AVSIM Update Review 767 Pilot In Command

Back in March of last year, I wrote a reivew on one of the most anticipated releases for FS2000: 767 Pilot In Command — which AVSIM Online awarded 5 stars and our Gold Medal for Excellence in Flightsim Design. If you missed it, or need a refresher, click here to read it.

And now, with the release of FS2002, it seems the most anticipated update for an add-on was for 767 Pilot In Command. Well, it's finally here. And boy am I glad. Most of the flying I did in Flight Simulator was on the Boeing 767, and I'm glad this update is out as now; I can go back to flying this beautiful airliner.

Reader Survey This survey is intended for those that have used this product or add-on. If you have used it, please let your fellow simulation enthusiasts know how you rate it by taking this survey. Please, if you have not used this product, do not take this poll (you can view the poll from the "Results" link below). Review Poll Have you used Wilco's 767PIC Update for FS2002? Excellent Good Average I can live with it Taking it off my system view results

Changes

The patch is a 3.6 meg download that includes 12 new features and enhancements, most of which are "behind the scenes" such as making it compatible with Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Because of this, the first time you load the panel up, it's exactly the same as what you have seen in FS2000. The first visual enhancement comes when you access the PIC menus like the Systems Failure screen. The aircraft behave the same, the panel looks the same, and its function as well as the FMC are all the same. There is one subtle change now with how the speed/altitude restrictions work on the LEGS page. Airspeed restrictions are now handled through the VNAV CRZ page. Altitude restrictions are now the only entry that can be made in the LEGS page. So step climbs can be programmed on the LEGS page but airspeed is now controlled either manually through the auto-throttle system or through the VNAV CRZ page.

With the FS2002 ATC system, usage of this panel adds the same satisfaction that you would get if you were using an add-on like Radar Contact, Proflight 2000, or Squawkbox. Vertical navigation and altitude restrictions can be entered as described above "on the fly" as they are issued by air traffic control. I guess you could call this a new feature for those pilots that have never flown the panel with Radar Contact, Proflight, or Squawkbox.

All in all, the main purpose of this patch was to make it compatible with FS2002, Windows 2000 and Windows XP — and the team has succeeded. As I said at the start of this article, there were a lot of simmers who were eagerly awaiting the release of this patch. After writing the initial review, all my flying was done using this aircraft/panel combination. And now, the same thing will be happening again. Most of my long haul flying will be done with this panel as there's nothing else quite like it available. If you still don't have this awesome add-on, check your wrist for a pulse, then visit the AVSIM Store here, or alternatively at the Wilco store site to place your order. The FS2002 patch is available free from Wilco Publishing by clicking here.

As you can see, the panel looks pretty much what we're used to seeing in FS2000.

Although the aircraft fly the same as what they did in FS2000 (except for some ground steering problems that are way too sensitive for some reason), the aircraft do have that distinct FS2002 look to them

As the run rises on this oceanic flight, it once again brings out that distinct FS2002 look.

Credits:

Eric Ernst
Wade Chafe
Laurent Crenier
Ryuji Ozawa
Pedro Sousa