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Operating in the air

This page will demonstrate most functions to operate aircraft in the air in Sweatbox.

Tag for simulation

The easiest way to control aircraft in the air is to use the Matias (built in) tag.
You can change tags from OTHER SET - Display Settings



The brackets show who has simulator control of the aircraft as a "pseudo pilot".


Clicking the brackets allows to get simulation of the aircraft and act as the pseudo pilot.


An asterisk inside the brackets indicate that you have simulation of the aircraft.


If you are multiple mentors / operators it is possible to transfer simulation by clicking the brackets and choosing who to transfer to. The receiving operator does not have to accept; the simulation is instantly transferred.


Simulation is now transferred to BWR which is acting as pseudo pilot for this aircraft.

The different tag items are explained more in detail at Pseudopilot tag elements (external)

Handoff


Transferring the tag is done as normal by clicking the callsign.


If there are multiple stations online it is recommended to use manual transfer to ensure that that tag is properly transferred to the correct controller.

Show route


To have a glance at the current route, right click the RFL field.


To enable persistent drawing of the route, right click the AFL field.

Headings


Can be set by clicking and selecting the new heading.


Another option is to click and drag out a heading you would like to assign the aircraft, form the heading field. Left clicking will set the heading, right click cancels.

This tool will also display the predicted turn radius.

Climb and descent


Altitude is modified by selecting a new one from the Temp alt in parentheses. The aircraft will begin climbing or descending shortly after the value is changed.

Speed control


If the aircraft does not have any assigned speed it will follow the normal speed profile according to the aircraft performance.
Applying speed control is done by clicking "ASP", then selecting the assigned speed.

Pay close attention to the applied speed control as in this case, 220 or greater


Selecting --- will cancel speed the speed restriction and resume normal speed.

Selecting type of speed control must be done via the control ribbon.

Click the icon to cycle between the modes.

In order from left to right, they are:

  1. No speed control
  2. Exact speed
  3. Or less
  4. Or greater

Routing


Routing is controlled by the route ribbon.

  1. Current inbound waypoint. Can also be used to give a direct.
  2. Next waypoints in route

To send the aircraft direct a waypoint, modify the next waypoint by clicking it, write the waypoint and press enter.


It is also possible to send the aircraft to the next waypoint from the route.

Example direct GILVA

The GIF below shows how a direct to waypoint GILVA can be done via the route ribbon.

Manual route drawing


Right clicking the inbound waypoint also allows to draw a new route the aircraft should follow. Left click to create points, then right click to add.

Clearing approach


Once the aircraft is about to establish either on a heading or via route, select the applicable option depending on scenario from the "Approach commands" ribbon.

For full stop landing, the second option is recommended to have the aircraft vacate as soon as possible. Selecting any of the intersections will try to have the aircraft vacate via that specific intersection.


It is also possible to clear approach from the Matias tag, via the altitude field.

Clearing approach from the tag will use the "Stop on runway" option! Make sure to change this after the aircraft is established if needed.

Holding


Holdings must be pre-defined in the scenario as published holdings in order to use them.


Then once the aircraft is inbound the holding FIX, click the holding instruction from the route ribbon.

Holding entry is fully managed by the simulator regardless of how the aircraft is approaching the holding fix.


Confirm that the aircraft is entering holding via the status ribbon

Controlling VFR

Since these aircraft usually don't follow any waypoints we have to manually control their movements using headings, or use the manual route drawing from the previous "Routing" section.


Example using the route ribbon.


It is highly recommended to set Correlation mode to Easy in General settings. This allows to control uncorrelated aircraft via the Matias tag. Very useful for VFR that is squawking 7000.


Uncorrelated aircraft squawking 7000 with correlation mode "Easy". This will only apply locally - others will still see an uncorrelated tag.

Establish on final

The easiest way to achieve this is to vector the aircraft onto the ILS (using heading) then use clear approach.

Touch and go / low approach

From the Approach commands ribbon, select any of the following options

Option Function
000 Touch and go
050 Low approach at 50 ft
100 Low approach at 100 ft
150 Low approach at 150 ft
200 Low approach at 200 ft


Confirm via the status ribbon

RNP AR

Having aircraft properly fly RNP AR is a tedious process. It is generally recommended to avoid these procedures in Sweatbox. Each waypoint must be added to the route from the route ribbon.

Descend the aircraft according to constraints, then set clear approach from the altitude field once the aircraft is turning to final track.