Is anybody using VRoute premium and what are your thoughts as a comparison?

Is anybody using VRoute premium and what are your thoughts as a comparison?

I have used it in the past, and to be blatanty obvious, it has nothing on PFPX.

 

Some people may think differently, but thats my honest opinion after testing PFPX for a few months.

The SID/STAR's output from PFPX will work good in the US when on Vatsim. Most FAA RNAV SID/STAR can be used regardless of runway in use. Outside the US in particular Europe and especially say at Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle, each runway has one SID assigned to it. The problem is if there are controllers on in those areas and they don't have any atis posted you won't know which SID to select in PFPX. Heathrow has that alternating runway change at 1500L which is always a crap shoot as which one is departing and arriving and I have found they have little to no patience for those that don't know which runways are in use (nevermind the sighs you can hear when you are trying to find the holding point they assigned you too head to while taxing out). Hopefully an active flight plan in PFPX can be updated rather quickly.

 

Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note 2

 

 

Hopefully an active flight plan in PFPX can be updated rather quickly.

Looking at the scenario you mentioned, it would take no longer than 3 minutes to change the SID and then re-compute for a RLS2 (or OFP2).

 

I noticed in EU, most airlines don't file SIDS however most do file STARS - most likely cause the STAR's aren't runway dependant, whereas the SID's are.

 

 

I noticed in EU, most airlines don't file SIDS however most do file STARS - most likely cause the STAR's aren't runway dependant, whereas the SID's are.

 

Yes, typically in Europe you are assigned the SID with your ATC clearance.

Hopefully an active flight plan in PFPX can be updated rather quickly.

 

 

Everything about PFPX looks to be seamless and quick. I don't think you'll have to wait long to revise your SID/STAR. Heck, you can even use the "redispatch" function to divert your flight completely midair--a complete flight plan from your current position to a new destination at the click of a button!

 

Take a look at the user manual. It's available under the downloads tab on FlightSimSoft.com. It gives you a good sense of the depth and versatility. Truly unprecedented in FSX.

As a Flightsim Commander owner, I am having trouble deciding if this is a worthwhile expenditure.

++1

 

Owned FSC for years, just found out today how to overlay current weather over my flightplan in FSC, very few tools if any can do that, as far i know.

 

So FSC still looking like a very strong contender, if you cant afford to have both fsc and pfpx.

 

AS has been said, depends on the price and ease of use, but i doubt it will repalce FSC, especially for the real time weather overlay

As already mentioned, TOPCAT is for calculating takeoff and landing data. PFPX is for handling the part in between (more on this later).

 

While TOPCAT has tools for fuel and alternate planning, they are far from accurate.

 

Just to give you an example. In TOPCAT, you can select an alternate airport even if the runway is too short for landing or the weather is below landing minimums. PFPX on the other hand, should only suggest alternate airports, where you can actually land (based on weather and so on)

 

Next part is the fuel planning. TOPCAT calculates the shortest distance between your origin and destination (great circle distance) and then adds an fixed multiplier to the calculated distance (lets say 20%). PFPX on the other hand creates you a route that could be used in real world. It the also factors in the winds aloft to calculate the best guess of the estimated fuel burn.

 

We still haven't touched things like ETOPS, enroute alternates and so on, that only PFPX is able to do.

 

I hope this helps

 

(Disclaimer: This is based on reading the PFPX manual)

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention that, in the new "first steps video" (posted above), they do all the route, payload, fuel, ... planning in PFPX and then export the values to TOPCAT.

 

Good info, I also like the fact that the data from PFPX will export to Topcat.   Let's just hope the get some more Topcat profiles to take advantage of it.

Good info, I also like the fact that the data from PFPX will export to Topcat. Let's just hope the get some more Topcat profiles to take advantage of it.

I am happy to see that they have recently added the DH8D.

I am happy to see that they have recently added the DH8D.

Just to manage expectations, they have managed to create DH8D profile for PFPX, but not (yet?) for TOPCAT.

Just to manage expectations, they have managed to create DH8D profile for PFPX, but not (yet?) for TOPCAT.

Good point. Damn it.

sorry james if its been answered., a couple of questions...

 

1. can it "force routes" using a specific track routing using today tracks. ?

 

so for example todays vir21 EGLL - KIAD is

 

N0460F380 CPT UL9 KENET UN14 PEMOB UN24 SLANY DCT MALOT/M081F390 NATC SCROD/M081F390 NATC VALIE/N0460F400 DCT CEFOU/M080F400 DCT ALB/N0410F280 HYPER4

 

can you force the route on track C ?  and the altitude constraights, fl280 at ALB for example/

 

2. Same as above but with random tracks routings

 

for example todays vir19 EGLL to KSFO

 

N0500F320 WOBUN DCT WELIN UT420 TNT UN57 POL UN601 MARGO UN590 NINEX UP59 BALIX/M084F320 DCT 65N020W DCT 70N030W/M084F320 DCT 72N040W DCT 73N060W DCT MEDPA/N0490F340 NCAH 7230N07000W DCT SEDAG/N0490F360 DCT YBE DCT YMM DCT WELLF/N0490F380 DCT ONSET DCT BRUKK DCT RBL/N0480F370 GOLDN6

 

Cheers and many thanks, sorry if question been asked before.

As a Flightsim Commander owner, I am having trouble deciding if this is a worthwhile expenditure.

Me, too. But more than that, I already have REX Essentials for my weather, and it downloads (for free) the same data that PFPX will charge a subscription for. I think I have read up here that I can use the REX weather input with PFPX, and if so, buying PFPX will be a no-brainer. REX also has a subscription service for on-line flight planning that I will not purchase. SO - can I use the REX weather in PFPX?