It is not exactly fuel planning, but I noticed that when I did not have enough fuel for the plan I made, the FMC warns me that I don't have enough fuel. Henri

This looks really, really good!!! I doubt it will come out soon though based on the web site content.It looks close to the dispatch software I have studied. And have everything you need for planning. Cheers,

It's based on dispatch software! I believe someone on the dev. team (1-2 man team) was or is a dispatcher. I could be wrong... I believe release won't be too long from now. This fella' keeps this stuff updated well, and apparently has a lot of time on his hands.

Judging by the videos we have seen, I think this is all done within the FMC by picking percentage and weights spit out based on that. Im really hoping this isnt the case. I am a 737NG weight and balance guy and am way too curious about all this as well. As far as fuel planning, Im hoping that is part of any external weight and balance program they may have. Not everyone has access to required fuel on board for real world flights like me.

Actually Shane, I'd think it'd be brilliant if you could maybe make a post with some common weights and balances from recent flights - ala: whats-his-face-don't-remember used to do at the WestJet VA. Don't need the full dispatch, I'm more curious how much baggage/cargo you guys are carrying? I've been averaging it out to 60 lbs per person. In addition, I'm curious what WJA does with the -600 flights to the boonies (hehe) regarding fuel. Do they load the thing up with nice hedged fuel from YYC then tanker it around during the milk-run? You know stuff like that. If you're reticent to discuss it publicly drive down McCall I'll meet ya at the Port.

It's based on dispatch software! I believe someone on the dev. team (1-2 man team) was or is a dispatcher. I could be wrong...I believe release won't be too long from now. This fella' keeps this stuff updated well, and apparently has a lot of time on his hands.

Believe me I know what goes into something like this. I was halfway through a similar project some five years ago, single handed with pilots and dispatchers to my aid when I got less than needed spare time to complete. If they can get everything in that is present in real world dispatch software, this is a must have in my book! Cheers,

Actually Shane, I'd think it'd be brilliant if you could maybe make a post with some common weights and balances from recent flights - ala: whats-his-face-don't-remember used to do at the WestJet VA. Don't need the full dispatch, I'm more curious how much baggage/cargo you guys are carrying? I've been averaging it out to 60 lbs per person. In addition, I'm curious what WJA does with the -600 flights to the boonies (hehe) regarding fuel. Do they load the thing up with nice hedged fuel from YYC then tanker it around during the milk-run? You know stuff like that. If you're reticent to discuss it publicly drive down McCall I'll meet ya at the Port.

His name is Darwin, he’s a great guy... WJ uses transport Canada standard weights for passengers and baggage . 25Lbs a bag, 200lbs for male passenger, 165 for female passenger, 75lbs per child. If you want to get accurate with payload planning, take the number of passengers times that by 1.2 (typical commercial flight bag ratio) then times that by 25 and you have a accurate bag weights vs your number of passengers. Now while PMDG has accuratly replicated what the pits can hold structurlly weight wise..... The numbers that generate in the NGX with front and rear baggage hold weights are a bit of a pipe dream (at least to me) in terms of the weight generated vs a realistic volume that it can actually carry. A perfectly stacked 800 bulks out in the rear pit 220 bags (5500lbs). 20 bags more then a full 166 seat (WestJet seat configs) at the 1.2 bag ratio per passenger. Last time I generated a full flight in the NGX it gave me 5500 lbs in the front and 7500 lbs in the back, which translates into 520 bags LOL (that would never fit on a 800). On occasion we do carry up to 2500lbs in cargo, but again that high amount of weight is usually going to bulk out the pit that its in in terms of volume. To put this in a bit more perspective we must plan 40% of the total pit weight to be carried in the FWD pit due to on/offloading tail tipping and nose gear oleo over extension concerns. So with 166 people x 1.2=199bags x 25lbs=4980Lbs x 40% = 1992 lbs in the FWD pit which is 80 bags. Leaving 2988lbs in the AFT (119 bags). Using my experience on the ramp; that makes the front about 70% full and the back about 70% as well. Long story short, your going to be lighter then what it defaults to. Most carriers do use 35lbs-45lbs a bag. And ratios change for city pairs but we use 1.2 as overal average. YYZ-YUL is about 0.5 bags per person, where YYZ-MBJ will be 1.4. FYI Tankering in the 600s is not as common as you may think. You burn more fuel carring more fuel. Now without leaking sensitive information, with the 600s, if we can operate it under a certain specific landing weight we can shave quite a bit of cash in landing fees. That easily of-sets buying fuel at higher prices at certain airports. Hope this helps the virtual WestJetters out there.

Cheers Shane for that info! Appreciate it. Ya I was quite skeptical about finding enough room to fit 7500 lbs in a single pit...short of containerizing pallets of lead...haha.

Interesting read Shane, appreciate it!

Thank you Shane for the information! This is some great insight as to how things are done in the real world and I greatly appreciate it info/numbers. MK

If you don´t want to spend money on an external fuel/flight planning tool you can always use the FMC. Load up the aircraft, enter the flightplan, add winds if you have that data. Look at the PROG(?) page and see what the calculated fuel at the destination is. Tweak the fuel load via the FSX menu in the FMC until your landing fuel (include reserves etc. depending on your taste) is what you want it to be. All done, happy days ;) Just wanted to point out an alternative that may be overlooked by some.

HiVroute is not bad although no wind aloft compensation shows in fuel calculations but it enables you to add routs you create; there is a free version for it as well, I use it along with manual fuel calculation which is very easy.Regards

I use FSBuild.

PFPX looks like it will replace vRoute, FSBuild and some other websites I use to try and fly real flights.

I have tried the FS9 NG in TOPCAT with the NGX and haven't had much luck, I was landing with about 8,000 lbs of fuel than I needed. Anyone else have better results? PFPX will be perfect. I have yet to find any flight planner that I enjoy. What I want is one that I can scroll around and plot my flight myself. I dont want the program doing it for me and I do want to be able to scroll the map selecting NAVAIDs myself (like skyvector).

I find I will always have more fuel than needed with TOPCAT, it is far too conservative and recommends way to much fuel. vRoute Premium has become my preferred choice of fuel planning. Load in the flight plan, and it will calculate using real winds aloft what the fuel load should be. But once PFPX comes out, I feel that will become my new primary source for flight and fuel planning. And mix that with Topcat integration, it is going to be easily a must have add-on.

I'm using B737 fuel planner by Milan Puta. Can be found here in the Avsim library. It does a good job in calculating the amount of fuel. My reserve is almost the same with every flight, over various distances. It doesn't connect to FSX unfortunately.