HOW TO USE THE PUSHBACK AND THE TAXISPEED GAUGES (extract for use intructions ONLY)
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For complete Bob Barendregt readme.txt's see
README Pushback.txt,README Taxispeed.txt,README TaxispeedAdditional.txt
1. Pushback timer/counters, buttons and phases
==============================================
The gauge consists of 6 clickable areas (see also their Tooltips):
- A button, to activate Pushback.
This button has an indicator light, giving the phase of pushback:
- RED: Pushback cannot be activated; set your Parking Brakes first.
- OFF: Click button to activate Pushback procedure.
- Flashing GREEN: Waiting for release of the Parking Brakes,
which starts the Pushback.
- GREEN: Pushing back.
- Flashing YELLOW: Pushback finished, set your Parking Brakes.
- YELLOW: Pushback procedure terminating (lasts about 8 seconds)
- A StraightBack Timer.
This countdown Timer (0 - 99 seconds , the middle two digits) is started
when you release the Parking Brakes and determines how long the aircraft
is pushed straight back before the turn sequence starts.
Click to increment or decrement the value.
- A LeftTurn Counter.
This counter (0 - 90 degrees, the left two digits) determines the angle
of the LeftTurn that you want the aircraft to make.
Click to increment or decrement the value.
So, after Pushback, the new heading of the aircraft equals the original
heading PLUS the value you dialled into this LeftTurn Counter.
- A RightTurn Counter.
Same as the LeftTurn Timer, but in opposite direction.
- A LeftTurn arrow.
Sets the LeftTurn Counter directly to 90 degrees (saves 90 mouse clicks :-),
since the is probably the most used turn angle.
After this, you can adjust the angle again by decrementing the LeftTurn Counter.
- A RightTurn arrow.
See LeftTurn arrow.
A few notes:
1. When Pushback is active (GREEN light), you cannot change the Timer/Counter
values anymore.
2. Obviously, the LeftTurn and RightTurn Counters are mutually exclusive.
If you change one, the other is set to 0.
3. When Pushback is active (GREEN light), you can terminate the Pushback
at anytime by setting the Parking Brakes.
4. After setting up the Timer/Counters, and activating the Pushback by clicking
the button, you can change the view mode at any time.
E.g.: Go to SpotPlane view, release the Parking Brakes and observe
the full Pushback in this view. The Pushback conversation will even be
audible in SpotPlane view mode.
You can even PAUSE FS2002 during the Pushback session.
5. After the StraightBack Timer becomes 0 (so before it makes the actual turn),
the aircraft goes straight back another full length.
This "full length" period depends on the aircraft:
- For a Cessna 172: 4 seconds.
- For a Boeing 747-400: 19 seconds.
6. You can use Pushback either with Engines off, or with engines running.
You can also start your engines during pushback operation.
7. When the Pushback is running and the StraightBack Timer becomes 0, you
can dial in another value in this timer. This causes the aircraft to be
pushed straight back (for the specified time) when the turn is completed.
So, by setting the correct values for StraightBack Timer and Left/RightTurn
Counter, you specify:
- When the aircraft starts to turn.
- How many degrees the aircraft turns, either Left or Right.
- How long the aircraft is pushed back after the turn.
2. Pushback Operation and Ground-Cockpit conversation
=====================================================
- Set the Parking Brakes.
The RED light goes off.
NOTE: the default FS2002 key for Set/Release Parking Brakes is . (PERIOD)
- Set the Center Timer and/or the Left/RightTurn Counter.
- Activate the Pushback procedure by clicking the Pushback button.
The GREEN light starts flashing.
Cockpit: "Ground from cockpit"
Ground: "Go ahead"
Cockpit: "Ready for pushback"
Ground: "OK. Steering pin inserted, release brakes"
- The gauge now waits untill you release the Parking Brakes.
Cockpit: "Brakes are released"
Ground (if engine1 is running): "OK. Pushing back"
Ground (if engine1 NOT running: "OK. Pushing back. All engines cleared for startup"
The following Pushback sequence is performed:
- The light goes solid GREEN.
- If the StraightBack Timer was set, it counts down to 0 while the
aircraft is pushed straight back.
- If the LeftTurn or RightTurn Counter was set, the aircraft is pushed
straight back ANOTHER FULL LENGTH, and then turns the angle dialled
into the Counter.
During the turn the Counter indicates the remaining turn angle, and
therefore counts down to 0.
- After the turn is completed, the aircraft is pushed straight back again
for the new time you dialled into the StraightBack Timer (default: 1 second).
