Knowing where to taxi

[Lonecrow66]

I know most people are real aviation buffs. But some of us have never flown these airports or taxied or anything. You are dropped into a bunker and do your run up and then.. where the hell do we go from here?

 

The actual manual doesn't have any maps of the airports that I could see.. (I could be wrong).

 

Now I found a link in the KA forums of airport maps. So I printed them off. So I was lucky enough for that. But what about the rest of the people?

 

Sometimes I don't know where I'm going. I'll get cues to taxi to a runway, I can kinda guess by looking which runway that would be and which general direction I should head.

 

I also know there are labels on the ground for taxiways. But not really any clear directions.

 

So you are posed with a question right off the bat - which way do I turn left or right when you exit the bunker. I've actually ended up in a dead end once and tried to turn around on the ground and of course sunk my nosewheel into the ground.

 

So how are we to determine where to go in the maze of some of these airports?

[Wayc00lio]

Use F10 to look at the map of the airbase. Also, ATC will tell you which end of the runway to taxi to, ie, runway 230.

[TRoe13]

Here are the Airport Diagrams. Hit F-10 to see which airbase you are at, and where you are at on the airbase, and then look at the diagram for that airbase. Then when the ATC tells you to taxi to a certain runway, you can check the diagram to see where to go.

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=44058&d=1288733777

 

~~EDIT~~ also, I don't take any credit for these diagrams, I had no part in creating them, just passing them along.

[Sgt.Baker]

how do you bring up the ATC Menu while starting on the Runway?

[Lange_666]

F-10 is nice when it's active. When it's de-activated in multiplayer it's another story.

Edited February 22, 2011 by Lange_666

[kingpinda]

It would be cool though if atc would give more directions especially on a busy strip :)

 

Cleared for taxi to Runway 14, taxi via Echo, Delta, Bravo, cross Runway 17, hold short of Runway 18.

 

@sgtbaker: The same way you normally get hold of ATC. set your radio to ATC freq and mic-hatforward. Although in my experience if you do a mission with runway start you are automatically cleared for takeoff. So there is no need to contact ATC in fact, they didnt even respond to me in beta 4. or the only option you had while your engines were running were: Permission for engine start.

Edited February 22, 2011 by kingpinda

[Apples]

F-10 is a joke and you shouldn't have to use it. This topic should go to the wish list as its wanting a realistic Airfield, and ATC comms.

[Lonecrow66]

F-10 is nice when it's active. When it's de-activated in multiplayer it's another story.

 

Thats my point. I try not to use F10 much because its kinda cheating really..

 

I mean real pilots get to know the base ahead of time so it will come with experience so I guess I should use F10 more often.. :)

[Stretch]

Use the plates. It's the easiest solution, the most realistic solution, and the best solution.

 

EDIT: I don't think adding support asking for progressive taxi instructions would be a "realistic" solution. If you were ACTUALLY an A-10 pilot stationed at, say, Batumi Airfield, you'd probably get some good laughs from the guys in the tower if you requested progressive taxi. When you arrive at a new base you study the plates. Then you know where to go.

[kingpinda]

@stretch yeah ok you got a point. I don't know how military strips operate but what if its a bit larger very busy strip and ATC is letting a few crates taxi simultanously. They could give different routes though right so they won't collide? Then you have to know which safe route to take. Or am I way off course here?

[Stretch]

I'm not a military pilot but in my years of civilian flying I have never seen ground deconflict two aircraft by giving them two different taxi routes. In general they use the same taxiways to get planes to the runways, and you'll hear things like "Give way to the company Airbus" to keep people from hitting each other. On rare occasion when two airplanes are going opposite directions on the same taxiway, they'll sometimes ask you to maintain left or right of the centerline. The only time I've seen them do weird routes is when taxiways are closed or there's some other special situation.

[Stretch]

Actually kingpinda, it's also worth mentioning that recently the FAA has been REQUIRING air traffic controllers to give complete taxi instructions to aircraft. Apparently they're making this big crackdown on runway incursions and ground accidents.

 

So in the past, if you asked for a taxi to runway 27R, they'd say, "King Air 210, taxi 27R," and that would clear you to taxi all the way up to (but not onto) 27R, and would INCLUDE clearances to cross any runways between you and 27R. They did NOT specify a route to take; it was up to you to take the most direct route there. (It's usually obvious which route is the direct one.)

 

Of course, now it's all different. Now ground will say "King Air 210, taxi delta charlie 27R". They'll give you the exact taxiways they want you to take and will explicitly clear you to cross any runways they want you to cross.

 

No idea if this FAA change is also taking place in the world of military ATC. Anyone else "in the biz" care to chime in?

[mvsgas]

Thats my point. I try not to use F10 much because its kinda cheating really..

