure or arrival, but there was French control during transit.



I am getting a lot better at all this stuff - here I am on approach to Marseilles. You can clearly see that I have remembered to put my wheels down. Well done, Barry!!



Safely on the ground - didn't get in anybodys way, greased it on and managed to find my way to the parking ramp.

Looking forward to next weeks adventure - in the meantime, I had better figure out the PSS Dash8 FMC

Barry

[GM_EWA]

Barry

Glad to hear you enjoyed it It was a most enjoyable flight.

Now, on the FMC, best way to get familiar with it is to read Part 3 of the Dash 8 Manual put out by PSS and fly their tutorial flights - available from the Support section of their Web Site at -

http://www.phoenix-simulation.co.uk/default.asp?pss=productmanuals&pagetype=displaymanual&id=2

These tutorial flight are the best way to get to know the aircraft you are flying.

Here's a link to a BAV Tutorial I found through a Web search. The BAV material is always of a very high standard and whilst I haven't looked at it yet, I'm sure it will be a useful addition to your Dash 8 reference material.

http://www.speedbirdonline.co.uk/downloads/turboprop/PSS%20Dash%20Tutorial%20BAV.zip
_________________
Andrew Watson
Liaison
The EastWest VA Group
EWA2/EWF2/VHABW

[MichaelP]

I thought I'd try and be ahead of the game for last nights flight and already had pre-programmed the route as posted in the forum into FSnav.

But Murphy was alive and well ... My graphics card decided to pack up on Wednesday and I was in the backwards postion of having to install and setup the new one on Friday night before I could even think of starting the flight. A BFG GeForce 7800GS OC btw, the top of the line AGP card. The installation seemed to go well apart from one small problem ... It would only run one of my two monitors, after much cursing and swearing, plug swapping etc I traced it, a faulty DVI-VGA adaptor dongle, fortunately I had another one handy so finally got the dual view setup working, except the windows task bar was on the wrong monitor, more cursing and swearing, remember this is all happening at about 0800Z ! Time to uninstall and reinstall the driver again, fortunately not such a big mission to do.

At about 0815Z I finally got the setup working correctly and started FS9, whizzed over to Schipol and tried to load my pre made ready to fly plan into FSnav ... bloody Murphy again !! For whatever reason FS9 decided it had enough and locked solid ... another reboot and restart, back to Schipol, swap to the F27, startup FSnav and where oh where has my little plan gone ?? And what's happened to the radio ?? and why wont the AP work ?? Believe me I was not having much fun at this point in time.

What am I going to do now ... the only thing any good pilot would do ... fly the entire trip HOTAS !!

Off we go, head out to a runway at Schipol and line up, no idea which one it was, but whichever it was it will do ! ATC arrive online and request contact just as I'm at max throttle and heading out for take off. Apologies to the poor chap, I was a bit short with him. I quickly explained by text, typing one handed and trying to fly with the other that I wasn't exactly enjoying myself at that point in time and I would be out of his airspace ASAP ... Rgr that was the response, good lad, he understood.

Fortunately FSnav was working up to a point, I could see the ISEC's and my own aircraft so had a moving map to use, I couldn't for whatever reason see any other aircraft in FSnav even though I had multiplayer connected, which was a bit annoying but not to much of an issue, just meant I had to keep a sharp eye around me for other aircraft in my vicinity.

Much Fing and blinding later, I finally managed to get SB3 to connect to the company channel and could hear and communicate with everyone.

I was however still faced with the prospect of hands on flying all the way to Marseilles ... ok I thought I can do this.

The temporarily assigned senior hostie for the trip had already packed a sad and refused to service the flight deck crew, and infact was so overwrought with the whole start to the adventure she jumped ship and departed for parts unknown, leaving your captain alone in command of the ship.

Once underway the majority of the trip went extremely smoothly, the arrival of Paris Radio online was a great addition to the adventure and he did a fantastic job of keeping us all flying in the right direction and altitude. I only hope we get more ATC as we progress along with each leg of this great adventure.

Finally sighted Marseilles airport and got lined up on a runway, no idea with one it was, except it was the bigger of the two on the left as I was on approach, I really should check to see if I was indeed on the correct runway or not.

After all of the mishaps along the way, I was half expecting Murphy to stick his finger in it again, gear failure maybe, engine cut out, electrical failure, even the bloody wings to drop off !! But no he'd finished having his fun with me and I had a pretty good landing even if I say so myself.

Would I do it all over again ? You bet I would !

I can't wait for the next leg across to Rome next Friday night, but you can be sure I will have everything running smoothly by then so I can have a much more enjoyable trip ... hmm thinking about it even with all the drama's this first leg was enjoyable and will be one I wont forget for quite a while.
_________________


Michael Peacock
EWP533

[GM_EWA]

Michael

Thanks very much for your report. I hope next week's leg to Rome is a little less traumatic for you It's great to have you back with us, Captain


Between layers


Flying into the dawn


What a way to celebrate 10 years of VA operations!


Turning over Avignon
_________________
Andrew Watson
Liaison
The EastWest VA Group
EWA2/EWF2/VHABW

[GM_EWA]

With the first leg of our journey from Amsterdam to Tamworth behind us, we are learning what sort of information we need to put up for each leg. SO, as time and opportunity permits, a sort of pre-flight briefing will be posted to assist you in your flight preparation.

