And if so, how do you like it? How would you rate it against other packages?TIA,bt

It seems there are 2 camps, love it or hate it.Unfortunatly I fall into the "hate it" camp, for numerous reasons.1) SSW's support has got to rate as the worst support I have ever encountered.2) The planes systems, although extremely realistic, don't seem to work correctly for me.The AP seems to work sometimes and not others, the APU is the same, yes it may be a "hard-core" package, but so is the PMDG 737 and I have no trouble with that.Overall, I would not rate it very highly, but there are some that do, check "both" their support forums, i think that the information contained there will help you make up your mindCheersDan.

Never ever have I gotten it to work correctly. I can follow the manual/tutorial to the letter and something with the aircraft systems will always mess up.I wind up reverting to "it never fails to let me down" aircraft..PMDG's 737.

Just for counterweight I

I would say the A310 has potential, but I'm saying that since a year. Some stuff has been improved, some features (e.g. certain AP behaviour or the Autothrust regulation) are worse than before.As it has been mentioned already, the support is indeed the worst.Maybe a good idea to ask again in a year or so, hopefully they have finished it until then (sorry for the sarcasm).Mike

I can't get the autopilot to hold the correct attitude in climb or decent (2000fpm either way). That's my biggest problem and it's a huge one in my book... Support is terrible (just like others have noted)... Wonderful VC with no click spots is another big issue since Virtual Cockpit textures take so long to load when switching back and forth between the 2D view... 2D view has no side views therefore it's not an option to use 2D alone...

I'm a little biased, as SSW based their package on my (old) visual model. I skip the VC and use the product with the current version of my A310 model, thus getting around any slow loading (because huge) VC textures.Concerning the systems there has been a lot of improvement with the 1.4 update. All autopilot modes work very well, as soon as you know that "pulling the knob" in the documentation (original manuals) translates to "clicking the knob" in the model.For most "can't use the model" complaints, workarounds are well known:- Can't start APU: make sure you have fuel in the center tank- Can't align IRS: have APU or ground power, switch IRS 1-3 to NAV, wait for "ALIGN MODE", align via FMC with FP loaded, never failed on me- The AP doesn't perform right: read and re-read the "automated flight operations" manual, the Airbus AP just doesn't work the Boeing way; check the mode transitions carefully, that's where the most confusion comes from (I'm struggling from time to time as well, see it as a learning opportunity)- Plane doesn't keep flight level, badly captures ILS, doesn't follow FP: set up all relevant FMC pages as described in procedures, if weights/speeds/thr red and accel heights aren't set correctly all kinds of funny things can happen (as in the real plane)I've had wonderful flights with the SSW A310, it's getting really interesting if you start working with FP changes during flight (different landing RW, STARs, height/speed constraints, holds, ...,) it's amazing how many functions are implemented in the FMC.Really annoying is the WAY TOO OLD navigation database, they've not come around incorporating the latest AIRAC cycles. I don't know what the problem is, as the SSW nav DB is a simple Microsoft Access database with an amazingly simple data model. With a decent ETL tool it should be a breeze to convert the DAFIF feed into it.Support - ranges from "overwhelmingly helpful" down to "non existant." Much too erratic and emotional, down the line "if you're not nice to me I'm not nice to you." Should get some training on how to deal with complaints in a professional way.Bottom line - if you want to fly an "as real as it gets" A310/A300-600 in MS Flight Simulator, your only choice is SSW, so go buy it. If you're not interested in the A310/A306, the SSW package won't convert you into an Airbus lover. It's that simple, there are no alternatives out there (yet.)

Were exactly do I get the "Automated flight operations manual"??? Maybe I'm doing something wrong...

Harald,>> All autopilot modes work very well, .... in the documentationAh, all users are too stupid to read (software developers rule number one).Just as an example, execute a level change at a certain altitude. It is not hard to notice the Autothrust exceeding the speed by as much as 30 kt, then taking a long time until it decides to regulate. It takes so long in some cases you are already close to the dialed altitude. And if the A/THR still regulates and a level-off shall take place, then everything goes bananas, even the dialed altitude gets exceeded.If that is written in the documentation you read, then Ok. In mine it isn't.Mike

Dillon,log on to simsoftworkshop.com, go to Downloads -> AIRBUS A310-300 "THE MASTER'S EDITION" -> Manuals and get "A310-300 Autoflight System". Sorry for getting the document's name wrong.

