home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- November 7, 1990
-
- This is the most recent version of the file, DCADCAJB.SC1 file, with several
- additions from the first one that was uploaded in October. I have also
- included a dynamic scenery file, DCADCAJB.DY1, which adds a little traffic
- during the first few minutes of running the scenery.
-
- I have also included two mode files which will place you in my "personalized"
- Cessna (If you use the N2722JB.SIM file, which is also included). One,
- DCARWY18.MOD (listed as "DCA Runway 18 Startup"), will place you at the take
- off threshold for runway 18. Before taking off right away, I'd suggest
- checking runway 15, off to your right, for traffic. There is a Lear that's
- just been cleared for takeoff, and a Cessna on about a four mile final for the
- same runway. There are also a couple of passenger jets on the River Visual
- Approach; They should both come in before the taxiing 767 gets too close to
- you. Check your 8 o'clock view to see them coming in. After the second one
- clears the numbers, you'd better assume you've been "cleared into position",
- and nudge out onto the runway...that 767 coming up the taxiway looks like he's
- in a hurry! As you take off, give the airport a look over your right shoulder;
- it's quite a sight!
-
- The other mode, DCARVIS.MOD, will place you at the entry point for the River
- Visual Approach to runway one eight. You'll be about 11 miles out, inbound at
- 148 degrees on the 328 radial of the DCA VOR. If you have the instrument
- approach plate for the River Visual Approach, you're all set up to fly it on
- in to DCA. If you don't have the approach plate, you can still fly the
- approach, with the following procedure:
-
- The River Visual Approach to runway one eight is a fairly straightforward
- approach. Assume you've already been given clearance and vectors for the
- approach from Washington Center, which have brought you to this point, which
- is where the approach plate description begins. You should be at 3000 MSL over
- the Potomac river at about 10DME on the DCA VOR (111.0) 328 radial (148
- degrees inbound). You have the option of following the river on down, or
- following the radial to a point abeam the Georgetown Reservoir (at 4nm) and at
- that point start following the river to the airport. Recommended altitudes are
- as follows: 3000 MSL at entry; 1800 MSL at 6nm (or abeam the Dalecarlia
- Reservoir, or just before Chain Bridge); and 900 MSL abeam Georgetown
- Reservoir, at 4nm. Then it's just follow the river and establish your own
- descent rate on down to the runway (elevation, 13 feet).
-
- Most of the "action" in the dynamic scenery takes place in the first 6 or 8
- minutes of activating the file, so you won't see much of it if you start up
- with the DCARVIS.MOD mode. Of course, I used that mode when I recorded one of
- the approach patterns followed by a 767, and you may see him suspended in the
- air in front of you if you start up in that mode, or restart the dynamic
- scenery at that point. Don't worry about passing him by...he'll catch up! Then
- when you land, you and he can figure out who reports whom for the separation
- violation! <G> Also, be advised that he is being followed by another 767 just
- a couple of minutes behind him, so you may be doing some bobbing and weaving
- to get out of their way if you start up in this mode.
-
- I'd recommend starting up in the DCARWY18.MOD configuration, taking off after
- the traffic has cleared, and once airborne, make a long wide right turn out
- towards the north west. When you get out about 10 miles, switch modes to the
- DCARVIS.MOD (Listed as "DCA RWY 18-River Visual").
-
- The DCADCAJB.SC1 file includes just about all the navaids that are used in
- making various instrument approaches to DCA. They are a part of the .SC1 file,
- so can be used even if you don't have SD-7. Even if you do, some of the
- navaids included in the .SC1 file are not included in the SD-7 data. The
- navaids included are:
-
- DCA () VOR (111.0)
- Andrews (ADW) VOR (113.1)
- Nottingham (OTT) VOR (113.7)
- Baltimore (BAL) VOR (115.1)
- Armel (AML) VOR (113.5)
- Oxonn (DC) NDB (332)
- Georgetown (GTN) NDB (323)
- ILS-Runway 36 (I-DCA) (109.9)
- Outer Marker (also Oxonn NDB)
- Middle Marker
-
- These are each referenced in one or more of the various approach plates used
- for instrument approaches to DCA, and are pretty much in the right positions,
- relative to each other, with the DCA VOR being used as the principle reference
- point in the scenery design.
-
- I touched up a few of the taxiways, but there are still a few small gaps,
- which you may notice while taxiing. This was my first effort at doing an
- airport in this detail, and I learned after having completed it that if you
- overlap a polygon being used to form a taxiway slightly over the runway, at
- its intersection with the runway, after you "Add" it, the polygon will slip
- under the runway, and make for a nice snug fit. I had tried to place them by
- lining the polygon points up along the runway edge, and it doesn't seem to
- work quite as well. The suggestion to overlap the polygons came from Rick Lee,
- Section Leader for the Flight simulator/Aviation section in GAMERS, on
- CompuServe.