Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | PC Support |
Autopilot and other instruments out! Newbie. |
DVA2588
Captain, MD-88
Joined on October 02 2005
"Hey! Watch this..." Midwestern United States
33 legs, 51.5 hours
29 legs,
44.5 hours online
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Posted onPost created on
October 05 2005 10:26 ET by Danny Tanner
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Ok, this is what I get for pushing buttons I'm sure of it. But, I have lost the autopilot in most of my planes; not all, but most. I was monkeying around with PMDG737 and I somehow got it where the autopilot on the dash shows nothing now. Well this in turn messed up other planes since I guess it defaults whatever I turned off. So for now I'm limited to very few aircraft until this is resolved. Someone please help...not that I don't like the EMB120, but um...we have limited flights with it.
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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
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Posted onPost created on
October 05 2005 11:01 ET by George Lewis
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When you saying monkeying around do you mean in the cockpit or in windows, i.e. config files, etc?
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DVA2588
Captain, MD-88
Joined on October 02 2005
"Hey! Watch this..." Midwestern United States
33 legs, 51.5 hours
29 legs,
44.5 hours online
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Posted onPost created on
October 05 2005 11:21 ET by Danny Tanner
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I fixed it and I'm way too imbarrassed to tell you how! Thank you for taking an interest in helping Captain, I'm sure I'll have more soon enough!
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DVA1855
Senior Captain, B777-200
OLP
Joined on August 28 2004
50 State Club
Everett 250 Club
Kangaroo Club
Online Century Club
Quatercentenary Club
DVA Fleet Master
"Life Begins @ Vmc Life Ends @ Vne+1" Philadelphia, PA
436 legs, 1,824.8 hours
113 legs,
445.8 hours online 297 legs,
1,208.2 hours ACARS 9 legs,
47.9 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 05 2005 11:21 ET by Andrew Rogers
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If you were pushing buttons in the cockpit check your Avionics master switch
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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
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Posted onPost created on
October 07 2005 11:32 ET by Matt Reamy
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Come on, Danny, we've all had those red-faced moments. Spill it, what was the problem? Did you turn off the avionics like Andrew suggested.
Just so you know I'm not lying about having one of those "Slap the forehead and call me stupid" moments, here's mine:
I was flying from KDEN to KATL, FL390. I was in KC Center's airspace, and had just made a report regarding some turbulence. I typed a couple of messages, one right after the other. Then, I notice my airspeed dropping slowly. I looked over my panel and everything seemed okay, so I kept an eye on the airspeed... still dropping.
"KC Center, DVA1267 requests FL370, I'm experiencing a drop in airspeed."
"DVA1267, Rgr, d/m 370."
Down, I go. The airspeed climbs back to where I have it set. As soon as I level off, it begins to slowly slide down again. Hmmm, this isn't good. So I take another, closer look at my panel. Ah HA! The gear is down! I raise my gear, and the airspeed returns to the A/T setting.
What happened?
I didn't realize that when you sent a message on SB2, FS becomes the primary window again. In my second message, I had lowered the gear unknowingly. ARGH. I, red faced, called KC Center and asked for FL390, and got it. The controller was probably down there going, "*%$#*#*$&$% pilots!"
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DVA1679
Senior Captain, A320
Joined on May 16 2004
Triple Century Club
Online Triple Century Club
"flightdeckproductions.com" Utica, MI USA
322 legs, 620.4 hours
300 legs,
591.4 hours online 115 legs,
194.0 hours ACARS 5 legs,
11.3 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 07 2005 12:36 ET by Larry Foltran
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Since it's sharing time, I've got one from a couple of years back.
I was on final into Atlanta one evening on 9R. I shut off the altitude and heading hold on the autopilot and took the controls for the landing. Upon crossing the threshold, I continued to bring back the throttle but was still moving too fast (about 165 kts). I managed to force the plane on the runway, but the reversers weren't working and the spoilers didn't help either. I declared a missed approach and brought the nose back up. Came back around manually and had the same problem. I was pretty upset at this point. Finally on my third try, I decided I would cut the fuel upon crossing the threshold. As I was nearing the runway, I noticed a glowing light on my autopilot. Happened to be the auto-throttle button. Oops. The landing and roll-out was much easier with that light off. You live, you learn. I now triple check that the A/T is off before landing. LOL
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DVA2020
Captain, L-1011-100
Joined on November 24 2004
DVA Five-Year Anniversary
Piston Prop Professional
Piranha Club
Century Club
Newport News, VA USA
109 legs, 248.1 hours
20 legs,
36.7 hours online 63 legs,
136.8 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2005 08:06 ET by Robert Cline
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well I had the same problem as Tanner in the PMDG 737 and all i had to do is hit the lights and it came on
My Duh moment came the other night when i was aking someone on vatsim about how to do a certain command I forget what it was but the guy said i needed to type "point something something" into the consloe on SB well i kept typing Point something something and he kept saying yeah so after about 3 times trying to get it right i finally figured out he meant ........ god I was so ashamed at my stupidity not to mention all my friends(DVA2021 & 2588) were making fun of me.
