Hi Guys,

 

I've been using AS2012 for a while, and I've yet to encounter a situation on an instrument approach where I can't see the runway very far in advance of minimums.

 

I'm wondering if others have the same experience.

 

I've done lots of instrument approach practice with FSX custom weather settings manully, but never get to use those skills because even in big a storm or fog I can still see just fine. People are talking about another weather product that does provide this, but I don't want to change because I like the AS2012 integration with FSBuild, and the winds, and the historical weather.

 

If anyone there is succesfully getting automatically generated bad weather when it's bad weather in real life, I'd love to know what settings or how to get that. Is it possible, and what settings are required, and will those settings affect performance alot. I've been afraid of having a very large maximum cloud layers because of performance... but I think IMC is more related to fog anyway.

 

My settings are:

 

 

Also I have Vatsim weather ticked, could that be my problem? I don't know how it works to sync with Vatsim controllers weather behind the scenes but maybe it's bypassing AS servers?

Flying on VATSIM you have to uncheck vatsim weather if you want to use the external weather engine. Maybe try that first with AS2012?

Zach, how many layers of cloud have you got enalbed on AS? I have 10 on mine, I flew to EDDP the other night, it was supposed to be overcast at 400ft yet I could see the airport clearly all the way from 11000ft!

But for the OP, our back and forth doesn't help much. I'm wondering why I'm getting approaches down to 400ft when I should, and he's not getting IMC at all...

 

Well, it is not real life, as we both are very aware of, I think. Could be the settings he is running or what not.

 

However, I think I know where the OP is coming from. At least that's how it was for me with AS2012. He is talking about those poor last feet right at the end of the approach where the runway environment comes into sight - even if it shouldn't - based on the METAR..

Zach, how many layers of cloud have you got enalbed on AS? I have 10 on mine, I flew to EDDP the other night, it was supposed to be overcast at 400ft yet I could see the airport clearly all the way from 11000ft!

5 layers, Will. Matter of fact:

 

[Options]

fsVersion = FSX

AutoRefreshAI = False

DynamicRateofChangePercent = 0

VATSIMDownloads = False

AutomaticDownloadInterval = 10

AutomaticDownloads = True

CAVOKCloudGenerationPercent = 50

NoDataCloudGenerationPercent = 50

CirrusCloudGenerationPercent = 50

MaximumCloudLayers = 5

MinimumCloudTurbulencePercent = 0

MaximumCloudTurbulencePercent = 100

MinimumCloudIcingPercent = 0

MaximumCloudIcingPercent = 100

StratusCloudOccurrencePercent = 0

MinimumVisibilitySM = 0

MaximumVisibilitySM = 49

MaximumUpperVisibilitySM = 59

MaximumSurfaceWindSpeed = 100

MinimumWindTurbulencePercent = 0

MaximumWindTurbulencePercent = 100

MinimumWindShearPercent = 0

MaximumWindShearPercent = 50

DisableWindsAloft = False

WakeTurbulenceStrength = 25

CreateVirtualStations = True

EnhanceRouteCoverage = False

DepictHurricanes = True

EnableSkyScapeMode = False

UseSkyScapeforStratus = False

ForceHighPriority = True

UpdateRange = 500

EnableWindSmoothing = False

EnableVisibilityGraduation = True

EnableFogLayerSimulation = True

LocalSuppression = True

SuppressionRange = 200

StartupWave = True

EnableDirectWindControl = True

ShowSimMessages = True

SupressOnGround = False

ForceDestinationWeatherZone = True

VoiceATIS = True

ThermalGenerationRatePercent = 0

UpandDowndraftGenerationRatePercent = 50

MaximumDowndraftRate = 300

MaximumUpdraftThermalRate = 500

DisableHazeLayer = True

FogLayerGeneration = True

DatFileOverwriteUserEdit = 0

ForceWindLock = False

SuppressionCeiling = 10000

FSXDepictionMode = DWC

PreventFSXCloudRedraws = False

PreventTstormsWithCB = False

GraduationCeiling = 8000

UseStratusForFog = True

StratoCumulus = False

PostPlanGraphicsPrompt = True

 

 

What are your cloud density settings in your .cfg? I have mine set to "12". I get a nice overcast layer using that setting

 

 

Well, it is not real life, as we both are very aware of, I think. Could be the settings he is running or what not.

