Hi,I'm considering getting RC as the default FS ATC is pretty poor at times which you all are obviously aware of.A good sign for RC is that it has an active support forum with frequent input from the developer. You have no idea how much better that makes me feel about buying a piece of software! (Other developers take note.)Anyway, I'm interested in how RC will work with my specific FS habits.I have only got FS2004 fairly recently and almost exclusively fly the Majestic Dash-8 payware version. Those who are familiar with this version of the Dash 8 will know that it puts a lot of emphasis on realism, sometimes to the detriment of practical flight simming. As an example, hitting "B" does not set the altimeters, you have to set all three yourself. Then even when you have done this, the pilot voice, when talking to controllers, seems to have the impression that 1013/29.92 is still set even when it is not. He will say "Brisbane Centre, de Havilland ZZN passing 2500' on climb to 3000'" when in actual fact I am cruising at 3000' (the ATC seem to know I'm at the right altitude, they don't tell me to expedite climb or anything.)Has anyone here used the Mejestic Dash 8? Have you noticed any glitches with how RC interprets the aircraft altitude?Also, as it is not a default FS2004 aircraft, will the RC co-pilot operate the radios correctly when required? Will he be able to fly the aircraft?How do the RC controllers cope with operations around mountainous airports compared to the FS2004 ATC? An example of how the FS ATC is poor is when flying into Queenstown, New Zealand (which has no ILS,) I will be given several altitude changes (both down and up) within a short period of time. Is RC a bit more intelligent in this respect?Finally, the FS ATC is very good at handing you off to alternate frequencies when normally this wouldn't happen. For example, flying Dunedin to Queenstown I get handed off from Dunedin Approach to NZ Centre back to Dunedin Approach and back to NZ Centre, sometimes several times. How does RC handle situations like this?- Jon

>Hi,>>I'm considering getting RC as the default FS ATC is pretty>poor at times which you all are obviously aware of.>>A good sign for RC is that it has an active support forum with>frequent input from the developer. You have no idea how much>better that makes me feel about buying a piece of software!>(Other developers take note.)>>Anyway, I'm interested in how RC will work with my specific FS>habits.>>I have only got FS2004 fairly recently and almost exclusively>fly the Majestic Dash-8 payware version. Those who are>familiar with this version of the Dash 8 will know that it>puts a lot of emphasis on realism, sometimes to the detriment>of practical flight simming. As an example, hitting "B" does>not set the altimeters, you have to set all three yourself.>Then even when you have done this, the pilot voice, when>talking to controllers, seems to have the impression that>1013/29.92 is still set even when it is not. He will say>"Brisbane Centre, de Havilland ZZN passing 2500' on climb to>3000'" when in actual fact I am cruising at 3000' (the ATC>seem to know I'm at the right altitude, they don't tell me to>expedite climb or anything.)>>Has anyone here used the Mejestic Dash 8? Have you noticed any>glitches with how RC interprets the aircraft altitude?>>Also, as it is not a default FS2004 aircraft, will the RC>co-pilot operate the radios correctly when required? Will he>be able to fly the aircraft?should be able to handle the radios. probably will not be able to fly the plane, unless the plane uses the ms autopilot controls>>How do the RC controllers cope with operations around>mountainous airports compared to the FS2004 ATC? An example of>how the FS ATC is poor is when flying into Queenstown, New>Zealand (which has no ILS,) I will be given several altitude>changes (both down and up) within a short period of time. Is>RC a bit more intelligent in this respect?turn on departure and/or arrival notams and all altitude changes will be prefaced with "when feasible"you will not be told to descend, and then climb and then descend>>Finally, the FS ATC is very good at handing you off to>alternate frequencies when normally this wouldn't happen. For>example, flying Dunedin to Queenstown I get handed off from>Dunedin Approach to NZ Centre back to Dunedin Approach and>back to NZ Centre, sometimes several times. How does RC handle>situations like this?if you fly through several sectors, with different frequencies, you will be switched. your flights may be like that, some will not. hard to say>>- Jon

The standard FS B key is only good for the areas where the transition altitude is 18,000 feet such as in the U.S. RC respects the local transition levels and if it incorrect you can set them in the trip "controller" page before you start RC into the flight. You will have to set your altimeter pressure manually as you climb or descend through the TA/TL. If you get a climb to a flight level you set the altimeters to standard pressure. If you get a descent to an altitude said in feet, then you set local pressure which will be given in inches or millibars as appropriate to the area. You can also opt for a copilot announce when passing through a TA/TL that says "altimeter check".

>if you fly through several sectors, with different>frequencies, you will be switched. your flights may be like>that, some will not. hard to sayIn the situation I described the handoffs happen immediately.E.g.,"de Havilland ZZN contact NZ Centre on 123.4""123.4 ZZN""NZ Centre, ZZN passing 3000 climbing to FL170""ZZN contact Dunedin Approach...""Er, ok, I was just talking to them""Dunedin Approach, ZZN passing 3400 climbing to FL170""ZZN contact NZ Centre..."It seemed that I was right on the border of a couple of frequencies. Will this sometimes happen with RC?With the altitude in the Majestic Dash 8, it's actually a Majestic problem. What happens is that all three altimeters are set correctly according to the QNH given by the controllers and whether we're above or below transition. The controllers seem to see the aeroplane flying at the correct altitude, but the FS pilot voice who does the radios for me thinks we're still on 1013. My concern is that the RC controllers may get the same information as my Dash 8 pilot voice and think I'm at the wrong altitude when I'm not.Anyway, I shall get the program and see how it goes.Thanks,Jon