FSX flying online

FSX - Flight Simulator X, users can fly online together with pilots around the world directly connecting to one of many servers via multi-players module already equipped in the game.

OR VATSIM (Visual Air Traffic Flight Simulation Network)

There are something users should follow just not to annoy other players and fly just like in the real world with navigation as all airplanes should follow the ATC navigation flying on route. SID (Standard Instrument Departure) or STAR and Aeronautical Charts.

Some useful sites

Route Finger (free)

What all you need is to type the departure and the destination airport codes and the result page tells you the route for any flight which you can use the WP (Way Point) for setting up the FMC (Flight Management Computer) - note: this site provides WP NOT for real flight (limited to online flight only). If you seek for real aviation world, read the chapter "AeroPlanner"

squawkbox (free)

Communication program for online pilots which is designed for online chat tool - very important for communicating with the ATC.

AeroPlanner (recommended payment service)

Online Flight Planning site which can be used free for EAA members. This site is basically for professional pilots, but also for some advanced FSX pilots.

The following video is the perfect tutorial of SID and STAR

How to make FSX video for Youtube

Many FSX fans make many fsx videos just like myself, I would like to suggest for anybody interested in making fsx video.

What do you need?

1: Flight Simulator X (game soft). It is a MUST requirement.

2: Video capture software: FSX itself has photo capture feature integrated, but for making video, video capture soft is required.

GameCam (payware or freeware), payware covers sound, but if you plan to make a video without original sound but with other music file, freeware version is just perfect. From my personal experience, GameCam running on Windows Vista with DX10 not working properly (should be fixed), otherwise it is just too good.

Fraps is DX / OPEN GL "screen" capture soft. It can capture practically anything running on the PC screen. It is also free but I have no idea how to capture sound.

3: Windows Movie Maker: video editor, adding information and music. It is inevitable for the edit purpose alone.

For Windows XP: Windows Movie Maker 2.1 Download site

For Windows Vista: Windows Movie Maker 2.6 for Vista

The difference between XP and Vista version is HD support which is very little to do with game capture.

ADVICE:

When you make any video for YouTube in particular, the best quality of Video can be watched on YouTube site is 3.0mb/s DVD quality. YouTube prefers 4:3 video.

There are many Tutorial videos on Video Capture software or Windows Movie Maker on YouTube.

FSX default A321 ILS autoland complete autopilot guide

Flight Simulator X has several aircrafts and one of them is Airbus A321. In this tutorial, how to manage autopilot and ILS autoland for beginners.

First of all, understanding the cockpit for the default FSX A321.

AP: Autopilot button - press the button for activation

APP: approach button - press this when the aircraft reaches within ILS signal (green line on the GPS)

ALT: altitude - press the button in order to set the altitude according to the flight plan

ATHR: Auto throttle button - after activation, press the button below SPD to adjust the speed

CRS: Course setting - very important for the ILS autoland

FD: Flight Director - the switch to activate all other features

ILS: ILS button - press this to activate ILS autoland

LOC: Localizer. In this default A321, press LOC to use one of two navigation systems

NAV/GSP: NAV is for ILS approach (autoland), GSP is for flight planner

Before flying, you can set the flight plan (like the route you would like to fly - this is the route exactly the aircraft flies when you press the GPS button). Try to modify the flight plan to line up to the runway you would like to autoland - straight in.

1. try to know the information about the runway you would like to ILS autoland - knowing this, the runway should be equipped ANY KIND of ILS facilities (yes default FSX aircrafts with ILS module can manage autoland EVERYWHERE as long as the runway supports ILS). Copy the "ILS frequency" and "Course".

2. Play FSX and SHIFT key + 2 is the radio. Set up both NAV1 and NAV2 the same as the ILS frequency of the runway.

3. Set CRS - course

4. Fly to the destination with GPS navigation (in order to do so, you need to set up the number 1 mentioned before and GPS navigation mode on the cockpit. Aircraft autopilots, but please remember, you need to descend the aircraft by yourself (or ATC tells you the right altitude).

5. When the aircraft approaches within the ILS green signal on the GPS screen (Shift key + 3), make sure the aircraft is flying in the right altitude - VERY IMPORTANT - you need to fly about 2600-2800ft above the runway, otherwise the aircraft NEVER CATCHES the ILS signal.

FSX default B737-800 ILS autoland tutorial

Flight Simulator X, some default planes have ILS receiver and CRS, APP buttons, Bombardier Learjet 45, CRJ700, B737-800, A321 and B747 for instance can manage autoland. Not exactly how in reality ILS approach should work, but it is possible for those default airplanes to manage landing automatically as long as any runways supporting ILS signal.

How to set things up? exactly the same procedures I noted about FSX ILS Autoland Tutorial CRJ 700

1: set the right flight plan before taking off, set the final approach straight into the runway. Note the ILS signal (and set the right frequency by Shift + 2) and the CRS (course - written under the ILS frequency on the map).

2: Just like all other planes, default FSX planes do not show the localizer. How do you know when the plane is ready for the final approach? by checking on the GPS screen. (shift + 3).

3: this is how many people cannot manage the plane landing automatically: flying over the runway. This is because plane was far too high when the final approach is about to taking place. Set the WP right on the edge of ILS signal (on the GPS screen, should be written green lines). Check the altitude on the flight plan, try to flight "BELOW". When the plane is ready for the final approach, switch off the ALT HOLD, switch from GPS to NAV. Try not to forget to switch off the auto throttle. Turn off the autopilot (default Z key).

FSX default B737-800 ILS autoland tutorial

FSX ILS Autoland Tutorial CRJ700

There have been quite many questions "How to autoland CRJ?". There are some YouTube videos about ILS autoland, however nothing about CRJ or A321 (both default airplanes).

For managing perfect ILS autoland you need the following:

1. Land on any airport which actually supports ILS landing (autoland, in case bad weather) - very important as the most of airports which do not have the ILS facility. This can be checked on the flight plan.

2. Set the right flight plan before flying!! Even without any proper flight plan, ILS autoland can be managed via ATC (air traffic control), but then you need to change the ILS frequency as often as the ATC tells you which runway to land, often it can be visual land. Any runway with ILS facility is available, you can find the green line.

3. Master GPS autopilot!! There are two modes, GPS and NAV (mainly ILS based autopilot). When the switch is on GPS, the plane flies exactly as the flight plan. When NAV mode is on, plane is practically manual, unless the plane catches ILS signal (ONLY INSIDE the GREEN ILS line on the flight plan).

4. Flight navigation log tells exactly which ALT the plane should be, in order to receives the ILS signal. Fly the plan right until the plane hits the green ILS line on the GPS screen AND ALT also should be the right ALT (otherwise the plane might fly over) - normally 2.800 ft above the runway, ILS signal can be caught. Be ready to set the right ALT.

5. When ILS signal is caught (can be seen on the GPS screen), APP (Approach) switch should be ON (except default B747 - APP should NOT be switched on).

As long as you set up the right ILS frequency (Shift 2) and CRS (should be somewhere - B747 is on the PDF screen), following the GPS autopilot mode on the right flight plan and the right ATL for the landing, its hard to miss the ILS autoland.

Any question is welcome, please ask me here or on my YouTube channel.

Also

Default A321 ILS autoland complete autopilot guide

Tutorial CRJ 700 ILS Autoland