SITREP - 2006-04-26

[EHM-1001 Robert]

I like the idea, although I cannot reach the DB. Someone with access, could move the planes after the opening days to the next starting point.

[EHM-0654 Murray]

That a hint Robert?

I'll take a look after I land S021 (attempt #2... FLogger crashed on #1... It begins :@)

[EHM-0654 Murray]

OK, on the ground (0.00 in PP, and over 300 in FSP [forgot to turn off the landing/strobe lights during roll-out...])

One bit of knowledge we "discovered" during the fly-in that the rest of y'all that fly on IVAO may not know about: when you are selecting your livery for the MTL model, avoid the American airline liveries (Continental is the only one I can remember, but...) For some reason, the American liveries have a nasty habit of appearing as A320's for everyone else. The Air France and TAP liveries are known to display correctly.

[strike]Now, time to "play" with the spare DC-3 fleet...[/strike]

OK, I've seen to it that the spare DC-3s for the US Airmail Pioneers tour are available at the current departure airfield (it's a manual process at the moment...), so Des, feel free to take one of the spares from KUNV to KBKL. It would help Jarle if you could post the tail ID of the spare you fly, as potentially that's going to be his from KBKL onward.

Jarle (if you happen to be keeping up with all this), you are welcome to join the tour, but please use whichever spare DC-3 Des flies from KUNV (or wait a day and pick up a spare from KUNV for yourself...), but please leave PH-UDK at KBKL unlocked as it's Des' plane for the duration of this tour.

[EHM-1001 Robert]

Thanks Murray

[EHM-1199 Philip]

I see what has happened. Jarle actually brought my reserved DC3 to KUNV. Obviously when Jim reserved his own plane and I mine, Jarle just took the next available. No harm done if the 'spares' follow. Is there a way of making only a specific pilot able to lock a plane?

[EHM-0502 Desmond]

Ok, I've locked PH-UEG for this flight. Hopefully my plane will be waiting for me for the third leg.

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Originally posted by Plymyphil
Is there a way of making only a specific pilot able to lock a plane?

Unfortunately no. Funnily enough, I suggested this very feature when there was all the mis-locking in the first event.

But, with the spares following on behind us, this need not be such  a problem.

[EHM-1821 Javier]

where is the strobe switch in the dc3?i cant find it and it says i didnt turn it on even though i press "L"before i start the engine.i also pressed "O" before that. btw,is it the light at the top of the centre of the plane.

dont want that same penalty on every flight.pls help.:]

[EHM-1500 Jim]

Not labelled at strobe per se but as navigation light and beacon light in overhead panel which is accessed via one of the little square symbols near the GPS and Throttle symbols. Jim

[EHM-1821 Javier]

found the problem i think.but the problem is that sometimes when i change back from window mode to fullscreen,FS window shuts.due to this,i cannot start pp after i shut down engine.

someone pls help:[

[EHM-1671 Ben]

As some of you might already know, I finally got my FLogger working. But it lokos like I'm too late to fly the event, or am I? There is one more DC-3 at New York, but it doesn't have a destination. Am I able to fly this DC-3 (although its not the DC-3 I was assigned) and start late, or can I not fly?

Thanks

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Oops, sorry Ben... I'll move UEA back for you.

You won't be able to PP the first (and very nearly, the second) leg... Having said that, you should be able to use the FLogger to record a PIREP and file it (I think... Robert?). If that works, just send your HM an explanation for the late submission.

Re: your U2U, did you use the FLogger to record it, and did you save the PIREP? Submit it from the FLogger if you did, that should work...

[EHM-1671 Ben]

Hey there Murray,

Only one problem: I don't know how to file PIREPs on the FLogger. How do I do that?

And when I submitted the PIREP before, it was on the form from the webpage.

So, am I actually able to fly both of the legs? I flew the first leg a couple of hours ago, and I still have the times recorded for it.

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Filing PIREPs from the FLogger is easy (as you would hope...)

Set up the flight as you would for a PP flight, just don't click the PP button on the Timetable "tab". Fly your flight as normal, land and shutdown. Now click the "Submit PIREP" button on the log tab, just the same as you would if you had flown the flight for PP - the FLogger submits the flight to the database as a non-PP flight. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

As for submitting a saved PIREP - go into the Preferences "tab", down in the Resend PIREP section click on the "Browse" button, find your previously saved PIREP data, then click the "Resend" button.

EDIT: And I see what you mean about the web PIREP submission system not liking the S02? flights. I'll have a little look at that, if Bruno/Tamas/Ben aren't working on the PIREP system today? See if I can't get it to accept them with their correct start/end dates.

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Quick heads-up for everyone else. It's 08:55Z right now, sun-up at Cleveland is 10:46Z (if the AS ephemeris tool is to be believed), so S022 can begin at 11:16Z (or thereabouts...)

METAR at Cleveland is currently wonderous for VFR flying - light winds, skies clear with "full" visibility.

