Leaving the PC while on autopilot

Thanks. I can see that really messing with a flightplan TOD calculation.

I know when I make long flights and want to step away for a while I just set the autopilot, and try to make sure I’m not going to run out of gas. I don’t do OnAir, or any other flights where I’m expected to be somewhere at a point in time.

Burn-in is a real thing and this is what my post was about. Both LG and Samsung mention it on their website so no need to educate me.
I have OLED TV and OLED monitor without any burn-in issues but I use them carefully. The TV is almost 4 years old and it has its own screensaver that turns on when image is static. I bet LG put it there for a reason.
My monitor goes to sleep automatically when PC is idle so I don’t have to switch it off manually every time I go away from the desk.

OLED TV Reliability: Burn-In & Lifespan – Get The Facts | LG USA

What is burn-in and how can I avoid getting it on my TV? | Samsung UK

From ASUS:

Burn-in on an OLED display can occur if a static high-contrast image is displayed for a prolonged period of time. To avoid this, we include Pixel Shift technology, which moves displayed pixels slightly to avoid consistently showing static images on your monitor. This function is by default turned on. The mechanism significantly reduces the chance of burn-in by making sure all the pixels are illuminated and darkened equally, thus protecting the display from visible color shifts over time.

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I have a Panasonic TV which does the same.

Features include:

Pixel orbiting.
Channel logo dimming.
Display switch-off when tuned to a radio station.
Screensaver.
Panel maintenance on switching to standby after 4 hrs accumulated viewing (takes about 10 mins).
The full-monty panel maintenance every 6 months or so which takes about 90 mins.
Several warnings in the manual about panel care, eg, don’t watch news channels for hours.

They wouldn’t have all that if it wasn’t important. It’s only a couple of years old so it’s not old tech.

And while I think of it, everyone’s assuming the OP was worried about damaging his screen, but it might be for other reasons for all we know. He might want to save power. It might be disturbing other members of his household. It’s not really our place to say.

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Screensaver on or off is of no importance to me. I just don’t see why it should come on when the game is “alive” and in focus on the screen. But I’ll turn it off for a while.

That being said, this last crash looks like it could have been the fuel balance thing in the G36. Didn’t occur to me that an aircraft would require you to manually switch between tanks to maintain balance and avoid crashing to the ground :wink:

I have now created two new buttons on my streamdeck. Tank 1 left and right. At least it is easy to switch. And then I’ll see about automating them so I don’t need to press them…

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I use SPAD, and that would (should) be (relatively) easy using conditionals that check tank level variables.

I created an automated cowl flap in my Wilga. Works well.

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I think Windows looks for user input (keyboard/mouse) as a trigger to keep screensaver off. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t care what an app is doing on the screen.

I suppose you could create a macro that does a keypress or mouse click at an interval less than your screensaver timeout. Start/Stop the macro when you step away/return to the flight.

Here’s a well-regarded free macro creator.

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Not for me. It switches to LOC mode upon reaching the runway leg of the flight plan. Apparently that’s what it did for him too.

Hey @GeirRosset. I lean heavily towards what @WolverineHusky said here and specifically his comment, “Plane dependent, but could turn down turbulence settings, which in very rare occasions can trip up an AP in certain planes.

Several of the planes in my hangar are particularly sensitive to excessive wind shear at altitude, and on occasion those severe events kick off the AP. It has happened a time or two with the TBM and the Fenix A320 specifically. Unfortunately, there are still wind shift issues with Live Weather that can occur from time to time, and here with my setup, I have seen these event disable the AP. Just a thought. I hope you get this sorted soon.

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I had the Twin Otter AP disconnect while flying over mountains.

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That can only happen if your flight plan includes a preselected Approach. Otherwise it’s a TERM leg direct to the Airport waypoint.

Thanks for the link, much appreciated.

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That is my understanding too. You can go into Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Power Options\Edit Plan Settings\Change Advanced Power Settings and see how various PC components are configured.

I think I’ve found a solution here via Reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/playnite/comments/15v1aos/script_or_extension_to_prevent_screensaver_while/

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Yesterday evening i started a 3 hour flight from Gibraltar to Tenerife, but after 1 hour and a half i wanted to watch tv so i paused the game using active pause. So i left it until 8 o clock this morning and the flight continues as usual. But if you save your flight on disc you loose your flightplan. Only drawback is you have to leave your pc on all the time. But the positive side is i can land in Tenerife using daylight…

But when you put it in autopilot and nav mode you have to make sure your plane is on the purple line and stays on the line. Otherwise its not following the set course. I also put in alt-mode, and vertical navigation.When i flew through spain i also climbed to 7000 feet instead of the 4000 feet because of the mountains

You don’t make sure of anything.
Autopilot will follow the Flight Plan.

Hi mercvrivs1760,
FYI, there is a Wishlist item that discusses this issue:

In the March 14th, 2024 – Development Update, the issue is listed as “Under Investigation”:

Yea, that would be a good thing if i could save a flight with a flightplan. Than i could continue the next morning. Than i dont have to leave my pc on all night or put a new flightplan in the Garmin G1000 the next morning.

You can mitigate that with the TDS GTN 750, either by saving the plan to its virtual memory card, or importing the file from outside the sim, you would then activate the next leg at your current position. Not ideal but workable.

I just found my plane belly up on the ground after departure from Denver while in autopilot and nav mode, alt-mode…