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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
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2005 09:13 ET by George Lewis
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Larry, I had a similar experience with A/T - the DF722 doesn't have an A/T so I never have this issue anymore but I can promise you it is on my homemade PMDG 738 checklist!!!
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DVA1356
Captain, B757-200
Joined on October 27 2003
Midwestern United States
45 legs, 87.2 hours
32 legs,
59.7 hours online 23 legs,
45.6 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2005 12:24 ET by Nathan Rasch
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Here's my embarassing story... I have a CH throttle quadrant which has a bunch of programmable switches. Toggle a switch up for one function (in my case, auto-throttle disconnect), toggle it down for another (engine auto shut-down). There I was, short final for 12L at St. Louis, went to disco the A/T and accidentally killed both engines. Needless to say, we hit the runway hard! Lesson learned. Engine shutdown has its own toggle switch now.
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DVA630
Senior Captain, B777-200
Joined on June 22 2002
Million Mile Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
Eight Century Club
Online Seven Century Club
Everett 250 Club
B757 100 Club
"Flightsimaroma therapy." Bainbridge, PA
873 legs, 2,775.4 hours
783 legs,
2,429.4 hours online 487 legs,
1,454.8 hours ACARS 19 legs,
64.1 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2005 06:31 ET by Kenneth Rodriguez
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Danny:
Being embarrased to tell your story and share your experience is not what you should be feeling. You may help others prevent that same mistake in the future.
Regards.
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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
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2005 07:48 ET by Lewis Gregory
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Leaving the autothrottle activated on final has gotten me at least twice. Another good one is thinking autoland is activated when it isn't...left some nice dents in the runway at SLC that way once with an MD-11.
I think I may be the only virtual pilot to ever loop a CRJ at FL330...courtesy of my cat, who decided to jump up and lie down across the keyboard, simultaneously dropping the gear, dropping full flaps, disengaging the autopilot, and jamming in some back trim.
Lewis GregorySenior Captain, MD-11
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DVA2020
Captain, L-1011-100
Joined on November 24 2004
DVA Five-Year Anniversary
Piston Prop Professional
Piranha Club
Century Club
Newport News, VA USA
109 legs, 248.1 hours
20 legs,
36.7 hours online 63 legs,
136.8 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2005 08:06 ET by Robert Cline
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dang cats ruin everything
I can't tell you how many times i've heard these cats did it stories lol
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DVA953
Senior Captain, B737-800
E-MAIL
Joined on November 17 2002
50 State Club
Double Century Club
Online Double Century Club
"V1 means V1..." West Lafayette, IN USA
214 legs, 376.8 hours
211 legs,
373.0 hours online 117 legs,
223.6 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2005 08:10 ET by James Brickell
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I've done the A/T so many times - embarrassing as all hell each time.
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DVA2527
Senior Captain, B737-800
Joined on August 15 2005
50 State Club
Two Million Mile Club
Quad-Millennium Club
Online Thirty Century
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Everett Tri-Millennium Club
"Flying Delta's Western Hub" Salt Lake City, UT USA
4,759 legs, 9,027.3 hours
3,509 legs,
6,718.8 hours online 4,185 legs,
7,880.7 hours ACARS 21 legs,
46.9 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2005 10:53 ET by Joe Porter
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Well can certainly appreciate some of these "had to been there moments". My bigest problem is text messaging while in SB. I was typing away one day and walked away for a moment came back to see I dumped all my fuel at FL330. And using FsP, you can't cheat and mid air refuel. Chagrin!!!!!