[EHM-1001 Robert]

OK, I gave up. After 5th try, and 2 successfull landing at Cleveland, FlightLogger still plays with me and exits in the most unexpected moments...twice on final. I did a lot to try avoid that but could not, so it is over to me.

I offer my plane PH-URS for others, who might crashed their own. Have better luck

I think we can extend manually the time period for 1st flight, but lastly for now. Somebody should edit the flight info to extend the period to say...19th. And if still there are planes in New York, those can be flown too and can start the event

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Robert, you mean it's "crashing to desktop"? Tried a re-install? There's still plenty of time left to get S021 in the bag...

Re: Ben's problems with S020, I'm dealing with it... See my post in the management forum...

The only other plane at KJFK still is Christian Bakke's, and as far as I know it hasn't moved from there or been locked, so I guess he's not taking part...

[EHM-1001 Robert]

Well, it is not crashing to desktop, it only became a full white, blank window with the sand-watch on it, and in the task manager it says Program does not respond... while every other program goes on and do its job.

Well, I managed to land at Cleveland with time-compresison and quite low level of realism...but I did it. I do not know why this happenning, but it is a constant bug at me since several monthes.

[EHM-0654 Murray]

I get the FLogger "not responding" when I minimise it sometimes. If I use task manager to "Switch to" it and just wait, it turns up after a minute or two and behaves as if nothing was wrong.

[EHM-1001 Robert]

Well, interesting technique I am flying in windowed mode and click on the programs directly from taskbar. I managed to reach Toledo for 1st try, and now I left Logger open with ACARS window, maybe it will "help" in the future...I will see.

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Someone needs to give TimB a nudge and wake him up... he's going to get stuck at KUNV if he doesn't fly today/tonight...

[EHM-1671 Ben]

[EHM-1001 Robert]

Hey, Murray, "you are da man" mate ! It happeneed with me too...I mean, the Logger shoot itself out with a blind white screen. I clicked into the window and the "Program does not responding" text appeared on the top line. I thought it is over and restarted the flight, and started the preparations on the ground for next try, when suddenly the Logger came back and threw a tons of penalty over my head because of bad landing

So it really works! If the Logger gone to sleep for a while, then pause the sim and click into the Logger window and within a minute it will come back alive again

[EHM-0654 Murray]

FAO - Ricardo Plácido

Look after my baby, PH-UMC, on the flight to Des Moines please.

I've moved up PH-UEF to Iowa and will fly that myself to Des Moines tonight (hopefully), then it'll return to the pool...

[EHM-0654 Murray]

OK... I've worked through the backend database, and to be honest the event is descending rapidly into high farce.

Des Moines is as good a point as any to re-apply some order, so as of the departure from Des Moines (S026, valid from 2006-04-28), the following is the "written in stone" list of which aircraft belongs to which pilot:

Aircraft ID->Tail ID->Pilot ID->Pilot Name
796 PH-UKF EHM-0361 Karsten Frederiksen
797 PH-UDK EHM-0502 Desmond Klein
798 PH-UMC EHM-0654 Murray Crane
799 PH-URS EHM-1001 Robert Szikszo
800 PH-UPR EHM-1199 Philip Rolt
801 PH-UTY Spare
802 PH-UTB EHM-1417 Tamas Biro
803 PH-ULN EHM-1442 Luis Nunes
804 PH-UJH EHM-1500 Jim Hoyle
805 PH-UCB EHM-0001 Gergely Kosa
806 PH-UPN EHM-1703 Phil Nutt
807 PH-UCO EHM-1798 Conrad Oldcorn *
808 PH-UJG EHM-1821 Javier Goh
809 PH-UTT EHM-1633 Jose Rodriguez
810 PH-UEA EHM-1671 Ben Contreras *
811 PH-UEB Crashed
812 PH-UEC Spare
813 PH-UED EHM-1759 Ricardo Placido
814 PH-UEF EHM-1628 Jarle Bronstad
815 PH-UEG Spare

* These aircraft are currently at Chicago-Midway. Pilots that are "with their planes" still will need to "get their arses in gear" and shift them to Iowa post haste.

There is to be no arguments about this! Once we all leave Des Moines, this list is to be respected by all participants. As you can see, there are three spares in this "new" list. If you need to use an airframe that isn't explicitly listed as yours, use a spare and not someone else's.

That does not include crashes by the way; officially, if you crash you loose your place in the event! We've lost one airframe to a crash (Gergely's, as it happens, even though he wasn't flying it) and I'm not seeking to take this matter any further, but from Des Moines onward, everyone, be careful with your airframes - these alu birds don't grow on trees you know.

Personal note

By looking at the back-end database in conjunction with information provided on the PP website, it is clear who has "been naughty" and who is just a victim of circumstance.

I'm not going into any greater detail on this matter, this new list makes room for all current participants as long as we all abide by the rules of the event and we all fly safely. After all, that is what ProPilot flying is about.

Thank you.