I don't think FSX knows the difference between CAT II or CAT III or CAT I for that matter. To me, any aiport with an ILS is a potential autoland with 100 Radio minimums. Until i learn to program AS2012 with thick fog to 50 feet, my mins are always 100 Radio. I guess I need to expand my FSX experience.

The minimums for any approach is stated on the approach charts. Mostly it is given in both Height (DH=using RADIO altimiter) and Altitude (DA=using BARO altimiter). Often depicted as exeample; CAT II DA(H) 157 (72), where 157 is the descision Altitude above sealevel on a local QNH (or altimeter setting), and 72 is the height above the ground messured on a Radio altimeter...If both a BARO minimums and RADIO minimums are on the chart, you can use which ever you like...FSX couldn't give less about the approach CAT, but you as a pilot should however ;)And the usual disclaimer: I'm not a RW pilot, so my answer is not the almightys law - feel free to challenge everything I wrote ;)Happy New Year!MAs

...The radar altimeter is not legal for use except on approaches where the DH is specified as RA--that's Cat II/III ILS only. Minimums on a Cat I ILS are baro, as a Cat I approach is not designed, certified, or flight tested for use of RA settings--this can be a problem for approaches where the DH is reached over water, or when there is significant terrain just off the approach end of the rwy.

Exactly. If you use radio altimeter on certain approaches where the airport is elevated compared to the surroundings and the visibility is very low you will be flying your plane straight into the ground during your approach.

It's as simple as adding a separate hotkey to increment/decrement the mins by 100s. FWIW, assigning a hotkey and holding it down is the best solution right now, but still slow and tedious.The radar altimeter is not legal for use except on approaches where the DH is specified as RA--that's Cat II/III ILS only. Minimums on a Cat I ILS are baro, as a Cat I approach is not designed, certified, or flight tested for use of RA settings--this can be a problem for approaches where the DH is reached over water, or when there is significant terrain just off the approach end of the rwy.

+1

I assigned mine to the number pad '9' and '3' keys so I can just hold down to set BARO mins.I mainly use Radio for my mins.

I use same option, looks to me so far this is the fastest known option.

The minimums for any approach is stated on the approach charts. Mostly it is given in both Height (DH=using RADIO altimiter) and Altitude (DA=using BARO altimiter). Often depicted as exeample; CAT II DA(H) 157 (72), where 157 is the descision Altitude above sealevel on a local QNH (or altimeter setting), and 72 is the height above the ground messured on a Radio altimeter...If both a BARO minimums and RADIO minimums are on the chart, you can use which ever you like...FSX couldn't give less about the approach CAT, but you as a pilot should however ;)And the usual disclaimer: I'm not a RW pilot, so my answer is not the almightys law - feel free to challenge everything I wrote ;)Happy New Year!MAs

Of course, you are completely correct. I've gotten lazy lately (actually a little longer than lately) and have not been using any charts. Just FS Commander and the FMS. Now that I think about it, I don't even know if minimums are available without the charts. I'm going to upgrade my experience with real world minimums. Should be fun.... except for that darned Baro minimums adjustment knob.

Did you guys try to set a key command in the PMDG setup menu in the FMC?It works like a charm for me, I set 5506 BARO for Denver rwy ILS 26 in just a couple of seconds! ;-DJust like Raven I assigned it to NUM9 and 3.

Of course, you are completely correct. I've gotten lazy lately (actually a little longer than lately) and have not been using any charts. Just FS Commander and the FMS. Now that I think about it, I don't even know if minimums are available without the charts. I'm going to upgrade my experience with real world minimums. Should be fun.... except for that darned Baro minimums adjustment knob.

As far as I can recall, the charts are the only place to find those minimums...I flew online a couple of months back, and Inbound Stockholm Arlanda in Sweden, I was clrd on a STAR findbound some ILS approach.. So I flew, and at that time I didn't wanne get the chats out and all - I mean, I had the thing on the FMC so no prb, right? Well all of a sudden, ATC said I was coming in too high, and that I should hold at TRS (i think it was) as published... It was terrible - I had overlooked an Altitude restriction on the chart, and also I had no idea how the published holdng was supposed to be - I messed that appoach up really bad - and since then - I ALWAYS crossref the FMC with the actual charts ;)About RADIO vs. BARO, I alwasy use RADIO for the same reason that I don't wanne spend the time dialing that BARO knob - is it because you guys fly into airports with no RADIO DH?Happy new year anyways!Mas

The hotkey or button push I can add, but how do I access the "incr/decr by 100s" function?* Orest

You can't, unless/until PMDG adds that capability to the NGX.

Hee, hee. Well, that I already knew. I thought you had discovered a cool trick. Oh well.* Orest