 

However, I think I know where the OP is coming from. At least that's how it was for me with AS2012. He is talking about those poor last feet right at the end of the approach where the runway environment comes into sight - even if it shouldn't - based on the METAR..

 

It's not?! :blink: Dang, this CFI rating must be virtual too.

 

Gotcha, I'm not witnessing that. Then again, I've spent lots of time IMC compared to my "peers" at the FBO and have honestly only had hard approaches to minimums a handful of times. Typically you're in, and then out before you ever have to sweat it where I fly. Typically...

 

I digress. You guys must be on to something.

Zach and Daniel.... I removed some posts which I think you both agree were unhelpful to the OP in getting more expected results with AS. Thanks for your understanding.

 

Dan,

 

There are a few things which can affect IMC depiction. I would recommend not using "Prevent Cloud Redraws" (if you are using DWC mode) as this can prevent proper cloud updates enroute and at destination. The down-side is potential cloud formation shifts during updates, but your clouds will be accurate as well as your winds.

 

You might also benefit from increased "Stratus Occurrence", as FS occasionally has a hard time depicting low cumulus layers at a decent thickness. This depends on the terrain. It has been observed that the FS-attempted terrain-blending effect is bugged (reversed) and flat terrain results in less opacity of a cloud layer, while variable terrain results in more opacity. This affects cumulus clouds only.

 

In any depiction mode, there should be no problem getting low visibility when the weather calls for it. The only thing I can think of is that if you are using DWC and making quick descents, the visibility graduation may not be smoothing things to the desired target quickly enough, so if that is the case, you can increase your graduation ceiling so that visibility begins transitioning quicker during the descent.

 

As mentioned increasing your cloud density in FSX.cfg can also help.

 

I hope this helps. If you are unable to get the kind of IMC results you are looking for, please feel free to open a support ticket and I can give you some one-on-one troubleshooting and we'll figure it out.

 

Thanks!

5 layers, Will. Matter of fact:

 

[Options]

