You have to load a flight plan manually by the FMC. Just click "FMC -> RTE - > co Route" then select "PROATCX" and click on "exec". Finally activate the plan. You have to reload the flight plan after the approach clearance has been confirmed. Don't forget to activate the transition waypoint.

 

Jim, how and when do I reload the ProATC-generated flight plan to add the arrival STAR into PMDG 737NGX's CDU? As I understand it, once COROUTE is loaded using the CDU's Route page (including the departure SID and jet route waypoints up to STATS, but only the destination airport's ICAO), there's no way I can find to load a 2nd "COROUTE" ProATC has generated (after passing the flight plan's half-way point). And so how does ProATC know where to place the TOD if you wait until you can raise Approach Control to learn which runway and STAR to set in the CDU's ARR page?

 

I didn't find ProATC's help (manual) to be helpful at all with regard to this 737NGX-based question.

 

EDIT: On reflection it seems more logical to simply append the existing "coplan" while enroute by using the CDU's ARR page to enter the designated STAR/Rwy (as is normal RW procedure), once that information is available. Shouldn't that be available once you enter the transition waypoint's ARTCC?

 

Thanks,

Maury.

Maury, I would say you will either have to select the STAR out of the database as you would without Pro-ATC. It has been a little while since I flew the 737NGX; however, if it is like the MD11 there should be the ability to load and alter a second flight plan. If that is there you should be able to load an altered route into the second flight plan than activate it. As I said it has been a while since I flew the 737NGX so you will need to ask a 737NGX jockey.

I didn't find ProATC's help (manual) to be helpful at all with regard to this 737NGX-based question.

 

Hi Maury,

Actually, I haven't tried a whole flight with the PMDG 737 since the 1037 update. But according to the manual, you'll have to reload the flightplan when the approach clearance has been confirmed. That's when it will issue the STAR and runway. Not sure where you got the info that a new plan is generated at the halfway point. It is very confusing as English is not their native language (although they do very well in most of the manual). Before the 1037 update I listened for the STAR and runway then went into the ARR page and selected the appropriate STAR and runway, made sure there were no discontinuities, and things went well. But I assume you simply enter ProATCX in the CoRoute once you have the STAR and Runway and it will all be done for you in the Legs page.

 

Best regards,

Jim

When a flight plan is activated in FSX, one flight plan will be loaded by ProATC for takeoff and flying about halfway through your flight. At the halfway point, another flightplan will be loaded by ATC for the descent, STAR, and landing phases.

 

Jim, I guess I got that information here <g>. I've now flown the tutorial flight (EDDH-EBBR) with the default MS 737 to see how ProATC normally handles Approach Control and its automatic STAR flight plan amendment under GPS control. Again, no joy. It flew the MFD's ND path just fine (up to the destination transition waypoint), but controller calls stopped about 2 waypoints before I reached the SID's transition waypoint. "Check In" does nothing, there's no response though ProATC is still running and updating the moving map.

 

Note that the aircraft icon followed the moving map's red line path exactly, even though controller calls had stopped.

 

Any clues? (I've installed the 1.0.3.7 update)

Any clues? (I've installed the 1.0.3.7 update)

 

I just tried a flight and had some issues too but ATC continued to stay in touch. A few miles before the last waypoint in the flight plan before going over to the approach phase, you should have received a STAR and runway to land. No ATC before then could be normal as you are flying via a FMC system. But, if you go past that last waypoint, then something is wrong. That happened to me. I did not receive any approach information prior to the last waypoint but ATC continued to tell my co-pilot to change frequencies. On other flights I have taken with the PMDG 737NGX, I simply entered the STAR and runway in the FMC then began my descent down to 3500 as directed by the controller. No ATC was heard for the 90 some miles down to the glideslope. But, just before the glideslope, Approach came on and gave me landing instructions and approval to land. The best thing you can do is send an e-mail to PointSoft and attach the Log.txt that's in the main ProATC folder. I just sent my log.txt from my flight this evening. That should tell them what happened. I do know that if you use the acceleration feature to speed up the flight, that will create a problem too with controllers no longer in contact.

 

Best regards,

 

Jim

If you accel more than 4x the Ai traffic will cease. If you change frequency but yet to contact the next controller, you should be able to accel at any rate but you don't want to go past the point of approach assignment or descent.

Hi all,

 

New update :

 

Official Update 1.0.3.8:

 

- This update corrects generated PMDG flight plans.

 

- The help file contains information about things corrected and new features implemented.

 

Installation...

 

- Simply copy the content of 'proatcx_1038.zip' into the folder, you have installed PRO-ATC/X to.

Thank you. I installed the latest patch. I created a new flight plan and saved it. Before that I verified that I had indicated the correct paths for saving a FSX plan.

But I find no trace of a saved .pln file in the map, I indicated. What am I doing wrong here?

 

Jos

But I find no trace of a saved .pln file in the map, I indicated. What am I doing wrong here?

 

The only place your flightplan is saved is within ProATCX. When you activate the plan you can go into the area on your harddrive where a .pln is saved and you'll see something like ProATCX-cln (cln for clearance). When you get near the approach and receive instructions with a STAR and runway to land, another plan will be activated called something like ProATCX-APP (not sure is APP is correct as I haven't verified this but I have verified the ProATCX-cln). When the flight is ended, these ProATC-cln and -app will disappear. So there is no permanent plan saved to your hard drive.

 

Best regards,

Jim

ok, Thank you for clarifying.

 

Jos

Looks like everybody is happy now. Any more problems before I make the jump?

According to their website, AIRAC data import ability is still working and there are some issues with PMDG compatibility until that is done. If you want to fly with the default aircraft you should have no problems. Just be aware that any product is only as good as the eye of the beholder. In my eyes it works well with the default. For others who are very particular, it requires more work.

 

Best regards,

Jim

For my PMDG MD11 there are no problems. It is working just fine. I cannot complete a flight with it though. When I am handed over to approach the copilot makes the call and nothing happens after that point. As I told my brother who is in the market for a good ATC program, he is new to flight sim, I would not advise buying the product yet.

Just get PFE, does everything and sometimes even the kitchen sink.

 

This bloody thing (ProATC/X) just has too many bugs, was pre-released without any testing and is wayyyyyyyyyyyy over-priced.

Any news/updates on how this is progressing? Also, where is Chock? Seems like he vanished from here. He was also testing this addon as well as making the ###### Blimp. I hope that didn't cause any problems with AVSIM even though IMO that was a bad idea. Not good mixing politics with simming.