Ground: "Set parking brakes"
- The YELLOW light start flashing.
The gauge waits untill you set the Parking Brakes.
- The light goes solid YELLOW, for about 8 seconds.
Cockpit: "Parking brakes are set. Prepare aircraft for taxi and give
handsignal on left side"
Ground: "OK. Towing system removed. Wait for handsignal on left-hand side"
- Now the pushback is terminated, and the light goes off.
Q1: I click the Pushback button, but nothing happens.
A1: Are the Parking Brakes set ? (the RED light must be off)
Q2: After I release the Parking Brakes, Pushback starts but immediately stops
and the light starts flashing YELLOW.
A2: You didn't set the StraightBack Timer and/or Left/RightTurn Counter, so
the Pushback is immediately finished :-)
Q3: Can I still use the FS2002 keys (SHift-P, 1, 2) for Pushback ?
A3: Yes. But why should you :-)
As long as you don't use them simultaneously with gauge operation,
because they obviously interfere.
Q4: Can I add the Pushback gauge directly in my main panel ?
A4: Yes you can, but I wouldn't advise it; unless you disable the Pushback
conversation sounds.
Reason: when the panel loads, the robsound.gau file is loaded and
immediately monitors the FS2002 MAGNETO controls. Now, upon initial
load of FS2002, or when you load an aircraft with this Pushback gauge
after using an aircraft with MAGNETOs, the MAGNETOs are probably on,
so all the Pushback conversation sounds are played together.
I solved this by resetting all MAGNETO controls when the Pushback Icon
is clicked.
Q5: When I open the Pushback window via menu View-Instrument panel-Pushback
all the Pushbacks sounds are suddenly played.
A5: Use the Pushback Icon to activate the Pushback panel. See also A4.
Q6: I have other problems with the Pushback conversation sounds.
A6: Disable the Pushback conversation sounds. See Section 7.
Q7: Why doesn't the aircraft immediately starts to turn after the StraigtBack
Timer becomes 0 ? This would make the timing easier...
A7: This gauge uses the standard FS2K2 pushback function. Unfortunately the
"go straight back another full length before turning" is part of this function
and can not be avoided in any way I know of (because FS2K2 only supports
a single "TOGGLE_PUSHBACK" function).
If anybody should know a way to get around this, please inform me ....
Q8: I installed the Pushback Icon (The DownArrow) in my panel.cfg, but the Icon
is not visible after I load the aircraft.
A8: Make sure the coordinates 'aaa' and 'bbb' specify a visible place on the
main panel, i.e. on the main panel bitmap, but not covered by another gauge.
See also Section 6: Gauge positioning.
1. Taxispeed gauge indicators
=============================
The gauge consists of 3 areas (see also their Tooltips):
- A button, to activate/deactivate the gauge.
This button has an indicator light, colored:
- RED: Gauge cannot be activated.
The gauge can only be active when:
- The Parking Brakes are released.
- The aircraft is on the ground.
- The sim is not in Slew mode.
- OFF: Click button to activate the gauge.
- GREEN: The gauge is operative.
- The Target Taxispeed (3 - 40 knots, the left two digits). Default: 10 knots.
Click to increment or decrement the value.
You can change the target speed at any time, even if the gauge is operative.
- The Actual Groundspeed (the right two digits)
2. How the gauge works ....
===========================
The gauge operates by setting the throttles to a specific value, according
to the following algoritme:
- If ActualSpeed is smaller then 1 knots:
Throttles are set to 70%
- If ActualSpeed is between 1 knots and (TargetSpeed-2):
Throttles are set to 40%
- If ActualSpeed is between (TargetSpeed-2) and TargetSpeed:
- If ActualSpeed is increasing: Throttles are set to 20%
- If ActualSpeed is decreasing: Throttles are set to 40%
- If ActualSpeed is between TargetSpeed and (TargetSpeed+2):
- If ActualSpeed is increasing: Throttles are set to 0%
- If ActualSpeed is decreasing: Throttles are set to 20%
- If ActualSpeed is greater then (TargetSpeed+2):
Throttles are set to 0%
Obviously such an algoritme is a compromise, influenced by the following factors:
- The weight of the aircraft
- Spoolup/spooldown times of the engine(s).
- Smooth throttle behaviour vs. accurate speed control.
But with this algoritme it should work for any aircraft.
3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
===================================
Q1: Can I use this gauge without having the Pushback gauge installed ?
A1: Yes, you can.
