Ideal Flight Accessibility phase 3

[Steve Waite]

...for every 100 knots above the limit will give 3 minutes more or less so 350 knots and 1500 fpm descent the speed will begin to reduce at 15,000 feet.

[Steve Waite]

I'm looking at improving that slightly yet after more testing. So far I've increased to 240 seconds (4 minutes) for each 100 knots over the limit at 1500 fpm as 3 minutes was a bit ambitious for heavy aircraft at that descent rate. Slower cruise and less steep descents decreases that. Even so, the stepped descent can be used to ensure compliance with the speed limit.

[Steve Waite]

There will be a checkbox in the Assist Auto-Pilot options for anticipating the speed limit during descent. The main factor in the algorithm governing the altitude to start speed reduction is the descent rate and speed is applied with that.

[Steve Waite]

I won't be able to upload this week due to some other commitments getting in the way, it is very close now so I will hope for next week. There's a lot of improvements and new bits in the new build. Sorry for the delays.

[Orinks]

When you talked about heavy aircraft, did you test in something like a 777/787, etc? 747?

Looking forward to testing.

[Steve Waite]

Yes all types are being tested. Weight is not perhaps a factor, rather the size and drag combined with descent rate and speed.

[Steve Waite]

Because you don't know how long it will take to slow down until slowing down, so you start slowing down at a certain altitude, but by then it may be too late. The program will make an assumption as to when to start slowing down that might not be soon enough. So you have to consider leveling off to reduce speed before the limit altitude is reached. After that you might find speed increases due to the angle of descent so the descent rate might require adjusting as well. Anyway, it will be a lot of fun to play with the new functions.

There's a lot for the program to consider depending on assistance options selected so it's taking a bit of time to account for all those options together and test it all out. Testing everything as I go and making it all happen together has taken more time than I thought but this stage is nearly done.

[Steve Waite]

Also regarding slowing down I forgot to say that if spoilers are available they can be operated to slow down more quickly so they will be an option as well.

[Orinks]

Does the program consider whether autorudder in the simulator is on? Does the rudder assist and the sim's autorudder conflict?

[Steve Waite]

The in-sim auto-rudder and the Ideal Flight rudder assist do not interfere with each other. The in-sim auto-rudder helps keep you straight but the I F rudder assist actually moves you toward the runway centerline and attempts to keep you there during take-off and landing.