Chief Pilot Ross (Roscoe) King is also posting links to available scenery as we go. See this Forum thread -

http://www.eastwestva.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=261

NOTE - The nature of Roscoe's work means his availability to provide this information each week is not guaranteed. Whilst every reasonable effort will be made to do so, we ask Event participants to do their best to prepare for each leg.

Leg 2: LFML-LIRF Dist 265nm ETE 01:40

Route (Amended - Routefinder Low Altitude)
---------------------------------------------------
DCT TIMTA P856 DIVUL G374 SODRI A3 ELB A1 GILIO DCT

Suggested Alternate
-----------------------
LIRA

Flight Levels
--------------
In France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland -
Routes from 090-269 ODD LEVELS
Routes from 270-089 EVEN LEVELS

Chart Links
-----------
Marseilles Charts
http://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/html/frameset_aip_uk.htm
Navigate through the AIP links from top left until you get to the ARR/DEP in force page.

Rome Charts
http://www.vatita.net/?dir=download&pagina=planning/charts

SIDs/STARs
--------------
At LFML will be TIMTA 7B off rwy 13 or TIMTA 7C off rwy 31.
At LIRF - GILIO 3B

Transition Altitudes
----------------------
LFML - 5000ft
LIRF - 6000ft

What does this mean? Local QNH on your altimeter subscale at 5000/6000ft and below. ICAO standard 1013.3Mb (29.92") above those altitudes.
_________________
Andrew Watson
Liaison
The EastWest VA Group
EWA2/EWF2/VHABW

[BarryWard12345]

Hi Andrew

Have a look at this site for European charts. Any use?

http://flight.sanyjo.cz/mapy/

Barry

[BarryWard12345]

Hi all

Looking at the GILIO 3B STAR for arrival into LIRF for the next flight - I can't really see that it is designed for a particular runway -- any thoughts on that? The PSS Dash8 FMC looks for SIDS/STARS particular to individual runways.

I am discovering that the PSS Dash8 FMC appears to be a bit limited in what it does. I will admit that I don't have the very latest Airac cycle installed as yet - the one I have is dated August '06, but it has no STARS at all for LIRF and, although it has SIDS for Marseilles, doesn't have the TIMTA SID. Doesn't really matter - because I can file a flight plan as per the correct FP (from Routefinder) - but input into FSNav and the Dash8 FMC , a plan that is "very close" to the correct plan.

Complicated stuff this!!

Barry

[GM_EWA]

Barry

Many thanks for that Charts link. Most useful to be able to get them from one Site.

Now, re the Roma STAR, if you have a look at LIRF_Star1.pdf you'll see the GILIO 3B terminates at Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) TAQ freq 312 and take note that this STAR is reserved for propeller acft flying not above FL160. Normally, radar vectors would be applied by Approach or whatever controller is processing aircraft inside the Terminal Area (TMA) and in the real world the crew would already have been advised of their assigned runway when the STAR clearance was passed to them e.g. 25 GILIO 3B (and sometimes a transition is added if it is appropriate to the arrival).

Next, have a look at the runway 25 ILS approach plate and you'll see that aircraft flying that approach would either be vectored onto final by the controller or track via TAQ-CMP-URB and intercept final from URB off a heading approximately 30 degrees to the approach track. In this case the track is 248 degrees magnetic so you would fly a heading of about 208-218 from URB to intercept the ILS.

What you need to understand is that real world an arrival route is issued by ATC in accordance with prevailing wind, duty runway, the aircraft's inbound route of flight and/or traffic in the TMA. At a controlled airport, the crew doesn't get to choose their arrival and runway UNLESS they consider the safety of their aircraft might be jeopardised by following the ATC clearance. Many's the time I've heard a pilot ask for a non-duty runway because the duty runway is considered unsuitable for or hazardous to their operation. Even a little thing like taxi time to/from a runway is important to an Airline operation as the less fuel burnt, the happier the Operations Manager(s) will be.

Indeed, please don't worry if your navdata won't allow you to enter the details into the FMC exactly. I suggest you work on this principle - if you don't have SIDs and/or STARs, if ATC is present ask for radar vectors onto outbound course or final approach. If ATC isn't around and you don't have the arrival plates, fly a circuit just as you would normally.

Believe it or not, flying Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in an Air Traffic Control (ATC) environment under radar control, departing and arriving any airport is still "see-and-be-seen" - some call it "see-and-avoid." NEVER take it for granted that an ATC instruction or vector will keep you separated from other aircraft in your airspace. Always maintain situational awareness and a clear mental picture of where other traffic - IFR and VFR - is in relation to your aircraft. Thus endeth today's lesson
_________________
Andrew Watson
Liaison
The EastWest VA Group
EWA2/EWF2/VHABW

[BarryWard12345]

Hi Andrew

Thanks for that. Yes - I can see that NDB TAQ (termination of STAR GILIO 3B) can lead to a number of runways.

As I said, what with FSNav 4 and default GPS and Dash8 FMC, I have plenty of options - plus eyeball Mark 1!

Barry

[DP]

Barry
Remember you can quickly enter waypoints yourself to the PSS Dash's FMC thus manually creating the SID or STAR (if all waypoints are in the FMC). The Dash FMC is very easy to perform that task. If you really want the FMC to do it you might backup your present FMC nav data (just in case you need it again) then get the latest data from Navigraph & see if the SIDs & STARs you want are in the new data.