Mike,how do you engage LVL CHG? What's the previous mode (throttle, vertical?) What are your thrust rating computer settings for a climbing LVL CHG? Friend of mine just came off the full flight sim for the A306 (pretty similar to the A310) and reported that the AP is quite sensitive (and quite stupid). If you ask for a LVL CHG with a big difference in current speed and A/THR "SPD" dialled, you can get an overshoot because LVL CHG puts A/THR into "THR" mode (full N1 based on TRC setting), then tries to achieve your dialed speed setting by adjusting pitch.Now, if your dialed speed is pretty low, even with max pitch (max AOA 18

Harald,>> If you ask for a LVL CHG with a big difference in current speed No, of course not. That's a general rule not to command altitude and speed changes at the same time (not only in A310 :) ) I have CL on my Thrust rating computer. Previous mode I don't remember. Anyway, e.g. speed 310 and the LVL CHG. Speed goes to 330 and stays there for quite a while. Then suddenly A/THR decides to regulate speed, but has climbed already up to 7000 ft until then. Not good if a level off is needed then. I think A/THR regulation plus level off it just can't handle. So instead off leveling off at e.g. 25000 ft, it goes to 25400 and stays there. Plane is on Altitude Hold then already.A more worse speed exceeding happens if you command LVL CHG below 10000 ft. But this is just testing of LVL CHG behaviour, I know it's not a common procedure to use LVL CHG at 250 kt. I was almost happy with it in 1.3, for me it's now worse than before.Another example : The plane is still not able to hold altitude during AP turns and partially heavily oscillates around the dialed Altitude. I know from a little chat with a 310 pilot a while ago the AP can be nasty at times, but so bad it is not :)Mike

Got it, Thanks!!! :-wave I wish there was a step by step tutorial on using this autopilot. It almost looks like they

i'll add my $.05 fwiw.I truly believe SSW has been and is currently the developer people LOVE TO HATE, even more than Capt Sim. Honestly, their support and communications with "us" is not what we would want ... and Harald is spot on with his comments .. but ... there are major language difficulties here ... which don't help, and George "bigin" had tried his level best to help ... I think the A-310 itself is really excellent ... 1.4 if fine as far as i can tell ... I can align the IRS's, set up flight plans, do all that I am supposed to. not really big issues. Make sure there is 1000 lbs of fuel in the center tank ... good practice anyway .. (at least for 737's hahaha)The documentation provided is more like a real A310 AOM then user doc ... I love it but being old and grey ... have suffered always with takeoffs ... imagine that? ... ils approaches, landings,autolands I do fine ... it is the GD taking off ... ctl shift t .. etc.The tutorial provided is really excellent I think, but it would be very helpful to me of some more detail were added regarding takeoff ... and specifically how to use the AP at different stages of flight.. examples and pictures would really helpful.I honestly believe there are people out there who have technical difficulties with the software itself ... running the software ... for them i feel bad ... the remainder I believe, as Harald so nicely puts it, just are having a hard time transitioning from boeing to airbus ... particularly this oneI would really appreciate if someone who can do it, would prepare a simple, detailed, step by step ... (push this, do that, this happens type of thing) ... for takeoff, speed transitions, climbout, descents, approach etc ... step by step ... so that those of us who are frustrated can practice and have some success, repeatable success.In the old days, when I got "back into FS" after some years ... I bought the PSS 747 .. and i thought I would never be able to fly it ... well, John Helsby's very awesome step by step detailed tutorials saved me .. the level of detail was perfect to learn repeatable procedures.The available tutorial is very very well done, particularly as regards the FMC setup ... but I would appreciate more detail of what to push and when ..... to be repeatedly successful and correct..This is a product everyone wants to love I think, but just have a hard time with ... I hope that someday all will come together correctly for everyone and we can all have great experiences with the A310.Paul ... just dreaming on trying to be positive!!!!

I have TRIED very, very hard to follow the tutorial, and it does not work how the tutorial says it does, maybe I / we need someone to write an "indepth" tutorial, something along the lines of the PMDG 737 tutorial by T Metzlinger (sp?), which in my opinion is the best tutorial I have ever used.I have been, and am still extremely frustrated by the SSW A310, it just does not work for me.CheersDan.