With one exception: for aircraft of which Engine-3 has Magneto's.
Plus: the click-sounds won't work.
You can add the gauge to any panel (either on the main panel window, or as overlay),
but you have to figure out yourself how to place the gauge; the Readme
of the Pushback gauge gives a lot of info on how-to do this.
PLEASE DON'T AS ME FOR SUPPORT IF YOU WANT TO USE IT THIS WAY !!
Q2: When the gauge is active, the Thottle levers on my panel are very 'jumpy' even
when the throttle levers should be steady (ActualSpeed < Targetspeed-2 or
> Targetspeed+2).
A2: This means that the throttle axis of your yoke/joystick 'jitters' a bit, which
makes FS2K2 continously responding to changes of your throttle axis.
Remedy: set the throttles on your controller to 'idle'.
If this doesn't work (then you will also have problems with Reverse Thrusters !):
Create a small deadzone, either by increasing the Nullzone for the Throttle axis
in Options-Controls-Sensitivities or use FSUIPC for this.
I recommend using FSUIPC for controller calibration anyway, since this is IMHO
the ONLY way to accurately calibrate all your controller axis in FS2K2.
You can download FSUIPC (made by Pete Dowson) a.o. from SurClaro and SurClaro.com
Q3: Can I use this gauge to adjust the taxispeed of my AI aircraft ?
A3: No, just for the aircraft YOU are flying.
1. New Functionality
===============
The included XML gauges add some functionality to my Taxispeed and Pushback gauges.
They are three independant switches with indicator lights that perform the following functions:
- AutoTaxiAfterParkingbrake.xml
This switch allows you to arm the Taxispeed control when the Parking Brakes are set.
When you release the Parking Brakes, the Taxispeed control is automatically activated,
thus allowing you to:
- Start taxiing without the panel being visible.
- Automatically start taxiing after a Pushback session (by release the Parking Brakes).
You can arm the Taxispeed control just before or even during Pushback; obviously
it stays armed when you release the Parking Brakes to start pushing back.
- AutoTaxiAfterLanding.xml
This switch allows you to arm the Taxispeed control before landing.
After the aircraft has landed, and the speed has decreased to below 40 Knots:
- The Taxispeed control is activated.
- Spoilers and Flaps (if applicable to your aircraft) are retracted.
- Autobrakes (if used) are set off.
- Reverse Thrusters (if used) are deactivated.
IMPORTANT: if you use Reverse Thrusters driven by a controller axis, make sure
to disengage Reverse Thrust manually since the axis will interfere
with the Taxispeed control. Unfortunately I cannot control your
physical levers from within my gauge :-)
- ParkingBrakeSwitch.xml
This switch shows the position of the Parking Brakes, and lets you (de-)activate them.
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2. Operation of the gauges
==========================
Each switch has an indicator light and can be clicked (see also their Tooltips).
- AutoTaxiAfterParkingbrake.xml (ARM-P)
RED: Gauge can only be activated when the Parking Brakes are set AND the
aircraft is on the ground.
OFF: Click to arm the Taxispeed control.
GREEN: The Taxispeed control is armed. Click to disarm.
- AutoTaxiAfterLanding.xml (ARM-L)
RED: Gauge can only be activated when the aircraft is in the air.
OFF: Click to arm the Taxispeed control.
GREEN: The Taxispeed control is armed. Click to disarm.
- ParkingBrakeSwitch.xml (PARK)
OFF: Parking Brakes are released. Click to set.
GREEN: Parking Brakes are set. Click to release.
3. TIP
======
You can make rapid changes on the dials of the Pushback and Taxispeed gauges
if you have a mouse with scrollwheel. Just position the cursor on the dial,
and scoll the wheel. Beats clicking for large changes :-)
Copyrights and Disclaimer
============================
These gauges are freeware, and available for your personal use.
They may NOT be sold, re-distributed, or (re-)uploaded to another website
(in ANY shape or form) without my explicite, written permission.
If you want to bundle these gauges with your (freeware !!) panel, you
may do so AFTER my written permission, provided you include this
README file AS-IS, without modification.
And obviously, installing & using these gauges is at your own risk !!
I hope you enjoy using these gauges.
And I'm always open to questions, or suggestions for improvement.
(no guarantee that I will make them though).
But PLEASE, before asking me questions, make sure that the answer can not
be found in this Readme file.
These switches are the last ones in my series of 'ground-handling' gauges.
I'm moving on to something new :-)
Rob Barendregt, The Netherlands
Email: rc.barendregt@planet.nl
