Hey guys,

 

I've purchased Opus but the sim computer has been out of action for a while pending a rebuid - hence I can't play around with it at the moment. One of the issues i recall having with it (and this was on an older version where weather could only be detected out to about 300nm) was how to plan for LH flights when you needs winds aloft data.

 

From what I understand programs like AS2012/ASE look at your planed route and calculate the wind at each waypoint, which you can then enter into the FMC or flight planning program, but from what I gather with Opus it only detects weather out to about 800 nm, so how do you go about planning?

 

In the past I've used FSCommander to genereate my route, loaded that route into ASE to generate the WX, and then used that WX to incorporate it into FSCaptain. Is anything like this going to be possible with Opus?

 

Cheers!

The weather is updated periodically as you fly your route and the GRIB data is updated. See our website or LWE manual for details. We are also currently involved in the beta dev cycle to introduce a flight plan assistant so you can see live weather reports not only for anywhere within the Opus 800 x 800 mile weather map but also for all stations and waypoints along your route. As you may already know, the GRIB forecast data has a 1 degree resolution so you will always have the upper winds for your current location no matter how long haul your flight is.

 

Stephen

 

You do not need to specify your route to Opus, just fly and the weather from horizon to horizon, and well beyond is maintained by the LWE. See our SimForums support forum site for details of our current beta dev cycle which includes the FP assistant. Phase two will be posted in a few weeks time (we are flying to Venice in between), then phase three will follow with detailed en route weather report file. We have also included a Flight Plan En Route Weather Report feature within the sim so you can monitor all the current weather as you fly.

 

Stephen

Thanks for the reply Stephen. So if I understand correctnly, if I'm just using Opus there is no way to get my winds data for my route prior to flying it? This is obviously needed for fuel planning and so forth.

 

I'll perhaps wait out until this flight plan component is completeted and revist the issue then.

 

Cheers,

You might be able to get winds aloft data from other sources.and those should be the same as OPUS.

Plenty of sources for winds aloft. 

Excellent. Whats the easiest most conviennt way to get them for a given flight plan?

Personally, I use AS2012 to get my average wind information, then use OPUS to actually provide weather in FSX, taking a leap that they are providing the same en-route winds (or similar enough for fuel calculation purposes).