Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
fsxops

METAR Trough ACARS Function

Recommended Posts

Hi to all,

 

Hi PMDG team, thank´s for the great products and support, is there any chance to implement the METAR function through the CDU ACARS page of the 737,747,and 777 with the upcoming Active Sky Next? I think it would be posible as you know other programs like TOPCAT, PFPX actually do it. 

 

It would  be a very awesome feature, as every flight during it we have to check the weather with a third programs loosing a Little of realism.

 

Hope to see this feature in next Service Pack.

 

Best Regards

Alberto

Share this post


Link to post

Hi to all,

 

Hi PMDG team, thank´s for the great products and support, is there any chance to implement the METAR function through the CDU ACARS page of the 737,747,and 777 with the upcoming Active Sky Next? I think it would be posible as you know other programs like TOPCAT, PFPX actually do it. 

 

It would  be a very awesome feature, as every flight during it we have to check the weather with a third programs loosing a Little of realism.

 

Hope to see this feature in next Service Pack.

 

Best Regards

Alberto

I think this would be a great idea, we need someway to bring about a useful function to the ACARS system in the FMC. PFPX is able to present weather in METAR format I don't see why the FMC cant do the same.

Share this post


Link to post

Because PFPX presents real weather in METAR format and ACARS would have to present FS data in METAR format. Probably not impossible, but not trivial either.

Share this post


Link to post

Not that I have any connection to anyone, but over the past few months, I've been thinking of drafting up an ACARS/CPDLC design standard in hopes that it would become a sim-wide standard.  Like an SDK, designing such a standard would allow any developer to include the function and other developers could simply "tap into" it.  Of course, I'm sure many developers also have their own ideas as to how this should all be implemented, so who knows how that'll go.

 

Either way, currently, there's no central source to communicate with.  While it's true that the FAA systems include weather pulls from international locations, it's not all-encompassing, and even then, it still lacks the D-ATIS feature that so many would want.  That, of course, brings up the next issue of who creates the D-ATIS?  If you're on VATSIM/IVAO, it could be different from what the real world used based on the ever present "operational advantage."  Additionally, do you pull real world D-ATIS in all other cases, or should the computer somehow decide?  Where does it find the SOPs for each airport?  Who sets those up, and so on?

 

See why it's not implemented in FSX yet?  haha...


Kyle Rodgers

Share this post


Link to post

 

 


There is actually one provider that has METAR data for most of the world.

 

Just checked, and, as much as I'd like to attribute awesomeness to hjemmelandet mitt, it didn't pass my quick test:

 

 

 

>>> ENZV (STAVANGER/SOLA RWY 18/36 11/29) <<<

METAR 121950Z 26017KT 9999 VCTS FEW015CB BKN053 08/03 Q1014 TEMPO
SHRAGS


>>> YSSY (SYDNEY / KINGSFORD SMITH) <<<

METAR NIL

>>> KJYO (LEESBURG EXECUTIVE) <<<

METAR NOT AVAILABLE

>>> KOKV (WINCHESTER RGNL) <<<

METAR NOT AVAILABLE

>>> FAOR (O R TAMBO INTERNATIONAL) <<<

METAR NOT AVAILABLE

>>> KIAD (WASHINGTON DULLES INTL) <<<

METAR 121852Z 32013G20KT 10SM SCT050 BKN110 04/M10 A3027


>>> END-OF-BULLETIN <<<�

 

FAA's AWC:

 

 

ENZV 121920Z 27016KT 9999 VCSH FEW015CB SCT028 BKN041 08/04 Q1014 TEMPO SHRAGS
YSSY 121930Z 28006KT 9999 FEW008 16/14 Q1013 RMK HZ FM1930 31008KT 8000 HZ FEW008 FM2000 29008KT CAVOK
KJYO 121935Z AUTO 35013G18KT 10SM CLR 03/M07 A3028 RMK AO2
KOKV 121935Z AUTO 33010G18KT 10SM CLR 03/M07 A3027 RMK AO2
FAOR 121900Z 31012KT CAVOK 20/09 Q1021 NOSIG
KIAD 121952Z 33014G22KT 10SM FEW055 OVC150 04/M12 A3028 RMK AO2 SLP254 T00391117

 

...and even the FAA AWC doesn't cut it for all of the aerodromes people will need data for.  Many operators contract commercial vendors who aggregate all of the data from the various international sources.

