DLH560

Hi, Yes I am very sure. I have the NavDataPro AIRAC cycle 1301 installed. I use the data set for PMDG and AivlaSoft's EFB. Since I performed more than 50 test flights during for testing the scenery development stages I can assure that it is really there (all tests with PMDG B744). A chart for the airport comes with the scenery and is also available on my website. To immediately display the ground chart you may click here: HCMM Chart In real world there presently is no current AIP of Somalia but THY for example is flying to HCMM three times a week. Flying to central or East African destinations is something different from flying in Europe, America or Australia. The infra structure is poor if even existing. SIDs and STARs are not defined, ILS - what is this?. But this is what makes flying there insteresting: Good pilot skills are required! The scenery comes with the real world APAPI. Landing is a real manual thing! As an alternative method - if FMS data is missing - it can be added manually following this easy instruction (PMDG): HCMM FMS data fix instruction But again: NavDataPro (AIRAC cycle 1301) does contain the correct HCMM data. If you look for files - please be aware that runway data only is existing - just like in real world. There are no SIDs and STARs. The runway looks like the real world one. You miss a taxiline or certain markers - yes - simply because they are not there in real world. Please do not hesitate to compare the latest real world google earth photo with the scenery screen shots above the airport data section: HCMM Airport Facts Regards, Marc Westhofen

I received a mail by Navigraph as a reaction on my last thread (see above) which further explaines the beta testing. This brought to light that I misunderstood the terms of testing and I therefore want to point out that the selected users who are invited to participate in the beta testing DO NOT HAVE TO PAY for that. I admit to be disappointed looking back at the past 7 months of Navigraph's customer support that I requested for but I do not intend to be unfair by deviating from facts. I apologize for doing so in my last thread. However: It is a proven fact that HCMM FMS data was missing in the Navigraph data base (verified for PMDG data set) since AIRAC cycle 1205. I did not check if it is contained in Navigraph's 1301 cycle because I moved over to Aerosoft's NavDatPro which comes with all HCMM data. Regards, Marc Westhofen

Hi, Well, Somalia still is in deep trouble although much has changed since the war time of the early 1990s. The Mogadishu airport presently is managed by Skylink Arabia (SKA) on behalf of the Somali ministry of transportation. The Turkish government is pumping money into Somalia - especially into Mogadishu. Based on Turkish money there now is a full airport security system established - from guards to x-ray machines and fences. In November 2011 an APAPI system was implemented by the UN which is in use. Up to now there are no further navigational approach aids available. The latest available pieces of Somali AIP are from 1981 to 1986 - which definetely are way outdated. However: Turkish Airlines is flying from Instanbul to Mogadishu several times a week - even using Airbus A340! Concerning the Navigraph data there is a sad story behind it: http://forum.navigra...?g=posts&t=3325 This is why I moved over to Aerosoft NavDataPro - it contains all HCMM data. However: I received an e-mail by Navigraph after posting the last thread (see link above) informing me about an ongoing beta test of a new software and new data source for Navigraph. I will not participate in this test since they want me to pay for testing their software (30% discount for FMS data in January only as an appreciation of participation in their beta test). Additionally to the Mogadishu X3 scenery you'll also find an FMS data fix for Navigraph to make use of HCMM again: http://www.bleedair....dishu-x/76.html Regards, Marc Westhofen

Hello,Yes, I know this feature is implemented into Vroute as well, but I thought it might be interesting to also have a no cost free version which is absolutely independent from any flight plan source.RegardsMarc Westhofen

Hi Mark,Your repaint work looks absolutely beautiful! You made me nosy about the night textures!Here are some real photos I found:Comparing your repaints to the photos - well done!RegardsMarc Westhofen

Hello,I thought SIM pilots of the PMDG B744 might be interested in easily creating their own company routes. Therefore I have created and implemented an online tool to my homepage everybody may use free of charge and without any need for registration or software installation:Company Route GeneratorIf you click on the FAQ on top of the page you'll also find a video tutorial explaining the use of the tool.Using the Company Route Generator you simply need to enter departure and destination airport, a flight plan you can grab on i.e. VATroute or other pages and a valid runway at departure and destination airport. A single click on "Generate" will initiate the download of the company route file already showing the respective company route file name.I.e.: A route from EDDF to EGLL will lead to the file name "EDDFEGLL.rt2". To use it on the PMDG B744 FMC the file simply has to be copied or moved to the respective PMDG folder. To load the route out of the FMC, you only need to enter the company route's name - in the given example it would be "EDDFEGLL". then click "activate" and "EXEC" and you're done.Since I only have the PMDG B744 I was only able to test it on the FSX version of PMDG B744 and B748. I'd like to know if it also works on other PMDG aircraft like the MD11.Please let me know about your experiences.Best regardsMarc Westhofen

