I have used PFPX and IFlightPlanner but I can seem to find if either of those can provide "active runway" information. I know that ATIS can provide that if I were to monitor it but it would be cool if I could get this information while doing a flight plan.

 

 

You can connect a weather engine like ASN to PFPX: this way the planner knows which runways most probably are in use and it will use them. Obviously the runway in use on the arrival airfield may change over time when your flight takes 12 hours.

First you start up ASN (or other weather program), once it loads the weather you startup PFPX and in the results details it will show the takeoff and landing runway based on the winds and forecast winds.  Only thing to keep in mind is that lots of times local rules have runways that takeoff in a crosswind, etc. so it is good but not perfect.

You can connect a weather engine like ASN to PFPX: this way the planner knows which runways most probably are in use and it will use them. Obviously the runway in use on the arrival airfield may change over time when your flight takes 12 hours.

 

Excellent. I do use ASN.

First you start up ASN (or other weather program), once it loads the weather you startup PFPX and in the results details it will show the takeoff and landing runway based on the winds and forecast winds.  Only thing to keep in mind is that lots of times local rules have runways that takeoff in a crosswind, etc. so it is good but not perfect.

 

Yeah, I will do that tonight. I'm playing around with P3D v3 and enjoying the framerates.

PFPX has a built-in weather engine to download winds aloft and METARS and terminal forecasts, but it does require a yearly subscription. Alternatively you can import current weather from ASN.

PFPX has a built-in weather engine to download winds aloft and METARS and terminal forecasts, but it does require a yearly subscription. Alternatively you can import current weather from ASN.

Thanks!

jujumediazone,

 

I thought I'd offer a bit of a more simple approach.  One doesn't need an automated tool for selecting a runway and it can be argued that one really shouldn't use one.

 

AS we know, aircraft take off into the wind to assist with lift during takeoff. Aircraft land into the wind for much the same reason and to avoid a tail wind which can complicated and otherwise make landing hazardous. These are the sames reasons that Aircraft Carriers turn into the wind for launching and recovering aircraft.

 

So if the wind is 080 degrees, and your runway choices are 10 or 280, one would select runway 10 for departure. The general rule is to use the runway which best matches the wind and is still long enough for your aircraft take off roll.

 

This does not take into consideration local rules, however I've not noticed that automated FS flight planning tools do either with maybe the exceptions of NOTAMs which most FS pilots don't seem to read anyway.

 

A rule of thumb when there are parallel runways is to use the runway closet to the terminals for departure and the runway furthest from the terminals for arrival.  The same generally holds true for which taxiways to use when you're on taxi to a departure runway and on taxi to a gate after an arrival.  As I said, these are rules of thumb, thus it may not hold true for all airports - but they are more accurate than (forgive me) "winging it".

 

METAR information can be obtained via the Internet if you're not using a weather engine. If you're using a weather engine, simply fire it up and put in the Airport ICAO.  You can also get METAR information via VATSPY.

 

I sincerely hope this proves helpful to you.

jujumediazone,

 

I thought I'd offer a bit of a more simple approach.  One doesn't need an automated tool for selecting a runway and it can be argued that one really shouldn't use one.

 

AS we know, aircraft take off into the wind to assist with lift during takeoff. Aircraft land into the wind for much the same reason and to avoid a tail wind which can complicated and otherwise make landing hazardous. These are the sames reasons that Aircraft Carriers turn into the wind for launching and recovering aircraft.

 

So if the wind is 080 degrees, and your runway choices are 10 or 280, one would select runway 10 for departure. The general rule is to use the runway which best matches the wind and is still long enough for your aircraft take off roll.

 

This does not take into consideration local rules, however I've not noticed that automated FS flight planning tools do either with maybe the exceptions of NOTAMs which most FS pilots don't seem to read anyway.

 

A rule of thumb when there are parallel runways is to use the runway closet to the terminals for departure and the runway furthest from the terminals for arrival.  The same generally holds true for which taxiways to use when you're on taxi to a departure runway and on taxi to a gate after an arrival.  As I said, these are rules of thumb, thus it may not hold true for all airports - but they are more accurate than (forgive me) "winging it".

 

METAR information can be obtained via the Internet if you're not using a weather engine. If you're using a weather engine, simply fire it up and put in the Airport ICAO.  You can also get METAR information via VATSPY.

 

I sincerely hope this proves helpful to you.

 

This was very helpful. Thanks.

The best way to find the active runway at a large airport is to use a free app like Flightradar 24.Key in the airport code and it will show in

 real time airplanes landing and departing in google earth

Try this site

http://www.plane-mad.com/airport-weather/

Until P3D get their internal flight planning tool working consistently (and hopefully with the ability to select SID's & STARS), what is the most recommended 3rd-party flight planning tool for P3D v. 3.3?

Until P3D get their internal flight planning tool working consistently (and hopefully with the ability to select SID's & STARS), what is the most recommended 3rd-party flight planning tool for P3D v. 3.3?

Try Simbrief. Excellent freeware tool.

 

http://www.simbrief.com/home/?page=home

The best way to find the active runway at a large airport is to use a free app like Flightradar 24.Key in the airport code and it will show in

 real time airplanes landing and departing in google earth

This is the best method and gives you precise real world data. I always use FR24 or Flightaware.

 

Shez

www.fltplan.com, which also has apps for ipad and Android.  Real world but works great for simulators. The apps even connect to FSX and provide a number of inflight enhancements!