Joe PorterSenior Captain, B737-800
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DVA2054
Senior Captain, B767-300
Joined on December 15 2004
Online Century Club
Double Century Club
Northeastern United States
299 legs, 1,116.9 hours
194 legs,
651.8 hours online 217 legs,
791.1 hours ACARS 14 legs,
48.5 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2005 11:56 ET by Andrew Dalrymple
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One of my best was just getting to flight level and making sure everything was running correctly and then taking a bathroom run. Only to come back to my 2 year old son pushing on the keyboard. I tried to recover, but was not enough space between the aircraft and the ground. Needless to say my 763 hit the Earth really really hard. After my son started getting upset by the whole event. I told him not to worry it was only pretend flying and we can fix the plane quick. He ran to mom and said "Oh no. We crashed bad." She asked him "Did daddy crash his plane?" And he replied "Yes its broken. Daddy will fix it later."
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DVA2588
Captain, MD-88
Joined on October 02 2005
"Hey! Watch this..." Midwestern United States
33 legs, 51.5 hours
29 legs,
44.5 hours online
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Posted onPost created on
October 11 2005 07:50 ET by Danny Tanner
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Holy cow, sorry I haven't checked my thread since I did this. I'm getting a great laugh and learning a lot from my seniors here, thanks a bunch! As far as my problem I don't know if it was a software or user error. All I had to do was basically restart the computer. And as far as how I learn its more like a hunt and peck to see what does what. Probably not the fastest way of learning things, but it sure does sink in the old hard head. So with that being said here are a couple fun little smart guy things I've done in the past weeks learning.
Flying out of Atlanta to Cancun I realized right as I was leaving ATL Center's airspace that I had low fuel warnings going off everywhere in my MD-88....not to mention I was also at FL340. And when I say low...I mean max of 3-5 minutes of vapors to use. This became a new thing for me...so I called ATL to request immediate decent to the closest AP, but he was either going offline or wasn't up for this newbie's schnanagahns, so he said sorry, you're leaving my airspace. Then I thought...I'm in a group flight...there has got to be a cheater way of topping this thing off...afterall I just started this flight. And low and behold there is...I know its bad of me to say I did it, but flying with my buddies on a dumb mistake of not realizing it said pounds instead of gallons wasn't worth ending it.
But this isn't quite the end of my smart math I've been doing recently with fuel. (Anyone wanna help with these lessons, feel free!) I flew from ATL to Greensboro...and I probably should have put this in my flight report...but I didnt wanna know how much I saved DVA on fuel for that flight. I sorta landed in Greensboro with litereally the time it took to get to the gate before I was out. Granted...I guess I did the math exact...but obviously didn't apply the reserves theory to that equation.
One last short thing to note. When flying into Salt Lake...at night...there is a huge mountain on the south end of the city...beware it scared the poop outta me when alarms started going off and I turned my MD-88 into a rocket to climb. The routes fun don't get me wrong...probably one of my favorites, but wow...I'll never make that mistake again!
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DVA1679
Senior Captain, A320
Joined on May 16 2004
Triple Century Club
Online Triple Century Club
"flightdeckproductions.com" Utica, MI USA
322 legs, 620.4 hours
300 legs,
591.4 hours online 115 legs,
194.0 hours ACARS 5 legs,
11.3 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 11 2005 09:04 ET by Larry Foltran
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Danny:
If you need some help with fuel planning, you can download the MD-88 fuel planner I put together a little while back. It should work fine for the model in the DVA installer. I'm currently fine tuning a version for the Lago Mad Dog. Enjoy!
http://www.absolutewebsitedesign.com/DVA/
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DVA2020
Captain, L-1011-100
Joined on November 24 2004
DVA Five-Year Anniversary
Piston Prop Professional
Piranha Club
Century Club
Newport News, VA USA
109 legs, 248.1 hours
20 legs,
36.7 hours online 63 legs,
136.8 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 11 2005 09:37 ET by Robert Cline
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yeah i was with him on that Cancun flight and we were talking on TS when he started freaking because he had no fuel lol
we've all been there i got points deducted in FSP for not having a 1 hour reserve when i flew into KPHX once i was mad because i had plenty of fuel but the fact is that sometimes you can't always do a straight in landing the in game ATC is crap and will clear you to land on a runway right behind another plane and then tell you to go around at the last minute so it takes you 30 minutes to get back to the airport for another approach
it never ceases to amaze me how much i still have to learn about flying I honestly believe that even if i was rated to fly the concorde and had been doing it for 10 years I would still have things i could learnn thats what makes FS so addictive for some people
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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
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Posted onPost created on
October 11 2005 10:17 ET by George Lewis
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When you get your pilots license, the examiner will probably tell you what he told me - "this is a license to learn" and he was so right
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