Creating and saving CDU plans without CDU running

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi again Pete,

I've thought again about this problem and I've asked Michal of vRoute if he would consider adding the SBP format to the extensive list of Export plan options as it would be very useful for PM CDU users.

It would be helpful if we knew the file format. I don't suppose you know it? I've worked out the first is either V, N or I, next is the name of the waypoint, then follows latitude and longitude. The final 4 fields are a mystery. Any ideas please?

Thanks.

[Peter Dowson]

It would be helpful if we knew the file format. I don't suppose you know it? I've worked out the first is either V, N or I, next is the name of the waypoint, then follows latitude and longitude. The final 4 fields are a mystery. Any ideas please?

You didn't look at many of the examples I sent? Here's one example line:

N:CCS :39.517498:-6.433500:0:28000:0:248

You can see that after the Lat/Lon (which are of course all in degrees, to 6 decimal places) the values are:

0:altitude:0:heading

I've no idea what the 0 fields should be -- I always set 0. Evidently PM CDU doesn't care. I also see that quite often the last field, the heading, is 0 too, when it obviously can't be. So I think PM ignores that too. It may even ignore the altitude for all I know because that's also often 0. Maybe it's only present when there's some rule.

Sorry, that's all I know. When I did my code to produce files which PM CDU would accept I just examined them like this and filled things in so it would accept them.

Regards
Pete

[Ray Proudfoot]

Thanks Pete. I did examine your examples and managed to work out most of them. But like you I didn't know what some of the 0 fields contained. However, if things work okay with 0 in the last 4 fields then that will probably suffice.

[Peter Dowson]

Thanks Pete. I did examine your examples and managed to work out most of them. But like you I didn't know what some of the 0 fields contained. However, if things work okay with 0 in the last 4 fields then that will probably suffice.

Well, I think it would be a good idea to put the desired cruise altitude into those waypoints which are at cruise, else I don't see how it gets it loaded -- though of course you can always override it in the CDU. But certainly the heading seems irrelevant. After all it can work it out properly between Lat/Lons.

Pete

[Ray Proudfoot]

Agreed. Once I get a reply from Michal I'll take it from there. Hopefully he will add it to the export options.

[saabpilot]

Hi Ray and Pete,

This is very interesting as well as useful and the best solution would be integrated in Vroute as that is the source for getting accepted routes for Vatsim.
I will follow this thread closely and lets hope Michal will put it as an export format.

Best,
Bjorn

www.boeing737sim.se

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi Bjorn,

I'm pleased someone else has found it interesting. There are hundreds if not thousands of us who use the PM CDU and I'm curious how you all enter your flight plans. Manually like me I suppose except for clever people like Pete who can write his own program!

But it does add to the pre-flight workload and anything that reduces that has to be good. Ideally I'd like to build plans in quiet time before I load FS and then get airborne asap. I haven't heard from Michel yet but will post here as soon as I do. I'm hopeful he will add it as it's one of the simpler file formats and PM is used by quite a few people.

[saabpilot]

Hi Ray,

At the moment I do it manually (and then forget to save the pln in the CDU for use next time).
An integration in Vroute would be heaven as I often fly on Vatsim so awaiting any result with great interest.

I can make the route construction with FliteStar and export it, but more than often it will not be accepted by Vatsim controllers. Also it takes more time with FliteStar + export than to do the routing with direct input in the CDU.

(( Guess I am a bit lazy as the CDU usually only requires airway entries and exits plus the SID , but still, it would make life as both CPT and F/O bit easier. ))

[Ray Proudfoot]

Hi Bjorn,

I make the same mistake after creating them too!

Anyway, I have some good news. Michal has replied and has agreed to add this plan type to the Export list. If you want to follow progress watch this thread. http://support.vroute.net/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1221

No mention of requiring Premium membership but I imagine most of us are already in that club.

[saabpilot]

Hi Ray,

Good News indeed

I will follow the thread.
I am not a Premium user as I have other programs doing its work better, but no problems, if he fix the export and Premium is needed I will join the train.

Best from Stockholm,
Bjorn