Tony Causer 877445 Posted November 20, 2019 at 12:02 PM Posted November 20, 2019 at 12:02 PM Having flown online for many years and being in VA management the one issue I hear more about than any other (apart from the odd abusive user) is pilots on approach to to the correct "into wind" runway only to find another approaching from the opposite direction. Naturally this is happening in uncontrolled airspace but it is so often the cause of conflict between pilots. Sometimes it may be caused by Vatsim METAR showing a direct or variable winds making the options for landing runway open to choice but equally open to conflict. Clearly the best situation is to have an ATIS available as the landing and departure runways are invariably given. However as the vast majority or airports do not have an ATIS at any given time I am wondering if there is any way, in this day of modern technology and incredible software developments, that preferred or defined runway use could not be available to all pilots at any time when no controllers or ATIS are available. I use the Vatsim charts very often which I find excellent and very clear. Where there are preferred use runways (often the case when there are parallel R and L runways at major airports) it would be simple to point this out. I have forgotten how many times I arrived at an unfamiliar major airport not knowing about the preferred runway system there and having a hell of a job trying to Google it whilst in the cruise! Same for runway rotation systems like Heathrow which those of us who know it well will always have the docomeent handy but a simple link to that docomeent in the Vatsim chart page for Heathrow would make life easier for those that may not know it even exists. As for wind driven runway choice this should be simple for the pilot to decide but where it isn't I am wondering if some clever techie might come up with a simple solution that can define a runway everyone will use and display it where all can see. Perhaps a step too far right now but with what I suspect will be a large uplift in our hobby's community with the release of a certain platform shortly the problem may only get bigger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Board of Governors Simon Kelsey Posted November 20, 2019 at 12:54 PM Board of Governors Posted November 20, 2019 at 12:54 PM Hi Tony, This is something that is in the pipeline Simon Vice President, Pilot Training Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard McDonald Woods Posted November 20, 2019 at 01:33 PM Posted November 20, 2019 at 01:33 PM Tony, I use Virtual AWOS most of the time. Occasionally I might use a Google search on 'METAR xxxx' using the ICAO for xxxx. Then a pilot should encounter aircraft on opposing runways only if the other pilot has not used available wind conditions. Failing all that, we should encourage pilots to announce their intentions on 122.800. Cheers, Richard You are the music, until the music stops. T.S.Eliot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Causer 877445 Posted November 20, 2019 at 04:58 PM Author Posted November 20, 2019 at 04:58 PM Thanks for the reply Richard I hadn't seen the AWOS software before. It says it is only tested on Windows XP so it must have been around some years. I have Windows 10. I agree I always use Unicom to announce from initial descent, through ILS to landing my intentions and in fairness most do. Unfortunately you will often get someone particularly taking off thinking they are all on their own at an airport and not looking at the messages to see someone is inbound on the ILS. Happens quite a lot. Golden rule is always announce intent from pushback onwards whilst leaving or arriving any airfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Causer 877445 Posted November 20, 2019 at 05:01 PM Author Posted November 20, 2019 at 05:01 PM Hi Simon!!! Well there is a name from the past!! How are you mate? All good in BAV4 I hope! Many happy memories! Thanks for the heads up on that one I will look forward to seeing it come out. Best wishes to all there in BAV! Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martijn Rammeloo Posted November 20, 2019 at 09:43 PM Posted November 20, 2019 at 09:43 PM If you ever fly to Amsterdam, please visit this page that displays the runways in use IRL. https://www.dutchvacc.nl/active-runways/ Good luck, Martijn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Causer 877445 Posted November 21, 2019 at 11:31 AM Author Posted November 21, 2019 at 11:31 AM Thanks Martijn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Christie Posted November 24, 2019 at 02:32 AM Posted November 24, 2019 at 02:32 AM The most into the wind runway is not always the one that will be used for landing and taking off. Reciprocal runway operations are a real thing, opposite direction runway operations are also a