| Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations |
Radar Contact Ver. 4 |
DVA2411
First Officer, B777-200
Joined on June 22 2005
Everett 250 Club
Eurocap Club
Six Century Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
"Semper Volans"
Clayton, NC
677 legs, 1,841.6 hours
92 legs,
203.6 hours online
605 legs,
1,686.9 hours ACARS
6 legs,
22.7 hours event
|
Posted onPost created on
March 28 2006 18:37 ET by John Richardson
|
Hello all;
I was wondering if anyone has used Radar Contact yet- There was a good write-up in Computer Pilot magazine so I went haead and bought it. I will install it tonight and use it over the next few days and submit a personal review if anyone is iterested. If you don't know what it is, it is a ATC app for non-online flying. If you're hard core about FCC rules and the complexity, it might be something you want to look at. It takes VATSIM and the realism and allows you to fly using the same rules if you are unable to get online or simply want to fly at odd hours when VATSIM is a bit empty.
Vegasjon
DVA2411
John RichardsonFirst Officer, B777-200
|
|
DVA1320
Senior Captain, B777-200
COMM
Joined on August 29 2003
Online Six Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Everett Millennium Club
Flying Colonel
Three Million Mile Club
Arlington, VA USA
1,752 legs, 7,042.0 hours
610 legs,
2,627.6 hours online
272 legs,
966.9 hours ACARS
5 legs,
12.2 hours event
|
Posted onPost created on
March 29 2006 05:57 ET by Daniel Ward
|
| Let us know what you think of it.
|
DVA1427
Senior Captain, MD-11
OLP
Joined on December 14 2003
Online Double Century Club
50 State Club
Tri-Jet Triumph
Globetrotter
Moose Club
US Capital Club
Everett 250 Club
Quincentenary Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
"Livin' in the Dog Pound!"
Kannapolis, NC
558 legs, 1,984.3 hours
250 legs,
611.8 hours online
384 legs,
1,530.5 hours ACARS
38 legs,
82.7 hours event
|
Posted onPost created on
March 29 2006 07:49 ET by Lewis Gregory
|
I've seen a lot of good responses about it on AVSIM. I tried RC v3 and ended up ditching it fairly quickly because I discovered VATSIM, and because I just couldn't get over the s...l...o...w electronic voice they were using in the older version. By the time it'd finish reading me an instruction, I'd have already completed it and be waiting on the next vector.
PS: Dan, congrats on #500!
Lewis GregorySenior Captain, MD-11
|
|
DVA1909
Captain, B757-200
Joined on September 18 2004
Century Club
"Ang!"
Lakewood, CA
167 legs, 500.3 hours
3 legs,
5.8 hours online
104 legs,
337.5 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
March 29 2006 08:05 ET by Colin Stave
|
I got it a month or two ago and have enjoyed it quite a bit. It is light years better than the FS ATC (though the speech is not as smooth when long strings of individual wavs are used). There are still some things that bother me a bit. FS ATC would tell you to descend and didn't really care if you actually got down fast enough to land, which was quite frustrating. On the opposite end, RC4 is a bit too strict in my opinion. Of course we should always aim to make assigned crossing restrictions, but I don't think a real ATC would bite your head off for missing it by a quarter mile, crossing your restriction waypoint at all of 400 feet too high.
Another is that on ILS it vectors you a bit too straight in and from a bit too far away. It will have you turn to intercept at a relatively similar angle to the runway and you'll be so far out that the glideslope doesn't even show up on your instruments yet. I discovered the hard way that engaging the "apr" on the auto pilot before the glideslope is in range causes the plane to pick whichever descent rate it likes and starts down well below the glideslope. Just the same, if I wait until the glideslope does show up I've missed the intercept so I have to do that manually for a few miles until the entire ILS is engaged. This is frustrating because if there's any time I really prefer to have the a/p on it's there so I can take some time to finish slowing and extending the flaps and gear while setting up for a rejected landing.
The control on the ground is a bit more realistic but isn't quite as comprehensive. It doesn't seem to care about runway crossings or giving way to other aircraft on taxi. They also advertise that you can pre-select your arrival gate. This was a bit underwhelming when I discovered that all this meant that ATC would say "Taxi to gate A13" without really caring where A13 is or if it is occupied. I suppose it's just not possible to manipulate the AI to ensure that my selected gate is clear.
I really like that you can preselect your runways and the pilot (or copilot if he is on com) automatically asks for it when contacting ground or approach. The down side of that is that the ATC will grant your request even if the AI hasn't yet picked up on the winds and might still be running in the opposite direction.
Other Pros:
1. It actually gives you an altimeter setting when descending you below transition BEFORE you actually get there. It also gives any necessary changes as they are needed.
2. You can preset up to 2 alternate airports so you don't have to page through so many options if you need to divert.
3. A full range of emergency options.
4. A much more interesting variety of voices.
5. A smart co pilot which can take the radios and/or the plane and follow the flightplan and instructions from ATC for most of the flight. This way you can step away more realistically even than with VATSIM (unless you actually have a copilot in the house) so you don't have to ask ATC to treat your plane like a scud missle while you're in the can.
6. An Autopause feature that will pause the simulator at x miles away from the destination airport (Oh the number of flights that have crashed because I left them running while I go out to class or dinner or whatever and take twice as long as I thought I would.)
One beef a lot of people seem to have is with the registration process. It is one of the few FS addons that you cannot download, yet when you get it and install it, you are required to email the company for a registration key. So after waiting for it to be shipped (free and 1st class, so it's not too bad) and finally getting it installed, now you have to wait as much as 24 more hours to even use the program you are holding in your hand! I think one of these two anti-theft measures could be done away with.
All in all, I think it was a good investment either as an alternative for VATSIM or a temporary replacement duing low traffic hours. It sure beats the pants off of the default FS ATC.
|
DVA1267
Senior Captain, B777-200
Joined on July 09 2003
Triple Century Club
"Tactless, Understood, Right"
Colorado Springs, CO USA
368 legs, 1,943.8 hours
47 legs,
192.9 hours online
54 legs,
217.2 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
March 29 2006 11:23 ET by Matt Reamy
|
>I don't think a real ATC would bite your head off for missing it by a quarter mile, crossing your restriction waypoint at all of 400 feet too high. <
Don't be too sure. When they say cross XYZ at 11000, it's not really optional. They may not actually bite your head off (I have no experience with this either way, real world or RC), but when given a crossing restriction, I make sure to cross AT that altitude (and speed if given a speed restriction too).
I have a friend who works ATC, I'll ask him when I see him next.
|
DVA1909
Captain, B757-200
Joined on September 18 2004
Century Club
"Ang!"
Lakewood, CA
167 legs, 500.3 hours
3 legs,
5.8 hours online
104 legs,
337.5 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
March 29 2006 15:53 ET by Colin Stave
|
Let me give you an example. I was on my way down and I came up barely short on the crossing. My auto pilot was already slowing the rate of descent and leveling off and RC4 gave me a diversion vector to lengthen my approach (I'll admit it's great that they do this if you really do come in too high), sending me in the exact opposite direction I should have been turning. Five seconds later I was already at the requested altitude before I could even begin the turn. I guess I'm saying that it was close enough, I figure a controller would give you the benefit of the doubt given the slight variations with the altimeter and such, not to mention any plane that would have been in conflict with me at that time would be way too close anyway.
|
DVA2370
Senior Captain, B737-800
OLP, COMM, VFRADV
Joined on May 26 2005
Online Triple Century Club
Commuter Conquest
Six Century Club
Stage 1 Prop Triple Century Club
50 State Club
US Coastal Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
Flagler Beach, FL USA
675 legs, 726.8 hours
319 legs,
311.4 hours online
179 legs,
146.1 hours ACARS
1 legs,
1.6 hours event
0 legs dispatched, 4.0
hours
|
Posted onPost created on
April 01 2006 23:22 ET by Scott Clarke
|
As Matt says "real world" in heavy IFR, at a major airport or busy center, they expect you to be able to do it by the book. That is what you are tested for in you BFR and/or IFR review. Depending on what is happening on the scopes, the controller "might" cut you a little slack if he can, but.......I have heard many times a frustrated controller trying to get a pilot who is not up to speed to comply with his requests. It not only slows down the system, but can back up the rest of us behind who are trying to get to the same place when it is our turn....
|
DVA2253
Senior Captain, DC-8-61
COMM
Joined on April 01 2005
Everett 250 Club
Online Century Club
Eight Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"I'd rather be flying!"
Church Hill, TN USA
862 legs, 1,344.5 hours
108 legs,
165.2 hours online
299 legs,
485.1 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
April 01 2006 23:40 ET by George Lewis
|
Scott's got it right - a Commercial certified pilot should be able to hit it on the numbers... it's taken for granted that you can hit 11000' no problem, assuming you have the proper altimeter setting.
|
DVA2370
Senior Captain, B737-800
OLP, COMM, VFRADV
Joined on May 26 2005
Online Triple Century Club
Commuter Conquest
Six Century Club
Stage 1 Prop Triple Century Club
50 State Club
US Coastal Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
Flagler Beach, FL USA
675 legs, 726.8 hours
319 legs,
311.4 hours online
179 legs,
146.1 hours ACARS
1 legs,
1.6 hours event
0 legs dispatched, 4.0
hours
|
Posted onPost created on
April 01 2006 23:51 ET by Scott Clarke
|
George, I want to personally go on record for a big "Thanks" for trying to expose all of us to the "real world" of ATC, IFR Flying, rules and regs and doing it by the book. I look forward to be able to sign up for the PPC and go thru the training. I just need to go to Staples and buy some more paper for the printer.
Many of the virtual pilots will learn to the enjoy the "hobby" or lifestyle some of us have been blessed to be able to do and go on to fulfill their dream.....As a Vatsim controller and real world commercial Inst rated pilot, I commend the standard that you have established for all of us to follow..It will only make us all better pilots regardless of the enviroment we are in, virtual or real world ....
|
DVA1267
Senior Captain, B777-200
Joined on July 09 2003
Triple Century Club
"Tactless, Understood, Right"
Colorado Springs, CO USA
368 legs, 1,943.8 hours
47 legs,
192.9 hours online
54 legs,
217.2 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
April 02 2006 21:57 ET by Matt Reamy
|
I talked to my friend that is ATC and he told me that the pilot's expected to hit the numbers. Whether or not they'll get angry with you if you don't is unanswerable, considering it's up to the specific controller. Short answer: hit the crossing restrictions on the numbers.
|
