Good morning,

In P3D, I can ask ATC for an RNAV Approach (for example to use instead of a visual approach). ATC will then let me select, for a specific runway, which transition I want. Thus, ATC has RNAV Approach information, like that on IAPs. Where does this information come from? And what vintage? Does P3D come with a database somewhat like Navigraph distribute?

Thanks.

Jean-Pierre Gagné
(CYOW)

It's built into the scenery bgl files.

Navigraph does not update P3D scenery.  If you want to fly using current data, best to use both a plane and an ATC add-on that have their own update-capable database.

Thanks for your reply, that explains it.

I've spent way too long looking into & testing this at various airports. Waypoints and approaches are part of the airport data; they live within the <airport> blocks of the xml in the APX.bgl scenery files or your third-party ADE/afcad files, which means you can add/customize approaches for AI and ATC. All this stuff can be tweaked in Airport Design Editor (ADE) (https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/ade-version-1-79-7410-dev-is-released-supports-p3d-v5.447279/). 

 

For example, using my FlyTampa EHAMv2 ADE file I can get ATC clearance for the ARTIP transition:

ART1H transition: https://i.imgur.com/6k7fJVl.png

Data in ADE: https://i.imgur.com/7cixPHV.png

Test in P3D: https://i.imgur.com/KLIgh6V.png

 

The process isn't so complex once you understand all the pieces, but there are both some tedious parts (like adding all the waypoints) and quirks too ("RNAV" is the only approach type that will recognize waypoint transitions, for example).

If you're interested in customizing approaches, I'd say the first place to start would be exploring how they're put together. Download, install Airport Design Editor, and open up an airport. In the top right corner is a button that allows you toggle between "Airport Mode" and "Approach Mode". In "Approach Mode" you can see all the associated waypoints. You can also toggle displays of whatever approaches are also included through the dropdown menus (List > Approaches > [double click on an approach from the popup list]).

Thanks for the thorough reply: you<ve given me a lot to think about.

Any idea why only RNAV approaches are recognized? (I had gathered that from my testing)

I am exploring all of this because I am trying to live with the default (and much maligned) P3D ATC. I did acquire PRO/ATC but found (amongst other weirdities) that it doesn't use airspace names (I think that's important) and setting up decent voices is a pain in the you-know-what. This is poor for a product that is fairly expensive.

Regards,

Jean-Pierre Gagné (CYOW)

@Jean-Pierre Gagne, have you considered Radar Contact v4? It’s now free and I can provide links for it via a PM.

Regarding RNAV approaches RC4 cannot do that but there is a workaround. At 40nm from the arrival airport you have to be at a predetermined altitude.

At that point you have the choice of taking vectors for a standard approach or you can elect to fly your own approach when RC4 will leave you alone until 6 miles out when you contact Tower. That sounds like it suits RNAV approaches.

It uses MakeRunways by Pete and John Dowson to read your scenery files and those are then imported into RC4’s database. So if you subscribe to Navigraph your data is always up to date.

Good morning Ray,

I had wanted to try RC4 but found that it's no longer available. I would really appreciate a link.

I'm new at this forum: what's a PM?

Regards,

Jean-Pierre Gagné
(CYOW)

8 minutes ago, Jean-Pierre Gagne said:

Good morning Ray,

I had wanted to try RC4 but found that it's no longer available. I would really appreciate a link.

I'm new at this forum: what's a PM?

Regards,

Jean-Pierre Gagné
(CYOW)

PM = private message. Some call it a DM.

I've sent you the links in a PM.

@Jean-Pierre Gagne, make sure you install the latest FSUIPC. The one associated with the installer is very old.

Plus you can get MakeRunways from here.

https://forum.simflight.com/topic/66136-useful-additional-programs/

Thanks Ray.

I already have the latest FSUIPC and MakeRunways installed.

Jean-Pierre Gagné
(CYOW)

Ray, dumb question: where's the key generator?

16 minutes ago, Jean-Pierre Gagne said:

Ray, dumb question: where's the key generator?

I sent two links. It’s in the second one.

Found it, thanks. (I knew it was a dum question)
Jean-Pierre Gagné
CYOW