One on my favorite things to do is to connect/disconnect the ground support equipment at either the beginning or end of a flight. I especially like to think of myself as a private owner of a 737, so I like to park the plane out on the tarmac rather than at a gate. I then open the door and lower the air stairs after shutting down all the systems at the end of a flight. I also like to be able to start my flights with the air stairs extended and main entry door open, and the carts connected, but not running.

 

However, the one thing I think that would be really cool, is to add an additional function to the FMC controller, allowing the pilot to configure the shut down or start up states of the A/C cart, or the Electrical cart, or the Air cart. They make a lot of noise when running, especially when the view is outside the aircraft. I would also like to see the additional feature of starting up the A/C with the air stairs extended and the main door open. The pilot would also be able to configure the state of the air stairs and door to either be extended/retracted, opened/closed.

 

With these new features, you could set up your own custom “cold and dark” scenario of your choosing.

 

I would like to see this added to the current PMDG 737 NGX, and the upcoming 747 and 777 currently under development?

 

Bill Clark

Hi Bill,

You do realise the current NGX already has the airstairs and ground services built in. You need to activate through the FMC. The airstairs need to be turned on or off as not all 737's in RL have them..

 

Actually, looking at your post, you are after some additional features.. Right?

I think he asks, if he could load a flight, where e.g. the plane is cold and dark, door is open and airstair out. Maybe ground services also attached ...

 

Bill, isn't that the case, if you configure the NGX for your needs and save that state in the NGX FMC. Then you can load that saved state as startup state.

I'm not sure currently, but couldn't you save ground services and door states in the FMC?

 

If not, that would be indeed a nice feature for the next service pack.

Shouldn't be too complicated to add.

 

 

(if you by chance are a LINDA user, I could implement that for you)

(if you by chance are a LINDA user, I could implement that for you)

 

Using LINDA, could it be implemented in any plane with airstairs?

I did some tinkering with the CFG files on my NGX, and The GPU is now always loaded at startup. It's not online, but it is attached.

I don't know if the air stairs are remembered when you create an aircraft state, but maybe you can set them anyway in the CFG files?

Hi All,

Yes, I realize the airstairs and ground services are built in, and I have been using them extensively when I fly. I use them all the time when I fire up FS2Crew.

 

What I’m asking for is that there be additional functionality added to the ground support equipment. Currently you can connect/disconnect each cart. However, the carts are always running. I’m basically asking that additional options be placed in the FMC configuration section to either start them or shut them down as an additional task. For example, I could start with a “cold and dark state” where any of the three, or all carts could be connected. However, I could select them as “Not Running” when I attach them. Then at my command, ideally a defined key press, have them start running (startup individually, or as a group – either way is ok).

 

Upon landing and parking, I would like to hook them up, and have them either running at connect time, or not running, Once I’m done shutting down the aircraft to whatever state I choose, have the option of turning off, or leave running any carts still connected to the A/C. The carts would remain connected, but are turned off.

 

As to saving these states, I would like to be able to save any configuration state, airstairs, doors, or carts in the FMC. The last time I tried, I was not able to retain the airstairs state, although I remember it saved the door in on open state.

 

In fact, maybe the best, and simplest way to handle this, would be to turn them on/off with an assigned key press. This key press could be defined in the FMC “Equipment” section like many other functions are, and give you the option of assigning an unused key press combinations to either start/stop a cart running?

 

As to programming in LINDA, I’m not familiar on how to write a script. It would be simpler for most PMDG pilots to build it into the planes software.

 

Bill Clark

I see your point, but only to a certain degree. All of that stuff is the job of a rampie. Doing that gets into an area where you'd have to load your own bags, too. When you request ground power and a rampie pulls it up, it's going to be on by the time it's plugged in. Same goes for air. Any good rampie would start the cart before dragging it up to the plane to give it time to start and get up to speed.

 

I'll concede the point that it's nice to see the aircraft all buttoned up with the equipment attached, but not running at the end of the day. Then again, that's probably my own ramp nostalgia speaking. The pilots were long gone by then (in most cases)

As to programming in LINDA, I’m not familiar on how to write a script. It would be simpler for most PMDG pilots to build it into the planes software.

 

Would be yes.

But I haven't understand your point at the first time.

 

But no, connecting the carts without running them is not possible with LINDA.

I thought you just talk about to have them connected (and running) at loading the NGX

Hi,

My only focus is on the accessories PMDG provides that are part of the 737 NGX. However, DreamTeam offers the GSX product for the purpose of simulating baggage handling, for example. There are other developers who provide similar products around the gate area as well.

 

I guess we all have our pet fetishes about what we would like to see as additional “Frosting” put on the cake.

 

The quote from the message above is not quite what I had in mind to say, sorry for the confusion!

 

Quote: “As to programming in LINDA, I’m not familiar on how to write a script. It would be simpler for most PMDG pilots to build it into the planes software.”

 

What I meant to say; “It would be simpler for most sim pilots if PMDG developers built these features directly into the 737 NGX software.”

 

Bill Clark

From a ramper's perspective; our GPU/PCA carts (if the jetbridge systems are down) are turned on about 5 minutes prior to arrival to ensure unit serviceability and to warm them up and as soon as we have the GPU hooked up on arrival (which should be the next action right after chocking the nose gear) the crew shuts down engine 2 (CRJ and ERJ). The PCA runs overnight to keep the cabin at a reasonable temp for the morning crews if the outside temperature will be a bit out of the comfort zone, and as far as I know aircraft mx leaves the GPU running once we leave our shift for the night especially if there is planned mx for a plane and power is required.

Alex,

 

I’m sure you are right about your airlines policy of bad weather forcing the running of the PCA overnight. It is also my understanding at many large US airports, they don’t use these little GPU/PCA carts, but have stationary heavy cables and air duct hoses where the power and compressed air is generated more cheaply via remote, more central power systems. Possibly, someone can confirm this?

 

However, I don’t always park at a gate, but rather out on a ramp in a more isolated area. So from the perspective of how I would use these carts with my 737 NGX, I would still like to see this extra functionality added to the NGX and future planes.

 

Bill Clark

 

It is also my understanding at many large US airports, they don’t use these little GPU/PCA carts, but have stationary heavy cables and air duct hoses where the power and compressed air is generated more cheaply via remote, more central power systems. Possibly, someone can confirm this?

 

That is true, the heavy cables you see on the end of jet bridges provide power to the aircraft from the airport and the PCA heater/air conditioning unit is attached under the jet bridge itself and there is no central airport unit for PCA, also the air is not compressed; its only heated or cooled and passed to the aircraft via fans. Even though my airline is a regional carrier we still use jetbridges as the only method of boarding and de-boarding aircraft unless its at a small outstation or if its the ATR-72. Keeps pax safe and out of the weather.

 

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