I'm a new user of Opus and so far I'm quite pleased with it.

In AS2012 I have to possibility to load my flight plan and get a forecast for the average winds aloft on the flight level I plan to fly. This data I program in the NGX FMC.

Now when using Opus, how can I get this data for FMC programming?

 

 

 

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Right now OPUS doesn't offer the ability to load in waypoints and get winds aloft data. That is further down the road. This thread outlines the features that are planned. http://www.simforums.com/forums/coming-soon_topic43213.html included in there is the discussion of opening an sticky thread for the Flight Planning Assitance development cycle. I'd also advise using that forum for more in depth assistance and up to dateness of what is going on with OPUS.

For the average NGX flight (approx. 2-3hrs) entering the average wind for your cruise level should give the FMGC enough information to chew on for your needs. This you can find by pulling up the Opus Reports window (within the sim), and click on the Upper levels data option (provided you have allowed Opus to download and process GRIB data).

Other than that, what russianspd says is what you should follow. However, if you are bent on inputting the Winds Aloft data for every waypoint in your FP I suggest you fire up AS2012, allow it to process your FP then copy the waypoints winds aloft data. If you want to use Opus as your Wx engine you must then shut down AS2012 (not simply minimise it) else it will interfere with Opus and produce all sorts of unwanted wind shifts etc.

 

As an aside...I did a test flight with the new Airbus Extended the other day (LGAV - OMDB), a flight usually done by a 330 so I was really stretching the 320's legs. As I am in the process of learning how to operate this new beast I have no idea whether it is possible (or how) to input winds aloft into the MCDU of the aircraft. I, therefore got the Winds Aloft prediction for my FL from Opus, calculated a rough approximation of a tailwind, loaded up the necessary amount of kerosene and took to the skies. A little over 4hrs later I was trundling towards my gate at Dubai. EFOB was more or less what I had predicted and the flight over with Opus was a delight. Winds were as reported, no sudden shifts, the occasional bump and shudder as I passed through layers of turbulent air (especially over the hot desert air of Iraq) and SAT and TAT were both on the button.

 

For really long haul flights I'd suggest you wait for Opus integration with certain flight planning solutions (PFPX being the most promising of the lot as they seem to be using the same data Opus does). Otherwise AS2012 is still your best choice for those 8+ hr flights especially if they involve a number of step climbs.

 

With the current crop of Wx engines we are spoiled for choice.