JSGPanels Releases Universal FMC for FSX

This package contains an FMC designed or use with almost any FSX aircraft plus a comprehensive sound package.

PRE-REQUISITE

You must have a minimum knowledge of the FSX system files and be able to add some lines to the panel.cfg file.

CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE

This package contains both a sophisticated FMC and a sound package.

The FMC manages the FLIGHT PLAN and all the main functions necessary for a successful flight - COMM, VORs and ILS RADIO retrieval, HOLD function, FIX function and many others. See FMC OVERVIEW and FMC FUNCTIONS below.

The SOUND PACKAGE adds BOTH sounds to the devices themselves AND the voice of the co-pilot. See AUDIO ENHANCEMENTS below.

You can easily install this package into almost any FSX _ aircraft. Although an FMC is of course principally designed for use in commercial airliners, with this package you can readily add one to even the smallest aircraft and so get the advantage of all the additional functionality an FMC provides.

FMC OVERVIEW

It contains many powerful features. It will:

1. follow an FSX FLIGHTPLAN (or one generated by other software and imported into FSX), including the selected APPROACH PHASE, both horizontally and vertically and in accordance with defined speeds, allowing it to be changed if required during the flight;
2. manage the TAKE-OFF thrusts and the climb thrust TOGA, MAX THRUST, CRUISE and AUTOMATIC according to the economic index and weather parameters;
3. calculate the optimum V1, VR, V2 and cruise speed according to the cruise altitude, calculating speeds in both knots AND mach;
4. control the LNAV (Longitudinal Navigation) and VNAV (Vertical Navigation) functions when climbing, cruising and descending, taking into account economic speeds and altitudes, user-modified speeds and altitudes and TRANSIT and RESTRICTED speeds and altitudes;
5. manage the function cruise "economic climb" when the aircraft loses weight due to fuel having been burned, in accordance with either the ICAO standard or a user-defined value;
6. manage the complete HOLD function at an actual position, programmed altitude or at a predefined waypoint with adjustable leg time or distance, speed and altitude;
7. manage the FIX function for heading to a specified VOR;
8. display all necessary information relating to:
   • ATC - flight number, aircraft ident, etc.,
   • VNAV - speeds and altitudes,
   • LEGS -giving for each the waypoint, heading, distance and altitude,
   • PROGRESS - the actual position, the previous and next waypoints and the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) at the destination airport and the remaining fuel,
   • APPROACH SPEED - useful information on the flap settings and corresponding speed limits required during an approach, speed and aircraft weight,
   • NAV - displaying radios, both active and standby, OBS and radials. Searches and retrieves the NAV ILS & COMM codes by entering the ICAO name directly in the FMC.
   • COMM -radios, both active and standby, transponder and ADF,
   • POSITION - the current position of the aircraft at the departure airport and (for fun) the three positions of the three IRSs (Inertial Reference Systems);
9. allow direct data entry of all data into all function pages, VORs, ILSs and STARs retrieval by directly entering the ICAO code with mouse clicks on the FMC keyboard itself on the screen;
10. follow the APPROACH and TRANSITION, retrieved as described above;
11. allow the brightness of the display to be adjusted for night flights on both the FMC and the PFD (Primary Flight Display), MFD (Multi - Function Display), RADIOs and EICAS Upper and Lower;
12. allow the aircraft to be flown manually (providing the ROUTE has not been activated);
13. retrieve an ALTERNATE AIRPORT depending on runway length and airport distance;
14. allow the brightness of the FMC screen to be adjusted;
15. and, last but not least, manage the fully automatic autoland, from the ILS capture to the full stop on the runway;

HOWEVER please note that the FMC will NOT directly create a flight plan (though in practice this is no problem because Flight Simulator itself and other good quality software packages available on the Net do it so well).

FMC FUNCTIONS

The FMC is the primary means of navigation and automatic flight along the route. It is controlled by using the CDU (Control Display Unit).

It calculates the optimal Vertical (altitude) and Speed profiles for the Climb, Cruise and Descent stages of a flight. This calculation accounts for any altitude and speed restrictions defined for enroute waypoints and for speed restrictions and transitions set for climb and descent. The vertical and speed profile can be flown automatically using the VNAV autopilot mode. The crew can level the aircraft off at any assigned altitude without leaving the VNAV mode by modifying the altitude on the VNAV page.

It allows monitoring of the progress of the flight by estimating the time of arrival and remaining fuel to both the next waypoint and the destination airport.

It automatically computes the TOD (Top of Descent) point which allows the aircraft to descend on idle or minimal thrust in order to minimize fuel consumption.

It allows holding patterns to be automatically flown in LNAV either at the present position or any defined altitude.

DATA ENTRY is straightforward. To enter numeric or alphanumeric data, click directly on the FMC keyboard, then click on the desired switch on the CDU corresponding to < or >. If you make a mistake simply click on the CLR switch to erase the incorrectly-entered data.

AUDIO ENHANCEMENTS

The inclusion of sound greatly enhances the realism of the simulation. This package includes the following:

1. SOUNDS OF MOVING PARTS
   Where relevant, switches have sounds attached to them and you will hear the appropriate click, clack or crunch whenever you move them. The list of these switches includes the PARKING BRAKE, the FLAPS and the GEAR HANDLE.
2. CO-PILOT COMMENTARY
   You have a CO-PILOT with you at all times, informing you regularly about the many important events which occur during the flight. You will hear him speaking in your right speaker since he is seated to your right. What does he do?
   1. He reports the manoeuvring of the PARKING BRAKE, SPOILERS, FLAPS, GEAR POSITIONS and the AUTOPILOT switches. He also calls out "V1", "VR", "V2", "Take Off" and "Landed";
   2. When requested, he recites the CHECKLISTS you ask for. There are eight different CHECKLISTS;
   3. He alerts you when some incident occurs such as WINDSHEAR or a too deep PITCH, BANK ANGLE or GLIDESLOPE. You will also get a FLAPS ALERT if you increase engine power while taxiing and your ground speed rises to more than 25 without the flaps being at least at the 10 position;
   4. If an FS flight plan is active in the FMC, a 4-bell gong alerts you when you arrive less than four miles from the next WAYPOINT and a 1-bell gong sounds when the aircraft changes to the next waypoint;
   5. Of course, the Co-pilot also reports if any FAILURE occurs with ENGINES, PITOT, VACUUM or any other device. In the case of the engines he also tells you when an engine starts or stops and if the OIL TEMPERATURE is over 115.
3. BEACON
   Passing an airport beacon results in 3, 2 or 1 beeps being sounded according to whether it is the OUTER, MEDIUM or INNER beacon.
4. GPWS
   The GROUND POSITIONING WARNING SYSTEM is, of course, included and you will hear the digitalized voice reporting 2500, 1000, 500,....50, 40, 20, 10.


5. SOUND LEVEL ADJUSTMENT
   You can adjust the sound level.