 

I mean real pilots get to know the base ahead of time so it will come with experience so I guess I should use F10 more often.. :)

Keep in mind, pilots have airfield manuals they carry with them in case they forget or if they are in a new airport. This manual will tell them radio frequencies, would have airport diagrams and all the details of an airport. Since we do not have this available, I think, is not cheating to use F10. Also pilots get a certain amount of flights in a airport/airspace before the can fly alone or lead a flight.

 

I say use F10 or F11 if you wish until you know the airports

[thereminqblank]

I haven't got my hands on Warthog just yet, but my taxiing technique in BS and FC2 went something like this:

 

- Check my initial heading in parked position (for this example, we'll go with 000 degrees (direct north)

- Request taxi to runway

- Take note of the runway direction provided by ground control. (let's say runway 27).

- Taxi in the general direction that is OPPOSITE to the runway heading given (in this case, I would taxi with a heading of 090 degrees).

 

I'm not sure if it's the same with Warthog, but in BS and FC2, there would always be two trucks with giant lamps on their backs parked at the start of the runway in use. You could look out for these to get your general taxi direction.

 

But a printed airfield map is probably the more professional method!

[Rusty_M]

I remember the taxi instructions in Flight Unlimited II. They were very useful for an ignoramus like me.

[Grimes]

Not gonna lie, I had hopes at the sight of the taxiway signs meant that airfield ops might matter more than the "Player: Request Taxi to runway. ATC: Ok Go" standard we've come to love.

[Stretch]

Keep in mind, pilots have airfield manuals they carry with them in case they forget or if they are in a new airport. This manual will tell them radio frequencies, would have airport diagrams and all the details of an airport. Since we do not have this available, I think, is not cheating to use F10. Also pilots get a certain amount of flights in a airport/airspace before the can fly alone or lead a flight.

 

I say use F10 or F11 if you wish until you know the airports

 

There are airfield manuals available; someone compiled a bunch of really useful airport diagrams that I think every pilot should print and have. Find them on the forums ... somewhere.

[Haukka81]

There are airfield manuals available; someone compiled a bunch of really useful airport diagrams that I think every pilot should print and have. Find them on the forums ... somewhere.

 

 

Here: http://forums.eagle.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=44058&d=1288733777 :smartass:

[shu77]

To cover the airfield diagrams, I've been travelling this week, but now DCS is final, when I get home I am planning to do another run through of the runways and update the diagrams to include the final detail.

Some of the runways on the eastern side of the map were under done in B3, and B4 didn't have a real lot of extra detail.

I'm hoping to have a final available in the next month, depending on time at home in that period

[CrashEd]

I'm hoping to have a final available in the next month, depending on time at home in that period

 

Good news Shu, thanks for the update. Looking forward to it :thumbup:

[kingpinda]

@stretch thanks for the info. yeah i read something about that. I'm not a pilot myself alas... Wanted to be a fighter pilot but then i got glasses at age 12 :p last couple of years though I think prop planes are cool also so maybe I will get my private license someday.

 

I learned to fly in lomac and il2 and THEN I learned the important basics in mfsx hehe. And when you ask for clearance you get the entire line which you stated is now starting to be required. For immersion that did alot for me. Supposedly now AI chatter is also present. I missed that in beta 4. Its nice to know if your wingmate is also taxiing. or that fighter jet is somewhere about to take off or inbound. Not to mention the traffic pattern.

 

But well maybe in the military world it all works differently don't know. But my hopes are that it will become as realist as possible :)

[Lonecrow66]

Use the plates. It's the easiest solution, the most realistic solution, and the best solution.

 

EDIT: I don't think adding support asking for progressive taxi instructions would be a "realistic" solution. If you were ACTUALLY an A-10 pilot stationed at, say, Batumi Airfield, you'd probably get some good laughs from the guys in the tower if you requested progressive taxi. When you arrive at a new base you study the plates. Then you know where to go.

 

 

What plates? The manual didnt come with any? I didnt see any..

[Lonecrow66]

To cover the airfield diagrams, I've been travelling this week, but now DCS is final, when I get home I am planning to do another run through of the runways and update the diagrams to include the final detail.

Some of the runways on the eastern side of the map were under done in B3, and B4 didn't have a real lot of extra detail.

I'm hoping to have a final available in the next month, depending on time at home in that period

 

 

Great thanks :)

[Eddie]

To cover the airfield diagrams, I've been travelling this week, but now DCS is final, when I get home I am planning to do another run through of the runways and update the diagrams to include the final detail.

Some of the runways on the eastern side of the map were under done in B3, and B4 didn't have a real lot of extra detail.

I'm hoping to have a final available in the next month, depending on time at home in that period

 

At least one new airfield and TCN/ILS for you to add as well dude. I look forward to it.

[MadTommy]

"Taxi to runway 21"..

 

Err ok i know what direction it's facing.. but that is all. Some airfields its easy.. on others it's not so.

 

With external views enabled.. i hit F2 and zoom out to figure where to go... with no external views i drive around like an idiot! :(

 

In fog with no taxiway lights its bit of a :wacko: