Aircraft Equipment Suffix

[Nelson L.]

It won't load SIDS/STARS (yet!) but you can manually enter everything and the database can be updated unlike FSX/P3D.

Just to clarify - you can't manually enter the fixes on a SID/STAR - to be legally capable to fly that RNAV procedure, you have to be able to enter the actual name of the SID/STAR (i.e. MCCRN4, VNY1, MUSEL7, CATH1, etc...). Either way, I wouldn't want to type all the fixes in manually anyways, too much work...

[Amos Waterbury]

Thanks for the clarification! I generally like to use /A myself in small GA aircraft, such as the 172, Baron, Cherokee etc. Getting involved with doing the ratings again that PE provides has been real helpful in my aviation training. Keith thank you also for posting the link of the suffix's. I'll refer to them often.

[MajorMike]

Thank-you for all the informative replies which are very helpful.
As I understand it now if I was using the basic Microsoft Baron Beechcraft 58 I would use /A. If I was using the PMDG 737 of Aerosoft A320 I would use /Z.
I hope I have understood this correctly.
However I noticed an article on Vatsim which states that /A outside USA is /S.

Michael Houghton

[Nelson L.]

Actually, the 737NG (PMDG) and A320 are /L, since they are GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) capable. As a simple explanation, GNSS is a form of RNAV primarily found in the US-of-A and Russia (although I think China is developing one?) - its referred to as GPS usually in the US.

[bbuckley]

It won't load SIDS/STARS (yet!) but you can manually enter everything and the database can be updated unlike FSX/P3D.

Just to clarify - you can't manually enter the fixes on a SID/STAR - to be legally capable to fly that RNAV procedure, you have to be able to enter the actual name of the SID/STAR (i.e. MCCRN4, VNY1, MUSEL7, CATH1, etc...). Either way, I wouldn't want to type all the fixes in manually anyways, too much work...

An expert should check me on this, but SIDS & STARS come in two flavors. conventional and RNAV. What Nelson said about procedure names in the GNSS database is true only for RNAV SIDS & STARS The word RNAV will be included in the procedure name. Conventional SIDS / STARS can be flown without that capability. VNY1 & CATH1 are conventional SIDs.

[FSwind]

http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/medi ... 091-85.pdf
Page 7 contains required equipment. The B732 (FlyJSim for X-plane meets the requirements for RVSM)

[Ryan B]

I'm pretty sure you're right there Bruce. I'm
Sure my response came off wrong but I only meant to say for non RNAV SIDS STARS

[wmburns]

If you fly an older jet with no GPS/FMS etc file /W - you'll be using VOR's/airways/radials and you'll have a transponder with mode c.

From the Flightaware table doesn't /W imply Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM)? I'm sure that this is not a complete list (only a brief summary), but doesn't flying in RVSM space have a specific list of required equipment? For example:

• TCAS
• Altitude-keeping equipment. Must have two. One must be automatic (as in autopilot). The RVSM standard lists the acceptable deviation.
• The aircraft has to be certified to fly withing the RVSM altitude envelope. Currently between FL290 and FL410.
• Record keeping and reporting requirements for altitude errors in excess of limits.

I have read in online resources where RW planes operating in RVSM space suffered an autopilot failure. WIthout an operational automatic method to maintain altitude the flight had to descend out of RVSM space (below FL290). Therefore operating in RVSM space is more than an equipment list but also dictates HOW the flight operations are being conducted.

Technically this means no hand flying FL290 and above! So if you looking to add an extra layer of realism to your airline operations, here it is. I'm sure that PE doesn't/won't enforce RVSM.

Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM)
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/separat ... ards/rvsm/

[stealthbob]

Anyway you'll basically file /A (transponder mode c with DME) or /G (transponder mode c with GPS/GNSS) while on Pilot Edge. You may file something like /L (transponder/RVSM with GNSS/GPS) or /Z (transponder/RVSM without GNSS/GPS) if flying big jets (those might have changed now I can't even recall) - as long as you have a navigraph subscription in XP10 or FSX/P3D.

If you fly an older jet with no GPS/FMS etc file /W - you'll be using VOR's/airways/radials and you'll have a transponder with mode c.

So from this I assume I file /Z for an A332?

Taking my first PE flight with it later today.

[Peter Grey]

An A332 is /L as it has GPS/RNAV and is RVSM capable.

Most modern airliners are /L (replacing /Q about a year ago).