Overview

The Weather Control page controls the overall weather parameters for the lesson, except for windshear, turbulence, and microburst, which are addressed on the corresponding page.

Weather parameters may be controlled from the Sortie File, or may be entered manually, or both, depending on the Weather Mode, which is covered below.

Need to Use APPLY

As a result of user input, the Apply button was added to the Weather Control Page.

The purpose of the Apply button is to enable multiple changes to be made in the weather parameters, and then activated all at once.

The exceptions to the Apply button, which will change immediately, are the Crosswind Override and the Weather Mode. These do not wait for the Apply button, and so take effect immediately.

Important Note on Use of Edit Boxes

Edit Boxes are used throughout the Instructor Station (IOS) for entry of numeric and textual data. However, the way this system is designed, any text or data which is typed in the edit box should be followed with an Enter (or Return) key, or a Tab key.

So, for example, if changing the Visibility, the new number must be typed in, followed by the Enter key. Otherwise, the new data will not be input into the simulation. On the Weather Control page, a subsequent step is also required, namely, the application of the Apply button.

Weather Mode

The Weather Mode control is a very important part of the Weather Control Page. It determines the interaction of manual entries and Sortie File weather setups.

When the Automatic mode is selected, the Sortie File controls the weather in the lesson. The weather remains constant until the simulated aircraft enters a new weather area as defined in the Sortie File. The existing weather areas can be seen on the Area Map, if the symbol display for weather areas is enabled. Additional weather area information can be seen on the ATIS page. If changes are made and the Apply button is pressed when in Automatic mode, the changes will take effect, but the next time a new weather area is entered, those changes will be replaced by the parameters from the new weather area.

When the Manual weather mode is selected, the Sortie File does not change the simulator weather as the lesson moves from one weather area to another. Therefore, any manual changes entered on the Weather Page will continue to be in effect.

If the Weather Mode is changed from Manual to Automatic, the weather parameters from the most recent weather area visited will be loaded.

The Weather Off mode may be slightly mis-named. Its purpose is to clear poor visibility, cloud, and precipitation conditions, in order that the instructor may show the student where he is in relation to the ground or airport. When the mode is switched from Weather Off to Automatic or Manual modes, the visibility and precipitation is returned to its former level.

Note: It is inadvisable to make any manual changes to the weather controls when the weather mode is in Weather Off mode, because the results may not work as intended, when coming back out of Weather Off mode.

Time of Day

The Visual Scene sets the appearance of the sky. Selections include:

• Dawn
• Day
• Dusk
• Night

Visibility

The Visibility section allows the setting of general visibility and RVR (Runway Visual Range). When RVR is set to zero, then the Visibility value will be used. When RVR is non-zero, it will be used instead of Visibility to set the visual conditions.

Visibility may be set in either statute miles or kilometers. RVR may be set in either feet or meters.

Clouds

Two layers of clouds are available, Upper Clouds and Lower Clouds.

Cloud coverage may be selected as one of:

• Clear
• Scattered
• Broken
• Overcast

Top and Bottom altitudes may be set for each cloud layer. For the Upper Cloud layer, the top and bottom are in feet MSL. However, for the Lower Cloud layer, the top is in feet MSL and the bottom (the reported ceiling) is in feet AGL.

If a cloud coverage other than Clear is chosen, and the Top and Bottom remain at zero, and the Apply button is pressed, default values for Top and Bottom will be set by the visual system.

The Cirrus checkbox selects a high cirrus cloud layer on the visual system. This layer is always higher than any upper cloud layer.

The Scud checkbox selects a variable ceiling, but only if the lower cloud type is set to "Overcast".

The Fog control determines ground fog type and height. Fog Type may be set to "Off", "Solid", or "Patchy". The Fog Top may also be set in feet AGL above the active airport; otherwise, a default value will be used.

Temperature

The Temperature control may be used to set the temperature of the current Active Airport (as set in the Reposition Page).

Temperatures at altitude will vary at a standard atmospheric lapse rate.

