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Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 2:14 pm
by big_al
"Hello all, I just joined the Asia and Australia Hub, and want to start flying. I looked at the Open board flight schedule for this Hub, and PO129 is listed as available. But when I go to the Polar Air Schedule, it lists this flight as a North America Hub. Can I still take the flight? Thanks, Alex"

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 2:44 pm
by nwadc10
Yes you may take that flight. Open board flights are available to all pilots regardless of the pilots' or flights' region. Enjoy the flight! Justin

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 4:05 pm
by big_al
"Thank you very much, one more question. I couldn't find any guidelines about procedures such as navigation. I am still learning the INS system but don't think I'm ready to use it for a flight just yet. Can I use the default GPS or manually tune VORs? Are there certain procedures I have to follow or as long as I get from point A to B everythings up to me?"

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 4:26 pm
by nwadc10
"<!--QuoteBegin-big_al+May 5 2005, 08:05 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(big_al @ May 5 2005, 08:05 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Thank you very much, one more question. I couldn't find any guidelines about procedures such as navigation. I am still learning the INS system but don't think I'm ready to use it for a flight just yet. Can I use the default GPS or manually tune VORs? Are there certain procedures I have to follow or as long as I get from point A to B everythings up to me? [right][snapback]3530[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I assume you are trying to learn the CIVA INS. When I was learning the INS (and learning never seems to end <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> ) I printed out the checklist and error codes and put it in a small 3-ring binder along with the checklists and takeoff and landing data for the 742. (I printed two pages per sheet to save ink and paper, plus it allowed me to put the papers into a much smaller binder). Begin your preflight with the RFP checklist and when you get to the INS initialization, switch to the INS preflight checklist. Once complete, return to the RFP checklist. In no time you will be able to preflight the INS from memory if you need to. For navigation, you can use whatever navigation system you would like. However, if you use GPS please load a flight plan into the GPS rather than going ""direct"". The issue is realism. Navigation via radio Navaids is also perfectly acceptable and there are no restrictions to its use. Though radio navaids make transoceanic flights impossible so that portion you would need either INS or GPS. Justin "

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 4:29 pm
by big_al
"Thank you again. Yes I am learning the CIVA INS but before I get it down well enough, I'd rather not waste time on the ramp. So far I can get the plane up and running pretty fast from cold and dark. Are there any checklists I can follow that you recommend for the CIVA INS? I am going over the ones that came with the unit but they don't seem to be too newbie friendly. Maybe I need more practice I guess... For example, I can't get the other 2 INS' to turn on, only the left one. So I will load the plan in the GPS, thank you very much for your help. One more question actually, where do I find out info about this flight, such as how much cargo to load, etc. Thanks for everything -Alex"

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 5:08 pm
by wijnand
"<!--QuoteBegin-big_al+May 5 2005, 09:29 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(big_al @ May 5 2005, 09:29 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Thank you again. Yes I am learning the CIVA INS but before I get it down well enough, I'd rather not waste time on the ramp. So far I can get the plane up and running pretty fast from cold and dark. Are there any checklists I can follow that you recommend for the CIVA INS? I am going over the ones that came with the unit but they don't seem to be too newbie friendly. Maybe I need more practice I guess... For example, I can't get the other 2 INS' to turn on, only the left one. So I will load the plan in the GPS, thank you very much for your help. One more question actually, where do I find out info about this flight, such as how much cargo to load, etc. Thanks for everything -Alex [right][snapback]3532[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Hi Alex, did you try the tutorial flight that came with the CIVA INS manual? It is a good one and furthermore, if you are really stuck, on the CIVA forum Gianfranco and Marco are always willing to answer your questions, as I have experienced!! Don't worry, you will soon learn the INS (and appreciate it!!!) About the cargoloads: I guess you are fine as long as you can carry enough fuel!! In the charterflights (Atlas) you usually know what you are carrying. (So you can quess the weight more or less) Happy flying!! Wijnand (EHBK)"

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 6:26 pm
by big_al
"Thank you very much! I am going to do my first flight tonight, one of the F1 charters. Can't wait til after work!! That says what cargo load to put in, but the open board flight does not. Maybe it does when you accept it? I will try it for a flight this weekend. Thanks again, by this weekend I will fly with the civa ins"

