if it's not one thing it's another. I've just about given up on the Saab issue. I tried to go fly a Dreamwings Dash 8 and all worked fine (aside from the bouncing which i didn't fix yet) when all of a sudden for no damn reason at all, all my gauges went dark. Do EFIS, no GPS, no radios, absolutely black nothing. What caused this? This isn't the only plane it's happened to. It's happened on another saab panel (actually two different ones) and it's irritating me to no end. I fly for United Virtual and it seems I have to keep cancelling my flights because of these technical errors. I've tried to fly an EMB-120, but couldn't because it would get past 60kt, I couldn't really do the Saab because the United colors won't show up (even other saabs i've tried i couldn't use because of the blanking gauges). So far the only plane i've gotten to work was a Beech B1900. Can someone please help I am getting extremely angry and fed up with this

After engine start, are you enabling the generators (switching the bus) so your battery no longer longer carries the load and it gets charged? The SAAB panels I have contain a generator switch for each engine as I recall. If the generators are not enabled then your battery will die and your instruments will go dark. Before engine start aircraft which have an APU might be on APU power but in the case of the 340s you would be probably on ground power if so modeled.

if it's not one thing it's another. I've just about given up on the Saab issue. I tried to go fly a Dreamwings Dash 8 and all worked fine (aside from the bouncing which i didn't fix yet) when all of a sudden for no damn reason at all, all my gauges went dark. Do EFIS, no GPS, no radios, absolutely black nothing. What caused this? This isn't the only plane it's happened to. It's happened on another saab panel (actually two different ones) and it's irritating me to no end. I fly for United Virtual and it seems I have to keep cancelling my flights because of these technical errors. I've tried to fly an EMB-120, but couldn't because it would get past 60kt, I couldn't really do the Saab because the United colors won't show up (even other saabs i've tried i couldn't use because of the blanking gauges). So far the only plane i've gotten to work was a Beech B1900. Can someone please help I am getting extremely angry and fed up with this

Issue number 19 of my Tips and Tricks for FS2004 series has an article which deals specifically with the issue of the state of your aircraft's battery and how to overcome some problems it can cause.The entire series is available (25 issues in all) in the library here (when the library is functional again) or if you can find them at Flightsim.comHope the info is helpful to you.

Well i found out the solution to the problem for the B1900D. It turns out that after hitting CTRL + E to start the engines (after quick shutdown) the alternators shut down but the battery stayed on, so there was nothing charging them, so i successfully made the whole flight with no problems (except wind sheer and a confusing ATC sending me all over the place to vector me to an approach).Another question: if I want to go on vatsim to fly a flight online, do i have to do it within my timezone or would the simulator time suffice? For example, if I wanted to go online for a flight that departs at 2000Z, would I have to sign on for 2000Z or could I set the simulator time to 2000Z then sign on? And if the flight is in Denver and I live in RI, would I have to sign on for my time zone or denver time zone?

Just another quick thought regarding your "dead battery" issue ---If you have the registered version of FSUIPC, there is in an option - under Miscellaneous I believe - which allows you to "Extend Battery Life indefinitely" .That should keep you flying and all your gauges operational.

Thanks for the tip Dave!Now I just could use the answer to the VATSIM question!