Flew Airbus A320 Flight Simulator

[tcasdescend]

and it wasnt worth it for money.

I did IFR and stared at the ADI the whole time. There was little scenery.

Anyway, after flying, there are still certain things that I dont understand.

The "pilot" told me that IFR is used on commerical airlines. In that case what is the use of VFR if using instruments is more reliable?

Why did the GPWS activate even though the landing gear was down and I was going to land?

Why was the rudder trim set to zero? How could I take off or land in a straight line then?

Why did the TCAS not sound on the ground when there are other planes there? I thought the TCAS was supposed to be activated on the taxiway?

Disclaimer: I am not a pilot

[ZFT]

oh dear....

[Nick 1]

Try Microsoft FS , you can be an hero.....

[Turbavykas]

For example VFR can be used in not at busy airports to land faster (visually) as you don't need to fly published approach.

Maybe GPWS was activated by unstable approach? Too big descent rate ect. I think it can be also activated if you are with gear down, low and not near airport. It depends how the modern system is.

If rudder trim is 0 rudder is centered. If you set it to non zero aircraft will turn left of right.

TCAS uses special logic when the aircraft is near or on the ground. For example it will not issue descent RA when you are near the ground.

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

Was there a chocolate fire guard around the sim?

[Cough]

The "pilot" told me that IFR is used on commerical airlines. In that case what is the use of VFR if using instruments is more reliable?

Not all runways have an ILS to them or even a RNAV approach. You have to look out the window to land. Also, you may fly an approach joining final at 500-1000' if VFR, IFR more like 10-15 miles. Fuel saving!

You opted to fly the aircraft IFR. As a pilot, I would prefer to operate VFR, having spent too many hours in cloud! Far more entertaining! This may contribute to your feeling of being let down by the sessions enjoyment factor.

Zero rudder trim is straight head. If it says 15 (either plus or minus) you are going in a big circle, unless you intervene.

[RedBullGaveMeWings]

Not a pilot, eh?

[Torque Tonight]

Professional Pilot Training forum. Dear oh dear. This one's heading for the spotters or Jet Blast.:rolleyes:

[PH-Chucky]

The "pilot" told me that IFR is used on commerical airlines. In that case what is the use of VFR if using instruments is more reliable?

A pilot can fly his aircraft visually, but also on instruments. He is trained for both because it's still the same aircraft inputs. But at most controlled airports they want to control the traffic flow and therefore aircraft are instructed to exactly fly predetermined routes. So your don't fly by looking outside, but by looking on your instruments and turn your aircraft at predescribed points/tracks/distances/altitudes. And during cruiseflight, ATC will instruct aircraft to stay on specified tracks/airways/heading which you will need to fly according your instruments because you can't see these routings when watching outside....

The visual part comes along when weather is good and/or airfields don't have modern guidance like ILS. Then pilots may request to continue visually by looking outside to airport/runway/PAPI. But that doesn't work if visiblity or ceiling clouds are there, so then the pilots still have to fly according instrument procedures and look on their instruments.

Why did the GPWS activate even though the landing gear was down and I was going to land?

Maybe your simulator wasn't uploaded with the latest database of airports or you exceeded some parameters. So if the aircraft doesn't expect your flight pattern than it will activate these GPWS warnings.

Why was the rudder trim set to zero? How could I take off or land in a straight line then?

It is the INITIAL setting. So during takeoff you use your rudder pedals to stay aligned with the runway, and thereafter when airborn you fly and the Airbus may start to change the initial setting automatically to keep the airplane straight and level without control inputs. This might be the case when one engine is producing slightly more thrust and therefore 'yawing' the airplane.

Why did the TCAS not sound on the ground when there are other planes there? I thought the TCAS was supposed to be activated on the taxiway?

No, TCAS is to avoid accidents and to give RA's (Resolution Advisory) to avoid a conflict. So it says 'climb' or 'descend'. But how is that possible when you are just airborne and another plane is in the vicinity..? One of them probably has to descend but then again he runs out of air and will dive into mother earth. So TCAS is inhibited below a certain altitude and will most probably only give a TA (Traffic Advisory) "Traffic" to warn you only. So you have to take maneouvring actions yourself by identifying the intruder.

[Artic Monkey]

Give the lad a break. We all started our passion somewhere. What's wrong with everyone?

[Conan the Vulgarian]

Give the lad a break. We all started our passion somewhere. What's wrong with everyone?

This.

There are certainly no shortage of armchair aviators willing to spend their time on pprune (doubtless in their pants with a half eaten 2 day old pizza beside them) waiting, eagle-eyed, for opportunities to stick their topgun shades on and demonstrate how cool they are.

You should all be ashamed of yourselves. I earnestly hope none of you are instructors.

OP:

VFR is "useful" because we don't all have an IR. We all learn to fly VFR first because that's how you learn the fundamentals of how to fly - attitude and power, lookout, pilotage and the other stuff that you later build on when you learn how to fly IFR.

The GPWS I'm not sure about, I don't fly airliners, but I do think it should automatically disarm under the conditions you described, perhaps a glitch in the sim, or a misconfiguration by the instructor.

TCAS I believe should be automatically inhibited on the ground, so it would be normal not to receive a TCAS TA or RA on the ground.