Virtual Airlines Manager

FAJS ICAO identifier was replaced by FAOR ICAO identifier years back.

Flying into FAOR a few months ago generated a PENALTY of NOT LANDING AT THE CORRECT AIRPORT.   Looking through the airports table I realized that FAOR (Correct ICAO ID) had a completely wrong airport name and possibly incorrect lat/lon.   Further checking on FAJS showed a correct airport name.  So, I deleted the problem causing FAOR row from the table then replaced the incorrect IACO of FAJS with FAOR.

I've just completed a rotation from EDDF - FAOR... landed at FAOR... shut down the MD11 at the gate... filed the pirep... got the validation email then viewed the ACARS report only to find a PENALTY for landing at the NOT CORRECT AIRPORT.

The Map shows the MD11 sitting at FAOR (Correct)... The MD11 has been relocated to FAOR and I'm at the Hilton off the Airport relaxing in Johannesburg.

I'm not that smart to make this shiznt up.  Time for a Corona with a lime wedge.

Cheers,

Keith

This is a response from USER: Sophie I managed to find on the forum... having to do with getting VAM to point to HTTPS instead of HTTP.

COPY OF RESPONSE
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Geroma76

    Jr. Member
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    Posts: 89
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Re: Website problem
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2018, 08:52:55 AM »

    Quote

Hello Thomas


I assume you have changed your website from http to https or use SSL encryption on your website.

If that's true please change following ....

vam_header.php

vam_index_header.php

Search all entries in the HEAD AERA with http and change them to https


Sophie

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END OF RESPONSE



I'm getting closer to moving my VAM from a subdomain to its dedicated domain which has an SSL already in place.  Even if using the response above and the edits to the two (2) files...

QUESTION:  After creating a NEW VIRTUAL AIRLINE link in SIMACARS... having http://HTTPS://www.blahblah.com...  will SIMACARS be able to connect to a HTTPS:?

Thanks,

Keith

This penalty bucket should be removed from the planned VAM updates. Here is an example reported by ACARS during my current flight EDDF-VAPO over 3hrs into the flight climbing up to initial cruise of FL370...

2018-07-22 16:36:01OVERSPEED  KIAS: 278 Altitude 36588 feet AGL
2018-07-22 16:36:22 RECOVER FROM OVERSPEED  KIAS: 278 Altitude 36569 feet AGL
2018-07-22 16:59:26OVERSPEED  KIAS: 278 Altitude 34960 feet AGL
2018-07-22 16:59:27 RECOVER FROM OVERSPEED  KIAS: 278 Altitude 34961 feet AGL
2018-07-22 16:59:27OVERSPEED  KIAS: 279 Altitude 34961 feet AGL
2018-07-22 17:00:02 RECOVER FROM OVERSPEED  KIAS: 278 Altitude 33219 feet AGL

... the WX Engine - FSGlobal Real Weather  injects winds aloft data into the sim on a station by station crossing schedule along the route. It is the WX injection that introduces the sudden changes... not the virtual pilot.

Even in the real world, such wind direction/speeds fluctuations can rattle the KIAS indicator.   Pilots can ONLY react to those situations... but they do happen.

Why have a a penalty imposed on a virtual pilot/flight at the instant the airspeed indicator is affected?  When even the real world pilot can only REACT... meaning... the condition has already happened?

This makes no sense - from a Sim point of view.   A real world pilot would NEVER induce an overspeed condition!  Neither would a real world pilot fly INTO a known DOWNDRAFT... all the pilot can do is REACT after the condition occurs.

ACARS does not provide a reaction time window.     It just kicks a PENALTY.    Some see this as making the sim experience 'as real as it gets'.   It's is a distraction honestly!  It detracts from an otherwise decent experience of enjoying a simulated flight.

It's a frustration to me (a virtual pilot) and my GM - a real-world captain - thinks these types of penalties are just totally ridiculous.

I hope Alex (VAM Developer) is paying attention to these issues.

I also log my flights on projectFLY.  None of these penalties are broadcast for the entire flight pirep.

I'm also noticing that with projectFLY's Landing Rate?  I touch down at -118/fpm on rojectFLY's measurements scale.  The exact same flight using SIMACARS is reported in excess of -100/fpm.  So project FLY reports -118/fpm and SIMACARS reports -218/fpm for the exact same flight... using Simconnect or FSUIPC variables.  I don't get that discrepancy!  The variances are NOT all with such a wide range. However there is a sizeable variance between both platforms.

Cheers,

Keith

Hello Alex.  There are two (2) situations I've encountered with VAM. One I mentioned before somewhere - "Why does VAM time out... causing the user to log back in..."

So, as I begin to build the SOP for the VA... I realize that (it happened) that instead of taking my time (in VAM) to create the SOP and when it times out... I loose all of the additions text, I used Notepad to write the text... save it...  then copy 'n paste the text into the "Web Configurations" RULES section. I first have to copy it into a special pop-up before the system accepts the text then moves it into the RULES section. No problem so far.

No problem if I TYPE one or two lines into "Web Configurations" RULES section.  But when I copy a large amount of text from the notepad file and paste it into "Web Configurations"  RULES section - AND - SUBMIT (so I don't loose it) I get the following error...

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /vamcore/WebConfigurations/edit/1 on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.



BTW... The error reports a 404 Error... but the Browser tab shows 403 Forbidden.