 

I'm not trying to say it's impossible.  It's just going to be very difficult for simmers to get the appropriate aggregate data to cover all the airports.  Even though many data providers will cover most of where the 777 and 747 fly, the problem will be addressing all of the airports the 737 and other smaller aircraft with datalink/ACARS can fly into.


Kyle Rodgers

Share this post


Link to post

Kyle, how about NOAA?

 

Anyway I support your drafting of a standart... I have started working on a tie-in based on hoppie network, but it is shelved for the time being - would be glad to restart.

 

Anyway - the problem stays, how to work with users who do not use realweather (either historic or themed) - there is an internal "METAR" reporting function, but the reports are non-standart

Share this post


Link to post

 

 


Kyle, how about NOAA?

 

The AWC is a NOAA subdivision, working in tandem with the FAA, so it's essentially the same.  Either way, the larger issue will be the D-ATIS feature, as it would need to default to something while offline, and then that feature would need to pull whatever data feed contains the D-ATIS on an online network.

 

I'll PM you my thoughts in response to your message in a few!


Kyle Rodgers

Share this post


Link to post

*snip*

 

Haha, crap! I ran a test before I posted, where I ran around 10 fields around the world, and they all came up. Even tried some weird ones in New Zealand that I remembered of the top of my head, but clearly wasn't a good enough test. :) 

Share this post


Link to post

Haha, crap! I ran a test before I posted, where I ran around 10 fields around the world, and they all came up. Even tried some weird ones in New Zealand that I remembered of the top of my head, but clearly wasn't a good enough test. :) 

 

haha - I intentionally chose some obscure local fields near where I live to test it out.  Good site, though.  I'd forgotten all about it since I haven't flown over in Norway in a while (other than to test out various add on scenery to see if I could actually see Preikestolen, distinctly).


Kyle Rodgers

Share this post


Link to post

@scandinavian13

 

Concerning the general topic of PC ACARS you may be interested to look at Hoppie's version, which has been in regular use for over a decade, and has its own dedicated server. It is the standard for WorldFlight, and has its own client for MSFS. Some aspects of it may therefore perhaps be relevant, and save you some time?

 

Details here: http://www.hoppie.nl/acars/

 

Cheers,

 

Brian


Brian747-500x105-Avsim.jpg

 

 

Share this post


Link to post

 

 


Some aspects of it may therefore perhaps be relevant, and save you some time?

 

It's definitely something I'm looking at as an example of a current, workable solution.  Noting its limitations is also something that will further expand the concept of what still needs to be developed and investigated.


Kyle Rodgers

Share this post


Link to post

I think it would be great if PMDG would include the ability to tap into the Hoppie ACARS System. I know it's heavily used throughout worldflight and is starting to become more common for oceanic controlling as well. Having this integrated into the FMC of a 777 or 747 would be amazing :P

Share this post


Link to post

Uhhh D-ATIS would be beautiful. Maybe one day!

Share this post


Link to post

 

 


Uhhh D-ATIS would be beautiful

 

Point to a free/cheap source and the talks may begin...


Kyle Rodgers

Share this post


Link to post

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  
  • Tom Allensworth,
    Founder of AVSIM Online


  • Flight Simulation's Premier Resource!

    AVSIM is a free service to the flight simulation community. AVSIM is staffed completely by volunteers and all funds donated to AVSIM go directly back to supporting the community. Your donation here helps to pay our bandwidth costs, emergency funding, and other general costs that crop up from time to time. Thank you for your support!

    Click here for more information and to see all donations year to date.
×
×
  • Create New...