ASA (FSX) cloud issue / unreliable data

[Guest abulaafia]

After a few weeks of flying with ASA (latest beta), I must say congratulations, this is the best version yet. I have flown over 70 hours including cross Pacific and Atlantic and haven't had a single wind issue (DWC enabled), Weather depiction is much improved, often so realistic it's amazing. Despite my dislike for the Snapshot system I like the new program. Two things I noticed though1. There is often an abrupt switch from cumulus to stratus at high FL. I read about the flashing as weather updates, but all clouds around suddenly going flat is a bit annoying. Maybe worth checking2. Ever since the early versions of AS there has been a problem with wind data at airports: load a route, start at an airport and check the wind. close FSX and AS, restart, same airport, and get completely different wind. This problem seems much more pronounced with ASA -- I made a test and fired up ASA then FSX at RCTP every 10 minutes for an hour. I got 060/13, 223/0, 060/16, 225/4, 060/13, 300/21, in that order. I don't quite understand how that is possible, given that the METAR is only updated every half hour, and the wind at RCTP was 060/10-16 all day today. This must have something to do with the new interpolation technique. I don't see that as a big issue, but maybe the experts can have a look. Flying with ASA is nevertheless a thoroughly enjoyable experience! All the best!

[Guest ashwath]

1. There is often an abrupt switch from cumulus to stratus at high FL. I read about the flashing as weather updates, but all clouds around suddenly going flat is a bit annoying. Maybe worth checking

make sure all the last 4 cloud sliders are set to zero in the clouds options menu. this solved the issue for me.

2. Ever since the early versions of AS there has been a problem with wind data at airports: load a route, start at an airport and check the wind. close FSX and AS, restart, same airport, and get completely different wind.

ask Jim or Damian. i dont have this issue.regards,

[JSkorna 137]

Hi,Are you allowing DWC some time to adjust the winds after you load? We have the rate of change pretty slow right now and you need to watch the shift/z readout and you will see the values change.Or are you saying that the ASA actual data is different each time?Thanks,

[Guest abulaafia]

The data is different, but I think I found the problem, its a local issue after all. When I position the aircraft at RCTP and on the Report page select "Lock to closest", I get RCGM with winds 225 at 0 knots. The station RCTP reports 010/8 knots.RCGM says 200430Z 010/8 .... ADVANCED INTERPOLATIONRCTP says 200400Z 225/0 with no interpolation. RCGM is a military airport about 0.5 nm to the east of RCTP. The RCGM metar is wrong. Will observe a bit.

[Guest abulaafia]

This morning again: RCTP 202300Z 04010KT winds -- this is correctRCGM 210004Z 22500KT winds - RCGM never shows anything else but 0KT wind from the south apparentlyRCGM is a station less than 1 nm away on a military runway parallel to RCTP. I think it's only actively reporting during military activity, even though the METAR always has current date. ASA depicts RCTP asRCTP 210004Z 22500KT 1 1/2SM BR SCT003 BKN005 BKN021 -RA 18/16 Q1018 RMK ADVANCED INTERPOLATIONShows the type of problems you guys are up against trying to depict "real" weather :)This is clearly undesirable, but I understand the weather at RCTP is interpolated because RCGM is newer? Maybe block RCGM from your database completely? It always has current date but never the right weather.

[JSkorna 137]

Hi,We'll see what we can do about this.Thanks,

[Guest abulaafia]

Hi,We'll see what we can do about this.Thanks,

that's fantastic, but its definitely not a major issue. thanks anyway for the great supportin the meantime, i have clocked up 280 hours in the md-11 and asa (fsx) and not a single wind shift issue or other program. beautiful weather all the way. (i am not using fsuipc and run in dwc mode). Hope everyone's enjoying it as much as I am.