Is there a way to force the default starting position to be on the ramp, or in a parking stall, etc. vs. on the active runway?
I’m a (total n00b) VATSIM user and I have a tendency to forget to switch the default off of the runway as the starting point. As such I have to log out, then log back in…
Would be great to just have the default be something OTHER than the end of the runway without having to select it each time I start a new flight.
Yes, when you start your flight, just choose a ramp/gate location, rather than a runway. It’s the only way to start cold, and dark currently.
When you select an airport, on the map you would see a series of dots, each one being a starting position. If you have a flight plan loaded, choosing one that way will wipe your flight plan out.
So the better way is to use the bottom of the two dropdowns at the top of the screen. The top one shows you your departure airport, the lower one the starting position. Find a suitable ramp/gate start there, and hit Fly!
Its a pity Asobo chose to make us force the sim to park our plane rather than defaulting to parked somewhere suitable and making us force a start on the runway. Its the wrong way around as it stands in my opinion.
They don’t force you to start on a runway. I’m not sure what you mean. You can choose a ramp start, or a runway start.
Well the challenge is - by default, when you build a FP, the starting location in the drop-down is always a runway. You have to manually change the drop down to a parking spot.
Ideally I’d want the default to be a parking spot - and force me to choose a runway instead if I want to start off with the plane running etc.
With VATSIM, it’s against the rules to drop into the sim right on a runway (obviously.) Hence why I’d like to force the default.
Ah, I see what you mean. It’s not a feature, but with an easy workaround, just remember to pick a ramp start.
Maybe something to add as a wishlist, a toggle somewhere that would force a cold start on the ramp by default. Then have the sim just pick either a ramp, or gate, depending on the aircraft you chose.
Yeah my challenge is always remembering to select a ramp start.
It’s not a defect… it’s my own fault… but I’m getting annoyed at myself that I’ve essentially had to “restart” my flight every time for the last couple days because I drop in THEN realize I’m on the runway… have to quit…reload the FP… sometimes STILL forget to change the dang drop down… then reconnect.
I sympathize entirely. I usually create flight plan in Navigraph and upload. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to restart because I forgot to select a starting ramp position after loading the flight plan!
I really should have learned by now … starting to realize that it’s a new trick and I’m and old dog…
Exactly the same. Navigraph export, pull it up in FS and FLY… then… ■■■■… I’m on the runway… quit…
No, you can also use the map.
Type your starting ICAO in the search, click on your starting airport on the map and a box saying “zoom to details” appears.
Click on that. It will take you to a schematic of the airport, with dots representing parking spots/gates.
You can use the mouse wheel to zoom in a bit more if you want.
Click on the dot for the spot/gate you want.
On the ensuing popup, select “set as departure”
Make that a routine and your issue is solved.
Be careful with the “Zoom” method. When you “Load” a flight plan, if you use the “Zoom” method, it will erase your flight plan and make it a Direct flight. If you use the drop down box to select a start point it will retain your flight plan.
Also, I’m guessing most of you are much too young to be complaining about remembering to choose a ramp or gate start. I’m 60 and can still remember that.
You can only use that method with the default planner or using a simbrief import
PS: me too, 66
Or a mid-air start, which is kind of cool!
IIRC FSX and X-Plane default to a runway. It’s just something you have to put in your sim startup mental checklist.
All airports have a runway but not all have parkingspots.
When at one of those that don’t, you just click anywhere on the map you want, and it will make a custom spot.
Pretty clever. Might be it.
If the default start was changed from the default runway to a ramp, gate, or parking spot, what would be the default?
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