Teething problems with startup/taxi procedures

[Bahger]

I'm having a slightly frustrating time mastering the necessary procedures to get started and onto the runway with my wingman in tow. I'd really appreciate guidance. Here are my issues:

 

- As soon as I get into the mission I radio the ground crew for ground power ON. And yet once I complete the startup process and start to taxi, I hear "What are you doing??" from an indignant crew chief.

 

- Where are the radio menu items for permission to taxi? I see only "Request Startup" on the radio menu for the airfield. Is this because I'm supposed to have made that call immediately before engine start, in which case, the taxi radio options will appear?

 

- How do I know which is the active runway at the airfield?

 

- Why will my #2 not follow me to the active runway and position himself for takeoff? This is a biggie.

 

Again, guidance is much appreciated, thank you.

[WarriorX]

- As soon as I get into the mission I radio the ground crew for ground power ON. And yet once I complete the startup process and start to taxi, I hear "What are you doing??" from an indignant crew chief.

You dont need the ground crew power for startup. Just do your BATT, INVERTER, APU START, APU GEN, then radio the tower and request engine start.

 

- Where are the radio menu items for permission to taxi? I see only "Request Startup" on the radio menu for the airfield. Is this because I'm supposed to have made that call immediately before engine start, in which case, the taxi radio options will appear?

Taxi permission follows request startup in the "flow".

 

- How do I know which is the active runway at the airfield?

Once you get taxi clearance, make note of the runway assignment, and then either hit F10 to orient yourself on the map, or get a hold of Shu's Airport Diagram project and orient yourself to the proper runway via the diagram.

 

- Why will my #2 not follow me to the active runway and position himself for takeoff? This is a biggie.

Ensure you are heading to the correct runway assigned by the ATC.

 

Is this in reference to a mission you are building, or a canned mission?

[Kankkis]

Contact ATC.

[Bahger]

WarriorX, many thanks, as always. It's in reference to "Smerch Hunt", which I am using to refine srartup/taxi and manual UTM coordinate entry into the CDU, as i have noticed that, even with both NET values at 01, you don't get a datalink triangle from JTAC. First things first, I just want to start up properly and get #2 onto the runway with me. Your advice is most appreciated.

[Mule]

This has also helped me thanks WarriorX for the reply and thanks Bahger for asking the question.

[Bahger]

Wow, it's been much more of a palaver for me than I expected. Biggest problem of all is that the virtual throttle blocks the forward radio dial until I can move it for engine startup, so I can't call ATC to request startup as I cannot see the dials to rotate in the freq! Luckily I can make the call later and it will get me to the next point in the radio flow but, using realistic radios, does anyone know if I can set a freq without using the virtual dials in the cockpit??

 

EDIT: OK, one more question re "Request takeoff: I realise that ATC will not grant permission for takeoff unless you hold short of the runway but today my wingman got onto the taxiway to the runway at Beslan, before I did. There was only room for one a/c to take the runway and my requests for takeoff met with silence from ATC. What did I do wrong here?

Edited March 3, 2011 by Bahger

[Bahger]

"Request takeoff"

 

I realise that ATC will not grant permission for takeoff unless you hold short of the runway but today my wingman got onto the taxiway to the runway at Beslan before I did. There was only room for one a/c to take the runway and my requests for takeoff met with silence from ATC. What did I do wrong here? Thanks.

[Bulletstop]

did your wingy take off and then did you hold short to await the clearance?

 

 

Bullet

[Apples]

I realise that ATC will not grant permission for takeoff unless you hold short of the runway but today my wingman got onto the taxiway to the runway at Beslan before I did. There was only room for one a/c to take the runway and my requests for takeoff met with silence from ATC. What did I do wrong here? Thanks.

 

 

I think ATC comms are still buggy.

[Bahger]

What is the SOP? Do we both taxi onto the runway once ATC has given clearance for takeoff, and then takeoff in formation, or do we get separate clearances and take off separately?

[EtherealN]

A-10's typically do not conduct formation takeoffs, AFAIK.

[CarneyUK]

Biggest problem of all is that the virtual throttle blocks the forward radio dial until I can move it for engine startup, so I can't call ATC to request startup as I cannot see the dials to rotate in the freq! Luckily I can make the call later and it will get me to the next point in the radio flow but, using realistic radios, does anyone know if I can set a freq without using the virtual dials in the cockpit??

 

You can use snap views..think it's LWin and numpad 1 for radios....if not will be LWin and one of the numpad numbers. I have mapped it to 'M' so I can press M to look at my radios and set them up with my mouse. Also allows you to just see the EAC and RAD ALT switches to turn them on without moving the throttle.

[=Panther=]

A-10's typically do not conduct formation takeoffs, AFAIK.

 

Why do my AI wingman always take off with me? I actually hate that he is there as the bird always drifts over near him.

 

IIRC RL SOP is that aircraft with AG munitions are to take off with spacing, not in a formation.

[WarriorX]

The way it's supposed to work is the wingman stays at his apron parking/spawn spot until you move first. Some missions have been designed with a flaw that the wingman moves out first, and can sometimes block the taxi way to the designated runway.

 

The quick and dirty work around is to use one of the other taxiway's. For example, if you wingman is blocking the F taxiway, head towards the center of the runway and use taxiway E. Hold short, request takeoff clearance from ATC, and then taxi on to the runway. (visual check for inbound traffic)

 

Now taxi back down to where taxiway F intersects with the runway and then turn around. (if space is tight, remember to use the rudder with the L/R wheel brake in conjunction with the L/R engine to make the tightest turn possible).

 

This brings you to your proper runway point for takeoff. Since I dont think tandem takeoff's are coded for wingmen, you need to take off first and orbit until you wingman joins you.