I installed RC3 and absolutely love this add-on. It's fantastic and well worth the money. To all of the RC team, T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U!!!!!!!!I now have four flights of about 1.5 each (all of them UCF to UCF)under my belt and just completed re-reading the manual and I'm a little confused about a few things. A couple (actually four of them) of questions: In all of the questions, this is the flight setting: IFR in VMC, Beechcraft Baron adhering to the east/west altitude rules in USA, at least 3000 AGL in the area being flown over so well above MVA and RW MEAs.1) After I pickup my wx briefing from FSS at the departure UCF, RC provides options that lead you to the runway appearing to default a clearance to the in-flight option. I don't see an option permitting you to pick up the clearance from FSS. How is this done? I know that option feeds through #2 com but I don't see a number selection in ADVDISP to choose it.2) In all four of my flights, ranging 5K to 8K altitude, I didn't get a step down as I approached my UCF destination nor handoff to a nearby departure. At the point in FSNAV that you cross the B/D, request lower alt isn't available any longer. Only Request Higher Alt. Should I get an automatic step down? In all four of my flights, this phase of flight was with a Center. How do I keep from crossing my destination UCF at 8000?3) At a point about 20 miles out and primarily to overcome the no step down in question #2) I request a visual approach. Center returns with something like N528FI, cleared visual approach to the KTVI airport. Cancel IFR either on the ground or in flight. Change to advisory frequency approved.I then put the advfreq in #1 com, and all I can get is a wind check. How do I broadcast intentions and position reports like...Baron N528FI downwind runway 32, KTVI.... or something like that? Or am I supposed to revert back to the built-in ATC.4) is there a way to tie the key commands response (1, 2, 7, CS / for example)to some kind of speech recognition? How is that done? I have ATC Simulator with the MS TTS engine as well as FS. That sim (the ATC) has a functional speech recognition. If I could respond to ATC through S/R, that would absolutely be great!!!!!!Again, to all the RC Team, Great Job.BobL

>I installed RC3 and absolutely love this add-on. It's >fantastic and well worth the money. To all of the RC team, >T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U!!!!!!!! >>I now have four flights of about 1.5 each (all of them UCF >to UCF)under my belt and just completed re-reading the >manual and I'm a little confused about a few things. A >couple (actually four of them) of questions: >>In all of the questions, this is the flight setting: IFR in >VMC, Beechcraft Baron adhering to the east/west altitude >rules in USA, at least 3000 AGL in the area being flown over >so well above MVA and RW MEAs. >>1) After I pickup my wx briefing from FSS at the departure >UCF, RC provides options that lead you to the runway >appearing to default a clearance to the in-flight option. I >don't see an option permitting you to pick up the clearance >from FSS. How is this done? I know that option feeds >through #2 com but I don't see a number selection in ADVDISP >to choose it. after the weather briefing, there should be (we tested the hell out of this), an option to get your clearance on the ground or in the air.if the conditions are ifr, you cannot get the clearance in the air, you have to get it on the ground.try it again, and let us know>>2) In all four of my flights, ranging 5K to 8K altitude, I >didn't get a step down as I approached my UCF destination >nor handoff to a nearby departure. At the point in FSNAV >that you cross the B/D, request lower alt isn't available >any longer. Only Request Higher Alt. Should I get an >automatic step down? In all four of my flights, this phase >of flight was with a Center. How do I keep from crossing my >destination UCF at 8000? you didn't get a step down altitude, because the crossing restriction is 10000, and you were always below that (you were in a jet, right?). you also can't request higher or lower, because you are below the crossing restriction. how long a flight were these? center should give you some instructios about where the field is, and you are supposed to call the field in sight.doug? jump in here...>>3) At a point about 20 miles out and primarily to overcome >the no step down in question #2) I request a visual >approach. Center returns with something like N528FI, >cleared visual approach to the KTVI airport. Cancel IFR >either on the ground or in flight. Change to advisory >frequency approved. >>I then put the advfreq in #1 com, and all I can get is a >wind check. How do I broadcast intentions and position >reports like...Baron N528FI downwind runway 32, KTVI.... or >something like that? Or am I supposed to revert back to the >built-in ATC. there are no intention broadcasts.>>4) is there a way to tie the key commands response (1, 2, 7, >CS / for example)to some kind of speech recognition? How is >that done? I have ATC Simulator with the MS TTS engine as >well as FS. That sim (the ATC) has a functional speech >recognition. If I could respond to ATC through S/R, that >would absolutely be great!!!!!! larry has speech recognition working, as well as many others. search this forum for "speech" or "recognition">>Again, to all the RC Team, Great Job. >>BobL

Hi JD and thanks for the reply:>after the weather briefing, there should be (we tested the hell out >of this), an option to get your clearance on the ground or in the >air.>if the conditions are ifr, you cannot get the clearance in the air, >you have to get it on the ground.>try it again, and let us knowI took some screenshots although I don't know how to get them to position themselves right here........These are, in order, 1) Pre Wx Briefing, 2) Pre Taxi, 3) Pre Takeoff - Step 1, 4) Pre Takeoff - Step 2, and 5) Post Takeoff, Pre Departure >you didn't get a step down altitude, because the crossing >restriction is 10000, and you were always below that (you were in a >jet, right?). you also can't request higher or lower, because you >are below the crossing restriction. how long a flight were these? >center should give you some instructios about where the field is, >and you are supposed to call the field in sight.>doug? jump in here...No, Beech Baron level 5000 in VMC. Total flight was 1.5 hours, circa 220 miles. Departure routing and hand-off to center was as expected. Route was KTVI..GEF.V537.GNV.V157.OCF..X25. Terminal ends were Thomasville, GA and Lake Chalet, FL. Center never called the airport and as I posted, at 20 miles from X25 my anxiety took over and I called for a visual came falling out of 5000, (popping ears the whole way down :) )As for the broadcast intentions and S/R...Thank You. As I don't know where the screensots are going to get put in this post, be sure to find them. BobL

the last screen shot is interesting. if there is a departure controller, it isn't a fully non terminal airport.are you saying there is no request higher altitude menu item, while on center frequency? it should be there.

No, just the opposite but the screenshots were meant to illustrate my inability to get a clearance from FSS. I never get an option to pick it (the clearance) up from FSS. My only choice is to pick it up in-flight from departure/center.In this particular flight, I departed Thomasville, GA which is fully uncontrolled. KTVI is a stone's throw away from Moody AFB, GA. I accepted the default controller load-out in the controller options of RC3 and it loaded departure by itself. At a point, some distance SE of KTVI, I was handed off to JAX center as I would expect to be.Flight progressed normally and I had access to Request Higher and Request Lower but I never got the step down nor was the airport called to me by Center. The B/D came and went and after passing the B/D, the request lower was no longer available. I couldn't ask for a step down nor was I given one automatically. At about 20 miles from the destination UCF (X25), I called for a visual and then came on down but Center never called the airport.BobL

ktvi has a departure controllerif there is a ground, tower, or departure controller, you can't get clearance through fss.maybe try making the weather ifr, and see if that option becomes available.60 miles from your destination (what was your destination?) did center ask you if you had the current weather, and what approach did you want?you may need to get closer than 20 miles, to allow center to bring you in.doug - where are you?

>if there is a ground, tower, or departure controller, you can't get >clearance through fss.Oh-h-h-h, I see ....... Now I got it.>60 miles from your destination (what was your destination?) did >center ask you if you had the current weather, and what approach did >you want?This request never happened although I did get a vector around traffic at about that point (60 miles). And it seemed odd at the time but I dismissed it. I have AIMAPVIEW which is a driver driven utility that runs inside FS and by driver driven, I mean it's installed in the Modules folder and I can get to it from the FS Menu bar. When Center called the traffic, I didn't have a visual (I have the red AI tags turned on - not realistic but I like it....). So I checked AIMAPVIEW. Nothing within sixty miles. That's when I dismissed it as a random generated thing rather than actual AI traffic. I followed the vectors and in a short time, was told Traffic no longer a factor, resume own navigation. I intercepted my flight plan'd course and continued to my destination.From earlier tonight..."Route was KTVI..GEF.V537.GNV.V157.OCF..X25. Terminal ends were Thomasville, GA and Lake Chalet, FL. Center never called the airport and as I posted, at 20 miles from X25 my anxiety took over and I called for a visual and came falling out of 5000, (popping ears the whole way down )"And all though I am focusing on my flight today, my other three flights have done the same thing. And those involved UCF's as well. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong and I sure do appreciate you trying to help. ThanksBobL

vectors for traffic are totally random (too keep you on your toes :-)) and are not a result of any real (ai) traffic being out there. in the real world, you would be vectored for traffic that might be 75 or more miles away

Doug's working mid.

Sorry for the late jump-in. Where have I been? Same place I've been on Fri-Sat-Sun days all my life... 10hr daying FAA'ing ;-).I'll try to address several points from all posts here. John's right respect to your graphics. It appears there's one missing. Wx briefing's correct, but then should come both Clr in Air or Clr through FSS (if VMC). Doesn't matter that KTVI is served by a Dept controller. If there is no CD, Gnd or Tower, it's handled all the same.>>In all four of my flights, ranging 5K to 8K altitude, I didn't get a step down as I approached my UCF destination nor handoff to a nearby departure.<>Center returns with something like N528FI, cleared visual approach to the KTVI airport. Cancel IFR either on the ground or in flight. Change to advisory frequency approved<The B/D came and went and after passing the B/D, the request lower was no longer available.<>you may need to get closer than 20 miles, to allow center to bring you in.<>I'm sure I'm doing something wrong...<>...my anxiety took over...:). I don't suppose you Saved a dat file at say, 70m out? If not, next time do so for "playing around" purposes.

Wow!!! A lot here. I'm still a little confused..>>John's right respect to your graphics. It appears there's one missing. Wx briefing's correct, but then should come both Clr in Air or Clr through FSS (if VMC). Doesn't matter that KTVI is served by a Dept controller. If there is no CD, Gnd or Tower, it's handled all the same.<>Given that X25 is (per the db) fully uncontrolled, you won't be handed off to a departure controller as you near the field. I know what you're saying Bob, that X25 is a satellite airport and certainly does exist under the umbrella of a nearby fully controlled field. However, RC handles this strictly with respect to the db. The db could be in error but of course there's ways around this. You could edit the db (be careful!!, make backups!!), or when you fly again, simply 'check' the Approach box on the Controller Tab for X25.:)>>Center returns with something like N528FI, cleared visual approach to the KTVI airport. Cancel IFR either on the ground or in flight. Change to advisory frequency approved<>The B/D came and went and after passing the B/D, the request lower was no longer available.Don't expect things to happen precisely per what planners show as TC/BD points. Won't happen.<>Under certain circumstances depending on your altitude and type aircraft, once inside 60m from your arrival field (fully uncontrolled, as X25 is), you cannot request lower.<< Could you tell me what those circumstances are? If it's driven by the way I operate the airplane, perhaps I can change my flying technique.>>I'm sure I'm doing something wrong...Probably not Bob, other than >>...my anxiety took over...<< . I don't suppose you Saved a dat file at say, 70m out? If not, next time do so for "playing around" purposes. I probably won't get to fly a real leg until next weekend. RW duties call...How do I save the dat file?Thank You for your helpBobL

>>The screenies are, in sequence the only ones I received.<It sounds like RC Center won't do an enroute step down, there has to be an TRACON for that?<>Please forgive the questions...<>I should be able to do that (request lower) all the way to the point I am cleared for the visual.<>Could you tell me what those circumstances are? If it's driven by the way I operate the airplane, perhaps I can change my flying technique.<>RW duties call...<>How do I save the dat file?<

You may have already stated this, but what type aircraft did you file as? Prop? Tprop? Be sure to file as a prop next time you fly. Makes a definite difference when looking for the Req Lower menu item.

Doug:Check your email. Image of the controller page was too much for the forum.BobL

Prop. Beechcraft Baron BE58.BobL