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Quick 'n' Dirty Get Started Guide
Considering that the order in which things are done can effect your successful use of AACars, we thought it best to put together this step-by-step guide describing the best method of getting in the air using it. For our purposes here, we will assume that you've successfully installed the program and are using all available realism options, and that you are starting a new session from a blank desktop (Flight Simulator is not running).
These Screen Caps were taken from an older version of AACars, however the steps remain the same.
Step One: Log In
This may seem straight forward, and for all intents and purposes, it is. The first thing you will see when you start AACars is the logon screen:
Simply enter your pilotID and your password, and press Logon. The program will then connect to the website to get your data.
If you are a new pilot, and wish to sign on with Atlantic Skies, click the New Pilot button and fill in the form that will appear. When you've done that, you will be dropped back at the logon screen with your pilotID and password all ready entered.
Step Two: The Flight Dispatch
Press the Print button. Now.
It will print out onto half a page of standard paper, letting you use one sheet for four flights. By printing your flight dispatch, you don't have to go back to AACars while setting up your flight to get some neccessary piece of information you may have forgotten. It's all right there in front of you.
Now is the time to change any options if you like. If you are a new pilot, you will have to since by default all options are turned off for you. Go into Tools/Options to do this before you do anything else.
Important: If you are using a dial-up internet connection, and don't plan to remain connected during your flight, disconnect now.
Step Three: Continue (The Flight Status Screen)
It may seem silly, but pressing the Continue button before starting Flight Simulator is critical, most especially if you're using the Weight/Balance realism option. AACars needs to rewrite the aircraft.cfg file of the Atlantic Skies aircraft scheduled for your flight in order to give you a realistic passenger/cargo loadout and spread. If you have Flight Simulator all ready running in the background, and your aircraft is all ready sitting at the gate, then the rewritten aircraft.cfg will not be loaded properly.
There are ways to have it reload the aircraft.cfg should this happen, but this guide is meant only to provide a simple step-by-step cookbook method to getting in the air.
When you press the Continue button this is what you will see:
A blank Flight Status screen in the right side panel.
Step Four: Start Flight Simulator
Start Flight Simulator at this point, and set yourself up as follows:
- In the proper aircraft, with your engines shut down and parking brake set
- At the proper airport
- At an appropriate gate at the proper airport
- At the correct time (assumes you're using the boarding simulation option - see below)
- Less than 100 PAX, 10 - 15 minutes prior to departure time
- 100 - 200 PAX, 15 - 20 minutes prior to departure time
- 200 - 300 PAX, 20 - 30 minutes prior to departure time
- Greater than 300 PAX, greater than 35 minutes prior to departure time
You can get your passenger count by referring to the Flight Dispatch you printed off in Step Two. Told you it would come in handy.
Step Five: Pause Flight Simulator
This just makes life easier all around, and keeps you from going over your minimum time before AACars has a chance to properly connect.
Step Six: Connect
Go back to AACars and press the Connect button under the blank Flight Status screen.
AACars will then initialize it's connection to Flight Simulator and gather some neccessary information from it. Again, assuming all realism options are being used, you'll then see the Boarding Screen (This image is an old cap, there have been changes made, but it gives you an idea of what to look for):
Step Seven: Unpause Flight Simulator
Go back to Flight Simulator and unpause it to allow AACars to do it's thing.
At this point, while your aircraft is being loaded, you can set whatever weather options you want (if you haven't all ready), do your flight planning (using the Flight Dispatch you printed off in Step Two), and get whatever ATC clearances you need.
During this phase, AACars will display both a numerical and graphical representation of it's loading status:
You should not have to do anything else with AACars at this point, and can safely minimize it until the completion of your flight. It will tell you with a message at the top of your windscreen in Flight Simulator when you are safe to start your engines and continue on.
Important: If you start your engines and release the parking brake before you get the message that you can start your engines, AACars will sense that you have left the gate before boarding has been completed, and will exit. You will have to start again from the top. There will be other messages during this phase, specifically when the passengers have all been boarded, when the fuel has all been pumped in, and when the cargo has been secured. Do not mistake one of these for the final message, which will specifically tell you it is safe to start your engines.
Step Eight: Fly Your Assignment
Taxi to the active, take off, and fly your flight. If required, you may pause Flight Simulator at any time and for any length of time without adversely affecting AACars or the internal timer it uses to track your cockpit time (it will pause, as well).
Step Nine: Arrival
Once you've landed at your destination airport, taxi to the gate and do the following:
- Set your parking brake (I use the keyboard command CTRL+. -- that's the period key, by the way)
- Shut down your engines by cutting fuel (I use the keyboard command CTRL+SHIFT+F1)
I have never had a problem doing it in this order and by using these keyboard commands. Some people have reported difficulties getting AACars to properly recognize that your flight is finished, and we think this is a result of using different methods to shut down the engines, but we're still not sure.
At this point I will often switch back to AACars to be sure it's recognized my arrival before I close Flight Simulator.
Step Ten: Continue
Assuming all went well and AACars has picked up that you've set the parking brake and shut down your engine, you will see this screen (note the Continue button on the left will be active and other data will be properly filled in.):
There is one condition that will have AACars pop up a dialog box asking if you have landed at your scheduled destination, and that is if it detects you've landed somewhere other than your scheduled destination airport. The program searches through a list of airports and compares the distance between your aircraft and the listed position of these airports in order to determine where you are. The one with the shortest distance is the winner, but there are times, especially if there are a number of airports in a certain radius all around the same altitude ASL, when it can be spoofed. If you have landed at the proper airport, select Yes and AACars will simply replace the wrong airport with the scheduled airport in the box labled ARR ICAO, and all will be well. If for some reason you did not land at your scheduled destination (it can happen), you will have to contact management to explain why.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR DIAL-UP USERS: Connect to the internet now. AACars 3.11 needs to be able to poll the corporate website for a selection of flights you will be given to choose from for your next assignment.
Press the Continue button.
Step Eleven: Choose Your Next Assignment
The following screen will display all available flights given your current location and any CAT restrictions you have based on your total logged hours (including those you just completed -- screen cap not currently available):
Pick one you like by highlighting it in the Departure Board, and the press the Confirm button:
Step Twelve: Transmit PIREP
At this point AACars has all the data it needs to complete the PIREP and send it to the website in order to update your pilot record and add this entry to your pilot logbook. When you've chosen a new assignment you will be placed back at the Flight Status screen, but the Continue button on the left will have been replaced by a button labled Transmit PIREP:
At this point it behooves you to go over your report one more time to be sure all is correct. The boxes in white are those that you can manually edit should you wish, and although it's not required, it's always nice for everyone else if you write a short and interesting account of the flight in the Pilot's Comments box.
When you're satisfied, press the Transmit PIREP button. AACars will take a few moments to communicate with the website and receive proper confirmation in return before telling you that your report has been successfully transmitted.
Step Thirteen: Relax
You've completed another successful flight for Atlantic Skies, and we are grateful. Now, go pour yourself your favorite beverage and enjoy the satisfaction that comes from a job well done!
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