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 6:35 pm
by nwadc10
"<!--QuoteBegin-big_al+May 5 2005, 08:29 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(big_al @ May 5 2005, 08:29 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Thank you again. Yes I am learning the CIVA INS but before I get it down well enough, I'd rather not waste time on the ramp. So far I can get the plane up and running pretty fast from cold and dark. Are there any checklists I can follow that you recommend for the CIVA INS? I am going over the ones that came with the unit but they don't seem to be too newbie friendly. Maybe I need more practice I guess... For example, I can't get the other 2 INS' to turn on, only the left one. So I will load the plan in the GPS, thank you very much for your help. One more question actually, where do I find out info about this flight, such as how much cargo to load, etc. Thanks for everything -Alex [right][snapback]3532[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> In the documentation for the CIVA INS, Chapter 4 is Normal Procedures and breaks the checklist down into phase of flight (INS Alignment, Before takeoff, etc). Read the supporting information under the checklist item you are to perform. This supporting information usually tells you why you are doing that item of the checklist and gives you further information on how to perform that item. Some items can still be a little confusing though. For your current problem, start at the beginning...do you have the three units fully installed in the aircraft? By that I'm asking if you have the units themselves and three Mode Selector Units (MSU) on the overhead panel? If so, each unit needs to be turned on individually and if you don't have three MSU's then you need to do more work in the aircraft's panel.cfg file. Off the top of my head that's the first thing that comes to mind. Flight information is your responsibility. You must do the flight planning, assign yourself an aircraft and cargo load. Make the cargo load realistic. In other words, don't fly with zero or very little cargo. I usually keep my cargo around 100,000 lbs (-10,000lbs/+30,000 lbs). Once we have a dispatch system in full operation we may have the ship and cargo assigned to you, but that has yet to be determined. Good luck! Justin"

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:08 pm
by big_al
Thanks for the helpful information. It looks like my problem is I didn't turn on all 3 in the overhead panel like you said. Duh that makes sense. Thanks again.

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 11:27 am
by yoni63
"<!--QuoteBegin-nwadc10+May 5 2005, 03:26 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nwadc10 @ May 5 2005, 03:26 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I assume you are trying to learn the CIVA INS.  When I was learning the INS (and learning never seems to end <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> ) I printed out the checklist and error codes and put it in a small 3-ring binder along with the checklists and takeoff and landing data for the 742. (I printed two pages per sheet to save ink and paper, plus it allowed me to put the papers into a much smaller binder).  Begin your preflight with the RFP checklist and when you get to the INS initialization, switch to the INS preflight checklist.  Once complete, return to the RFP checklist.  In no time you will be able to preflight the INS from memory if you need to. For navigation, you can use whatever navigation system you would like.  However, if you use GPS please load a flight plan into the GPS rather than going ""direct"".  The issue is realism.  Navigation via radio Navaids is also perfectly acceptable and there are no restrictions to its use.  Though radio navaids make transoceanic flights impossible so that portion you would need either INS or GPS. Justin [right][snapback]3531[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Justin: I have never even gandered at CIVA INS at all. Where is a good place to read up on it, and is it a freeware or what? I probably need to get up to speed on it and try to start using it. Bryan Jones 1242 "

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 2:48 pm
by big_al
<a href='http://www.simufly.com/ins/index.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.simufly.com/ins/index.htm</a> Enjoy! I thought I had it down but could not get the units to align. Will keep trying to get it

Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 10:29 am
by nwadc10
"<!--QuoteBegin-big_al+May 6 2005, 06:48 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(big_al @ May 6 2005, 06:48 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin--><a href='http://www.simufly.com/ins/index.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.simufly.com/ins/index.htm</a> Enjoy! I thought I had it down but could not get the units to align. Will keep trying to get it [right][snapback]3555[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Are you following the alignment checklist exactly? One of my common mistakes when I first started using CIVA was that I would try to align the INS's before I entered my position. First, set the three MSU's to Standby. Go to the INS unit and select ""POS"" (position) on each unit. Now, push Shift+Z to see your coordinates in FS...you have to round off the last two digits to get it to fit into the INS's format. Enter your current position in each INS. Now go back to the overhead panel and set each MSU to ALIGN. If you can't move the selector knob to the align position, click the center of the knob (simulates pulling the knob out), then rotate it to align. Back to the INS unit, select DSRTX/STS. On the right set of digits, the digit that is second from the right is the alignment status. It starts at 9 and slowly counts down to 0. When the status is at 8, the BAT light on the CDU will illuminate as a test. At 5 the NAV light will illuminate on the MSU indicating that you can now use it for navigation, however it's not as accurate as if you wait until 0. total alignment takes about 15 minutes, maybe a little less. If you are doing all these steps already then there is a deeper problem and search the CIVA forum. <!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Where is a good place to read up on it, and is it a freeware or what? I probably need to get up to speed on it and try to start using it. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Bryan, if you haven't already gone to the link, yes it is free and very realistic, a great compliment to RFP. The only reading I did was the actual manual/checklists but as Wijnand said there is a tutorial flight. I haven't done the tutuorial flight so I can't speak about that. The manual is only 17 pages long and contains a lot of great information. You will also want to print or make easily available to you in flight the Action and Malfunction codes document. When the red ALARM light illuminates on the CDU, you go to the DSRTX/STS page and on the right set of digits it gives you a code. In this last document you can easily find the malfunction and it tells you how to resolve the problem...if you are able to. I hope all this information helps! <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> Justin"

Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 12:40 pm
by yoni63
"<!--QuoteBegin-nwadc10+May 9 2005, 09:29 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nwadc10 @ May 9 2005, 09:29 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Are you following the alignment checklist exactly? One of my common mistakes when I first started using CIVA was that I would try to align the INS's before I entered my position.  First, set the three MSU's to Standby.  Go to the INS unit and select  ""POS"" (position) on each unit.  Now, push Shift+Z to see your coordinates in FS...you have to round off the last two digits to get it to fit into the INS's format.  Enter your current position in each INS.  Now go back to the overhead panel and set each MSU to ALIGN.  If you can't move the selector knob to the align position, click the center of the knob (simulates pulling the knob out), then rotate it to align.  Back to the INS unit, select DSRTX/STS.  On the right set of digits, the digit that is second from the right is the alignment status.  It starts at 9 and slowly counts down to 0.  When the status is at 8, the BAT light on the CDU will illuminate as a test.  At 5 the NAV light will illuminate on the MSU indicating that you can now use it for navigation, however it's not as accurate as if you wait until 0.  total alignment takes about 15 minutes, maybe a little less.  If you are doing all these steps already then there is a deeper problem and search the CIVA forum. Bryan, if you haven't already gone to the link, yes it is free and very realistic, a great compliment to RFP.  The only reading I did was the actual manual/checklists but as Wijnand said there is a tutorial flight.  I haven't done the tutuorial flight so I can't speak about that.  The manual is only 17 pages long and contains a lot of great information.  You will also want to print or make easily available to you in flight the Action and Malfunction codes document.  When the red ALARM light illuminates on the CDU, you go to the DSRTX/STS page and on the right set of digits it gives you a code.  In this last document you can easily find the malfunction and it tells you how to resolve the problem...if you are able to. I hope all this information helps! <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> Justin [right][snapback]3588[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Thanks Justin, I am going to go check it all out right now. Bryan "

Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 1:08 pm
by yoni63
"<!--QuoteBegin-nwadc10+May 9 2005, 09:29 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nwadc10 @ May 9 2005, 09:29 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Are you following the alignment checklist exactly? One of my common mistakes when I first started using CIVA was that I would try to align the INS's before I entered my position.  First, set the three MSU's to Standby.  Go to the INS unit and select  ""POS"" (position) on each unit.  Now, push Shift+Z to see your coordinates in FS...you have to round off the last two digits to get it to fit into the INS's format.  Enter your current position in each INS.  Now go back to the overhead panel and set each MSU to ALIGN.  If you can't move the selector knob to the align position, click the center of the knob (simulates pulling the knob out), then rotate it to align.  Back to the INS unit, select DSRTX/STS.  On the right set of digits, the digit that is second from the right is the alignment status.  It starts at 9 and slowly counts down to 0.  When the status is at 8, the BAT light on the CDU will illuminate as a test.  At 5 the NAV light will illuminate on the MSU indicating that you can now use it for navigation, however it's not as accurate as if you wait until 0.  total alignment takes about 15 minutes, maybe a little less.  If you are doing all these steps already then there is a deeper problem and search the CIVA forum. Bryan, if you haven't already gone to the link, yes it is free and very realistic, a great compliment to RFP.  The only reading I did was the actual manual/checklists but as Wijnand said there is a tutorial flight.  I haven't done the tutuorial flight so I can't speak about that.  The manual is only 17 pages long and contains a lot of great information.  You will also want to print or make easily available to you in flight the Action and Malfunction codes document.  When the red ALARM light illuminates on the CDU, you go to the DSRTX/STS page and on the right set of digits it gives you a code.  In this last document you can easily find the malfunction and it tells you how to resolve the problem...if you are able to. I hope all this information helps! <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> Justin [right][snapback]3588[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Ok, I dl'd and installed the program but was just checking out the install of the gauges.. I have to be honest, it looks a bit over my head <!--emo&:ninja:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ninja.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> Is there a simpler site or tutorial on doing the gauge installs for RFP? I am not interested in loading this into any other aircraft besides RFP especially since all of my other aircraft have cobwebs on them by now! LOL"

Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 8:55 am
by nwadc10
"<!--QuoteBegin-yoni63+May 9 2005, 05:08 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yoni63 @ May 9 2005, 05:08 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Ok, I dl'd and installed the program but was just checking out the install of the gauges.. I have to be honest, it looks a bit over my head  <!--emo&:ninja:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ninja.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->  Is there a simpler site or tutorial on doing the gauge installs for RFP?  I am not interested in loading this into any other aircraft besides RFP especially since all of my other aircraft have cobwebs on them by now! LOL [right][snapback]3590[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> If I can do it, you can do it <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> The best resource for your task is probably the RFP forum. Do a search for CIVA INS and you should get some good threads on how to install it. In the original panel.cfg, Ralph provided notes where you need to switch lines from the old INS to the CIVA INS. That will become apparent when you start digging into the panel.cfg file. Justin"