fsVersion = FSX

AutoRefreshAI = False

DynamicRateofChangePercent = 0

VATSIMDownloads = False

AutomaticDownloadInterval = 10

AutomaticDownloads = True

CAVOKCloudGenerationPercent = 50

NoDataCloudGenerationPercent = 50

CirrusCloudGenerationPercent = 50

MaximumCloudLayers = 5

MinimumCloudTurbulencePercent = 0

MaximumCloudTurbulencePercent = 100

MinimumCloudIcingPercent = 0

MaximumCloudIcingPercent = 100

StratusCloudOccurrencePercent = 0

MinimumVisibilitySM = 0

MaximumVisibilitySM = 49

MaximumUpperVisibilitySM = 59

MaximumSurfaceWindSpeed = 100

MinimumWindTurbulencePercent = 0

MaximumWindTurbulencePercent = 100

MinimumWindShearPercent = 0

MaximumWindShearPercent = 50

DisableWindsAloft = False

WakeTurbulenceStrength = 25

CreateVirtualStations = True

EnhanceRouteCoverage = False

DepictHurricanes = True

EnableSkyScapeMode = False

UseSkyScapeforStratus = False

ForceHighPriority = True

UpdateRange = 500

EnableWindSmoothing = False

EnableVisibilityGraduation = True

EnableFogLayerSimulation = True

LocalSuppression = True

SuppressionRange = 200

StartupWave = True

EnableDirectWindControl = True

ShowSimMessages = True

SupressOnGround = False

ForceDestinationWeatherZone = True

VoiceATIS = True

ThermalGenerationRatePercent = 0

UpandDowndraftGenerationRatePercent = 50

MaximumDowndraftRate = 300

MaximumUpdraftThermalRate = 500

DisableHazeLayer = True

FogLayerGeneration = True

DatFileOverwriteUserEdit = 0

ForceWindLock = False

SuppressionCeiling = 10000

FSXDepictionMode = DWC

PreventFSXCloudRedraws = False

PreventTstormsWithCB = False

GraduationCeiling = 8000

UseStratusForFog = True

StratoCumulus = False

PostPlanGraphicsPrompt = True

 

 

What are your cloud density settings in your .cfg? I have mine set to "12". I get a nice overcast layer using that setting

 

 

Thanks Zach, I will try your settings tonight...am not sure about the could density settings, I get home in about 5 hours, will check then.

 

Many thanks for your help

Zach and Daniel.... I removed some posts which I think you both agree were unhelpful to the OP in getting more expected results with AS. Thanks for your understanding.

 

Dan,

 

There are a few things which can affect IMC depiction. I would recommend not using "Prevent Cloud Redraws" (if you are using DWC mode) as this can prevent proper cloud updates enroute and at destination. The down-side is potential cloud formation shifts during updates, but your clouds will be accurate as well as your winds.

 

You might also benefit from increased "Stratus Occurrence", as FS occasionally has a hard time depicting low cumulus layers at a decent thickness. This depends on the terrain. It has been observed that the FS-attempted terrain-blending effect is bugged (reversed) and flat terrain results in less opacity of a cloud layer, while variable terrain results in more opacity. This affects cumulus clouds only.

 

In any depiction mode, there should be no problem getting low visibility when the weather calls for it. The only thing I can think of is that if you are using DWC and making quick descents, the visibility graduation may not be smoothing things to the desired target quickly enough, so if that is the case, you can increase your graduation ceiling so that visibility begins transitioning quicker during the descent.

 

As mentioned increasing your cloud density in FSX.cfg can also help.

 

I hope this helps. If you are unable to get the kind of IMC results you are looking for, please feel free to open a support ticket and I can give you some one-on-one troubleshooting and we'll figure it out.

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks Damian,

 

I'll increase stratus occurence, and I did have "prevent cloud redraws" ticked, I'll untick that.

 

My graduation ceiling was 8000feet, I'll change it to 20,000 feet and see how I go.

 

I'll try with 10 max cloud layers too, although I'm concerned about performance as ATI cards are not so good at drawing clouds.

 

Can you tell me what the "Use VATSIM Weather" option does?

Does it use a server provided by VATSIM instead of your servers? If so, is their weather less reliable, less detailed etc?

I was preferring to use it so I would have the same winds/runways as expected when flying online.. but if it's not going to give accurate weather I'm not going to use it.

Hi Dan,

 

The VATSIM option (in AS2012) replaced departure and destination airport data with that provided by VATSIM. When used with ATC wind lock and Destination Wx Zone, this should provide a consistent weather profile for the departing/landing areas between you and the controllers. Note that weather enroute, outside the departure and destination areas is not affected either way (AS2012 data is used).

 

Also, FYI, the data is rarely much different either way as METARs and update frequencies are pretty standardized. We are all getting the data from the same airports. This option just makes sure that you are looking at the same data.

Damian,

 

Will increasing cloud draw distance also help in this purpose?

 

I have it set to 5.

 

 

Damian,

 

Will increasing cloud draw distance also help in this purpose?

 

I have it set to 5.

 

Cloud draw distance in FS does not have an effect here, it only controls how far out you will see clouds within the sim (assuming the weather conditions/visibility is at or above such distance).

Thanks Damian, using DWC, what would you suggest as best graduation ceiling?

8000 for most areas, higher if you fly in high elevation areas or tend to perform quick descents (i.e. >2000FPM). In that case I'd recommend 14000.