Hi Dave,The PMDG B744 works perfect under FSX - even using Windows 7 64bit.I did not recognize any limitations or problems at all yet (using it for about a year by now).To get some impressions you may have a look at my homepage to see a video tutorial I picked up at YouTube demonstrating the use of the Queen of Sky (FSX version).The tutorial explains in nine parts a complete flight including preparation and the use of the FMC with all relevant information.Kind regards,Marc Westhofen

Hi,VROUTE indeed is a very powerful tool but be careful before filing a flight plan to VATSIM:I've made experiences of missing navpoints in the data bsase of the FMC (using latest airac cycle). This may lead to incomplete routings when loading a company route because the FMC will ignore the rest of a route when a nav point or airway is not known in the data base. Therefore you may carefully check these company routes leg by leg when loaded to the FMC.I do not use any program to generate company routes anymore to avoid these problems but program company routes (~.rt2 files) manually.If you like you may download carefully checked and tested company routes from my homepage. All company routes come with the respective flight plan ready to file on VATSIM (copy and paste) including matching flight levels. All company routes are based on VATroute which are also done by experts and have been proven to be realistic.Since you asked for company routes generated by the default FSX flight planner that is included into FSX, you may also try the tool PLN2RTE. This tool generates company routes directly from FSX flight plans but many of them do not really work on the PMDG B744. However, if you want to make use of FSX' synthetic ATC, you need to make sure that the company routes fit exactly to the FSX flight plans to avoid permanent permanent commands to correct the course.However: FSX' synthetic ATC is nice to run the GAME offline but is far away from reality. Online communities like IVAO or VATSIM are as close to reality as a PC based simulation can be.Best regards,Marc Westhofen

Thank you for the link, Stefan."The outcome of that survey showed that the average weight of passengers travelling on the larger Part 121 aeroplanes was 85 kg. As the weight of the general population increases, the number of passengers that can be carried safely may reduce."This is very interesting since the ongoing trend to increase number of seats for commercial flights is not about to end. Lufthansa just stated to increase number of passenger seats step by step to face companies like Ryan Air, Easy Jet and other providers of cheap flights. IMHO people are not just getting more and more fat but also growing more and more in height. The number of men being more than 6ft tall was growing over the past decades. Good luck for taking a seat! But the good thing is that noise inside the cabin won't be a subject of future interest whilst passengers protect their ears by their knees... :( Sorry for drifting off topic: PMDG B744 issues.Best regards,Marc Westhofen

Hi Stefan,Are there any statistc data list of average PAX weights out there on the internet? I agree with you that 82kg should be an average of a very healthy nation - although there are many women far below 60kg out there.Do Sumo Wrestlers have to book cargo flights for traveling? :( Best regards,Marc Westhofen

Thank you, Brian. I try to do my very best. :( Best regards,Marc Westhofen

Hi Geoff,I have taken the flightplans from VATroute and double checked each leg on the B744 FMC accordingly. I have tested many of the company routes by flying at VATSIM - they fit exactly. The runway setups for takeoff and landing are taken from real life aerodrome charts and were chosen with preference of runway dimensions (most suitable), ILS CAT II or CAT III support and initial inflight heading. If wind direction fits the preset runways may actually fit without need for change.I hope you like the little service and everyone is kindly invited to post requests for company routes of personal desire to the guestbook of my page. I will try to provide routes according requests as soon as possible.Limitations:Routes across the atlantic ocean are subject to constant change acccording the NAT system procedure and do not make any sense as a static route for download. Additionally I need to underline the fact that the database of the FMC is not complete although covering ten thousands of airways and nav points. If I don't make it to design a company route because of missing FMC data, I may need to refuse appropriate service for respective route requests. If this occurs I will leave a comment right below the respective request post at the guestbook. If requested routes exceed maximum range of B744 because of maximum fuel capacity or are not available at VATroute or sim-route.com I may need to refuse service as well. I will not provide VFR routes as this is beyond any real B744 navigation.Remark:All routes will include a return ticket which means that all requests will be provided bi-directional.Best regards,Marc Westhofen

Hi,there is a solution to enable animations of the FSX default luggage vehicles for the PMDG B744 PAX version.Please have a look at my private homepage for instructions:Best regards,Marc Westhofen

Hi michaelohalloran,The CO-ROUTES are to be found at "...\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\PMDG\FLIGHTPLANS". The files are either of "~.rte" or "~.rt2" type. To load a company route simply type the respective file name without the file extension into the appropriate field of the FMC.Sometimes the routes provided by FS Build won't run on PMDG's B744.Therefore I have started to work out company route files manually on my own. You may have a look at my private homepage for a continuously rising number of company routes and respective flightplans for PMDG's B744:All flightplans and respective company routes are well tested and proven to work fine on PMDG's B744.The flightplans given with the company routes are ready to be filed on VATSIM as they are and fit exactly to the routes you'll load to your FMC.Best regards,Marc Westhofen