How can I fix this?

I am logged in as Administrator and I can do everything else as Administrator - including type one or two line into RULES section.  But only the large copy 'n paste action causes this problem



Thanks

Keith 1085341

Here is an observation I made a few minutes ago while preparing images that'll represent the Tour image and the Award image (for the respective Tour).  The .PHP file name is "tour_detail.php" in the VAM folder.  Lines 52 and 55 based on my display of the code.

a) I prepare each image (Tour and Award) in Photoshop with a width = 150px and height = 100px at 72dpi resolution - the standard resolution for web display. They are in .PNG format and they look fantastic in Photoshop as well as when opened via any other method.

b) I import them into VAM/images/awards then edit the Tours page... pointing to them.  Everything works... the images display.

c) The display quality is absolutely terrible however! The resolution is terrible!

So, I tracked down the .PHP script and lines mentioned above. The img src SIZE attribute is set (in code) at "100%".   When I change the value to 50%... things look a lot better.  Reducing the value further to 25% AND... the images begin to look as crisp and sharp as the original - comparing VAM to Photoshop on my dual-monitor setup.  The side effect however IS... all the BLANK space to the right within the TD / TR specs... due to the header... "TOUR DETAILS"

Alex.  I know you're FILLED with responsibilities... baby... job... life, etc.  But, if you have a chance to examine the above 'impact' on an otherwise very robust VA Manager, kindly do so.

I chose to keep the setting at 25% because that's what looks good the me.   Remember also, the proposed VAM UPDATES may very well overwrite that .PHP file. But, at least, I'll know where to go make the edits if the .PHP file is overwritten.

IMPORTANT: The same changes have to be made in the  "tour_detail_pilot.php"


ANOTHER OPTION: remove (just) the 'SIZE' parameter... being careful to retain the rest of the formatting on each line works just as well... assuming your images aren't huge


Cheers,

Keith

I'm doing a Dash 8 run from FAOR - FQBR.  Either SIM ACARS 1.4.1 or VAM has FAOR all discombobulated!   So... SIM ACARS has already penalized me for departing from the WRONG airport.   Here is what VAM displays on the Flight Map:       FAOR  Olifants River Bridge Landing Strip     It should be O R Tambo Int'l.

This is not the only inaccuracy. There was an earlier flight I did where the ALTN was not in the database and things got pretty 'wonky' as well.


Keith

a) VAM ACARS unable to detect taxi lights ON during taxi on PMDG B77LR and Eaglesoft CitationX.... maybe others

b) LIGHTS ON below/above 10,000' FLAG duration is too sensitive based on workflow in a non-shared cockpit. Increase the window limit UP/DOWN as the pilot may have other critical tasks to perform at or around 10,000'

c) speed restraint BELOW 10,000' should also have a wider window... WX injection into the sim can produce KIAS that may be influenced by the injection process and NOT a fault of the pilot. Ex: in the Boeing A/C sped restraint is set to 245kts/10,000 and in certain WX conditions that works... in other WX situations (or because of Simconnect) the pilot is penalized for a CRITICAL flag the moment KIAS goes above 250kts

d) REFUEL Penalty when NO refueling has taken place.  Not everytime... but it has happened

f) PAUSE flag...  Pretty weird behavior.  FSX/Simconnect/FSGlobalRealWeather requires from 1 sec up to 4sec sometimes to inject real world weather into the sim... OR... FSX may desire to refresh itself and reload scenery indexes... WHAM... there goes a PAUSE flag for a 1sec-5sec system/simconnect generated condition? Really? Who pauses for 5sec??

g) The LIVE FLIGHTS map needs to display a worldwide map with NO FOCUS on the planes or the departure ICAO UNTIL a user decides to click the 'plane'. Then it should allow tracking the plane and such... not what it currently does where the page refresh wipes out any sort of tracking

h) TIME OUT! Why does VAM kick the pilot out? Period! I don't understand this at all!

i) SSL Certificate compliance - I just (today) paid for SSL encryption for the domain I've already purchased (which hasnt been launched until some improvements has been made) so the update needs to address ths new Goodle mandated security level

Honestly? VAM is quite a robust platform for a VA.  I mean that!!!  I've been running it (and a Business Charter Jet Operations) for about 3 months. I've flown 47 flights in a range of sims from Majestic DH8D thru TU-154M Freeware and everything in between. I bring 13,818 Vatsim Pilot hours and 1,054 Vatsim Controller hours as well as a Vatsim P3 rating and a Vatsim ATO Instructor Cert. So, I have a decent idea about hard work and the payoff.

This is not a GRIPE! This is merely my feedback. Please regard it as such.

Thank you,

Keith

Please consider changing the behavior of the Live Flights Map (Google API) to behave as follows...

a) Instead of immediately displaying the flight's DEPARTURE ICAO (Lat/Lon readings) - for that pilot/flight - how about displaying a World Map View which is completely zoom-able showing all VA-specific and/or VATSIM®/IVAO® specific plane ICONS

b) Clicking on any plane ICON will then display the DATA for that flight as well as offer the ability to TRACK the flight

The current setup (display) is constantly refreshed and the refresh ALWAYS re-centers the map at the DEPARTURE ICAO airport - even when the plane is 6000nm away from the departure airport.

An example of what I'm talking about is the RADAR MAP used by ProjectFly© and even Flightradar24©.


Cheers,

Keith