The temperature may be set in either degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius.

Altimeter Setting

The Altimeter Setting control may be used to set the field pressure of the current Active Airport (as set in the Reposition Page).

This is the same altimeter setting which would be reported by an ATIS message or weather report from that airport.

The Altimeter Setting may be set in either inches Mercury or millibars (hPa).

Winds

The Winds control is used to set cruise and surface winds, as well as deliberate crosswind conditions.

Cruise Wind Altitude set s the altitude at which the cruise wind speed and direction are fully realized. Likewise, Surface Wind Altitude sets the altitude at which surface wind speed, direction, and gusts are fully realized. Between those altitudes, wind speeds and directions are interpolated between the given values.

Cruise wind altitude is set in feet MSL. Surface wind altitude is set in feet AGL above the current Active Airport.

Wind speeds are in knots. Wind directions are in degrees from true north.

Wind Gust Speed sets the maximum wind speed which a gust will attain. In other words, set the wind gust speed in the same way which it would be reported by an airport. For example, if the wind speed is reported as "Winds 180 at 15 gusting to 20" you would enter the wind gust speed as 20.

Gust Direction Variance sets the number of degrees which the gusts may vary from the regular wind direction. A value of zero means the gusts will always come from the same direction as the current wind.

Crosswind Override can be used to set a crosswind of plus or minus 20 knots perpendicular to the selected runway heading. A negative value will cause the winds to come from the left and positive from the right.

Structural Icing

The Structural Icing controls are used to set up the maximum amount of ice, and the time taken for ice accumulation

Ice Quantity can be set from zero to 100% of maximum.

Ice Time is the amount of time taken to reach the selected ice quantity.

Current Ice Weight is the weight, in pounds, of ice currently attached to the aircraft.

Note: Regardless of these settings, ice will not accumulate on the aircraft unless it is in moisture, and the temperature is low enough.

Windshear Turbulence

Use the Windshear Turbulence Button to change to the Windshear, Microburst, Turbulence page.

Storm Cell

Use the Storm Cell Button to display the Storm Cell overlay. Note: if the storm cell location has not been set with the Touch Storm Location Button on the Area Map page, then the storm cell location defaults to the simulated aircraft location.

Precipitation

The Precipitation controls are used to set precipitation conditions. If precipitation is selected, the clouds and visibility are automatically adjusted, if required.

Precipitation Type can be set to "Off", "Rain", "Snow" or "Hail".

Precipitation Intensity can be set to "Light", "Medium", or "Heavy".

Lightning is a visual effect. It has no impact on radio reception or other electrical systems.

Runway Condition Rating, or RCR, sets the braking action of the runway surface. A value of 6 to 23 may be entered.

Runway Condition sets the visual appearance of the active runway. It does not change its braking characteristics. Possible selections include:

• Dry
• Wet
• Snow
• Ice
• Slush
• Patchy Wet
• Patchy Snow
• Patchy Ice

Blowing Contamination alters the appearance of the runway to indicate blowing snow or rain.

Wet Skidmarks alters the appearance of the active runway to appear slippery.

Moon

The Moon controls are used to set moon conditions.

Moon Phase sets the current moon phase. The slider and/or the edit field can be used to set this value. A value of 0 to 100 may be entered. A value of 0 represents a new moon and a value of 100 represents a full moon.

Moon Elevation sets the current moon angle of elevation. The slider and/or the edit field can be used to set this value. A value of -180 to 180 may be entered. A value of -180 (or 0) represents the moon on the horizon in front of the simulated aircraft, a value of 90 represents the moon directly overhead, a value of 180 represents the moon on the horizon behind the simulated aircraft, and a value of -90 represents the moon directly underneath (opposite side of the earth).

Moon Azimuth sets the current moon azimuth angle. The slider and/or the edit field can be used to set this value. A value of -180 to 180 may be entered. A value of -180 (or 0) represents North, a value of 90 represents East, a value of 180 represents South, and a value of -90 represents West.