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1993-02-03
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Microsoft Flight Simulator
Aircraft and Adventure Factory*
Adventure Files
Approach Control Simulation
(c) 1993 - John Mechalas
- Introduction -
Along with the static and dynamic scenery files, this archive contains
a number of .ADV files that are for use with the Aircraft and Adventure
Factory. Each adventure file, when loaded, will simulate Air Traffic
Control for the specified airport. As you fly into that airport's
"control zone", you will be told to contact approach control on the
proper frequency, and will then be vectored in for an ILS or LOC approach
on the most appropriate runway based on current surface winds.
You will need the Aircraft and Adventure Factory (from Mallard software)
in order to run the adventure files. No soundcard is required: I print
all ATC messages directly to the screen.
All files were created using my Approach Control pre-compiler. Approach
Control is a program that allows you to quickly and easily generate
adventure files that simulate the approach control ATC at an airport. It
automatically generates the source code needed for AAF, and thus requires
no programming knowledge. Approach Control is available at several FTP
sites...and is most likely available at the same site where you obtained
this archive...as filename APP.ZIP.
- Usage -
Load the adventure files as described in the AAF manual. You will
see a seperate adventure file for each airport, and load the file
corresponding to your destination.
Here is a rough overview of the adventure files: When you are roughly
40 miles from your destination airport, you will be given a message
telling you to contact approach control on the appropriate fequency.
This message will appear regardless of what frequency you have tuned on
your COM radio. (I am not making any attempts to simulate enroute flight
...only approach, so that you can load this file any time you wish to fly
to a particular airport, from any other airport in the FS 4 database).
At this point, you must be tuned to the frequencies given to you in
order to receive ATC commands. ATC will tell you which runway you will be
vectored into, and will begin giving you the approapriate heading an
altitude changes. No airspeed commands will be issued, since I can't
predict which aircraft you are going to be flying.
IMPORTANT: You will need to start at least 40 NM outside of your
destination for everything to work properly.
- General Notes -
This is a first-generation ATC system, and is still in the experimental
phase. I have tested it using the LearJet for all runways and from
various approaches, and it has vectored me in flawlessly each time.
However, it's performance does depend on you cooperating with ATC commands.
I don't know how "breakable" the simulation is, but it operates by trying to
vector you to various "fixes" that are prerecorded. If you wander off
course, ATC will give you the vectors needed to correct your heading to
reach the current active "fix" ... but if you go too far past a fix, it
will not move you to the next fix...rather it will turn you around and around
until you end up where you are supposed to be.
The feedback loop in the control algorithm is first-order (based on
position only), so vectors are given without *direct* compensation for the
current winds. So far, I have flown with winds as high as 30 knots
without any problems, but if the winds are too high or if you are in a light
plane (like the Cessna), you may find yourself receiving frequent heading
change instructions. The next generation will contain direct, rather than
indirect, compensator for the winds and will have a second-order feedback
loop.
You will want to be at about 10,000 MSL before approach control contacts
you, so if you are flying from a distant airport, start your descent when you
are about 60 NM outside of your destination. At about 30 miles out, you will
be told to descend to 5000, and then 3000 MSL before final approach. Adjust
you speed as necessary. In all aircraft, maintain less than 250 knots when
under 10,000 MSL (it's the law! :) and for the Lear, reduce you speed to
about 180 knots when you read 3000 MSL. NOTE: These altitudes may vary
depending on your destination.
You don't need to respond to ATC in any way... It will print the messages
on your screen and you just read them. I plan to add an "acknowledge"
key in future generations. Also, ATC does not currently keep track of
your last assigned altitude and heading, so no one will tell you if you
are not following instructions (though you will constantly be given new
heading commands as your course wanders off the pre-planned flight path).
Lastly, the program does not distinguish between left, right, and
center runways. If both a 4R and 4L runway exist, you will simply be
vectored into runway 4, and you may choose either the left or right
runway as you see fit.
* - (c) 1992 Bruse Artwick Organization