real thing. Unicom is a place to announce your INTENTIONS, those intentions dont have to be the same as everyone else, if a pilot makes it clear that this is what they are going to do, then there should be no problems, A pilot announcing landing on 16 and you are ready to go on 34, just wait for them to land and clear and then go on your way. There is no need for unicom arguments, or constant social media/foums posts about runway selections, remember order of priority is in the air, on the ground, if you are on the ground, you give way to anything in the air. Everyone has different expectations from this network, some want a real as it gets experience and will do everything by the book, others just want a place to hang out and interact and fly casually. Virtual AWOS works on Windows 10, also active sky will tell you what runways are the most into the wind runway's if you look up the airport on the conditions page, its at the very bottom, they do not take into consideration any airport SOP's Kirk Christie - VATPAC C3 VATPAC Undercover ATC Agent Worldflight Perth 737-800 Crew Member Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Gruetzmann Posted December 8, 2019 at 05:52 PM Posted December 8, 2019 at 05:52 PM Just to add: Share time estimates for relevant fixes via unicom, if available. I usually announce myself with my intentions and the ETO of the final approach fix and my ETA, so everyone knows which route I'll follow and when to expect me at a defined position. Much better than to argue about the "correct" runway (since the only correct runway is the one I select for my flight). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebojsa milosavljevic Posted December 9, 2019 at 10:18 AM Posted December 9, 2019 at 10:18 AM Unfortunately not many people announce their intentions when departing/arriving . nebojsa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Gruetzmann Posted December 10, 2019 at 08:58 AM Posted December 10, 2019 at 08:58 AM I announce my intentions and ignore everyone who doesn't. If people believe they can simply move on and complain later on - too bad. My crash detection is off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Townsend Posted December 11, 2019 at 08:10 PM Posted December 11, 2019 at 08:10 PM I announce my intentions and ignore everyone who doesn't. If people believe they can simply move on and complain later on - too bad. My crash detection is off the only caveat here is that you need to check the text UNICOM in addition to listening to the voice channel before [Mod - Happy Thoughts]uming the person is not communicating. Thats being said always announcing intentions is good. Canada Air Virtual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Gruetzmann Posted December 13, 2019 at 08:34 PM Posted December 13, 2019 at 08:34 PM I announce my intentions and ignore everyone who doesn't. If people believe they can simply move on and complain later on - too bad. My crash detection is off the only caveat here is that you need to check the text UNICOM in addition to listening to the voice channel before [Mod - Happy Thoughts]uming the person is not communicating. Thats being said always announcing intentions is good. That's what I do. Announce via voice, monitor text unicom. And my first announcement is usually via text since I'm too far out for voice unicom to be useful. The one via text is usually the one that includes estimates and is meant for everyone else intending to land at my destination airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Simpson Posted December 17, 2019 at 07:13 PM Posted December 17, 2019 at 07:13 PM Right. With no crash detection, does it really matter? If two users are landing opposite runways, and p[Mod - Happy Thoughts] through each other, then no harm, no foul. Immersion might suffer a bit, but in the end, it's harmless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Vanthuyne 1028545 Posted December 18, 2019 at 06:30 PM Posted December 18, 2019 at 06:30 PM Right. With no crash detection, does it really matter? If two users are landing opposite runways, and p[Mod - Happy Thoughts] through each other, then no harm, no foul. Immersion might suffer a bit, but in the end, it's harmless. I agree but also wondering what's the benefit of flying online when there is no ATC present if it's not to interact with other pilots? The sole purpose of having the flight and hours recorded for the stats doesn't seems for me to be a valid reason and in accordance with the reasons of VATSIM to exist in the first place. VATCAN P1 rating vacanada.org Senior Captain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Dammers Posted December 30, 2019 at 02:47 PM Posted December 30, 2019 at 02:47 PM You'd be surprised what people are willing to do for meaningless virtual points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts