I know folks say this, but in my case I can prove it. I am a retired military aviation mechanic (helicopters). I am a real world pilot and and licensed aviation mechanic. I recently subscribed to MSFS 2024 (since you don’t actually own it via a download) Case in point, the inability to logon/in recently. I have been trying to enjoy career mode but I just can’t. It has no basis in reality, not even close. Well, maybe a little, there are airplanes and airports and stuff, but that’s about it.
Before I continue, I should state that I am not “bashing” MSFS 2024. These are real questions to things that I have encountered in my short time since purchase. I want to offer real solutions and would be willing to do so for nothing in exchange for a willing, amiable constructive exchange and subsequent change. Well, maybe getting a few free things as payment would be nice, eh!
Light cargo missions fly into paved runways and have marshallers when you land. Never once in my life have I seen that. When I was stationed in Alaska where cargo is flown almost everywhere, by all sorts of aircraft, this is unrealistic. I would imagine areas in Africa and Australia where the same would be true. Did Asobo do any real-world research before attempting to design career mode?
Medium cargo missions fly into some of the most ridiculous locations. Example, in the real world, the Pilatus PC-12 has a wingspan of 54 feet, requires a paved landing distance of 2,200 feet and take off of 2,600 feet, in good conditions. I looked at one mission that had me landing on a 15 foot by 400 foot runway. A Cessna 172 can’t do that! I think someone screwed up and flipped the mission parameters between light and medium cargo missions. There should be a way to program missions based on real-world aircraft performance. By their logic, a 737 Max should be able to take off and land on a 3,500 foot runway. It just makes no sense.
I honestly think that Asobo, Microsoft or whomever does not have a single aviation enthusiast working for them, not even on a consulting basis. It’s just seems obvious. If they do, no one is listening to them.
The cost, namesake and time rate for repairs must be some random guess by a programmer coder. I bought a brand new Pilatus PC-12, first mission, and I got a tire issue. Really, that means once I landed, I could not complete the mission. To continue, I have never heard of nor have I personally experienced “ground contact”. In the real world we call it “Avionics”. Landing gear 1,2 &3. How about nose gear, left main and right main? How hard would that be to type? If I charged 1000cr. to air up a tire for someone, I would not be in business. What is an “oil tank” much less multiples. We only changed these on antique aircraft, like from the 1940’s. I know this seems petty, but for most of us who sim, we want the realism, the immersion and these little details matter.
The ridiculous dialog from the dispatchers. The constant repeating of the same trope, that has again, no basis in reality. What is a “skid” in a Cessna 172 or any medium cargo mission. Those are for very large loads on very large aircraft. Not to mention having a female voiced co-plot, only to look over and see a male. You mean they couldn’t program the male/female voice to character matching? This might seem to be a small thing to be sure, but you should hear my personal commentary on this bit of nonsense. Sarcasm abounds!
ATC, if you want to call it that is not bad, but not good either. I flew a medium cargo mission out of the Chicago area and was “handed off” seven times before I got half way across lake Michigan, c’mon really?!
If Asobo, Microsoft or whomever, can’t get it figured out, then they should allow the “community” to provide solutions. Before I retired I worked in helicopter manufacturing. There was no way that we could produce absolutely everything “in house” that the helicopter needed. We outsourced at least 20 percent of what was needed. Like the interior work like the seats etc., or the avionics, the instruments. It’s O.K. that Asobo and Microsoft don’t have the knowledge or skill based depth in house to deal with all of the problems they continue to have. They should reach out to the community, swallow their pride, and ask for some real help. After all its not called community for no reason.
Am I wrong on any of this? Or am I just wasting my time in offering to help.
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