Airbus Series Evolution 'Pilot In Command': Volume 2 for FSX & FS2004

Media Format

DVD-ROM

Compatibility

Microsoft Flight Simulator X & 2004

Created specifically for Microsoft Flight Simulator X and 2004 customers, the Airbus Series Evolution ‘Pilot in Command’ is the second volume in the popular series.

This volume takes you to the masterfully created flight deck that critics acclaim is as close to the real thing as possible. You will sweat and feel the feedback as you take off with enhanced features like push back steering for FSX, heads up display, and weather radar. All flight surfaces behave as the Airbus does with wing flex, thrust reversers, and hatch doors replicating reality perfectly.

The auditory experience is also enhanced with all sounds coming from real Airbus aircraft. Hear the ground and flight crew talking. Listen to the engines and enjoy the sound of contact as you touch down in this famously quiet and smooth aircraft. Detailed avionics are also present with full spectrum from manual ‘Cold and Dark’ to full auto sunny day landings.

Full integration with Navigraph allows for monthly updates for the latest terrain. Navigation is further realized with the heads up display (HUD). This new HUD allows for monitoring of holding patters Holding Patterns, Approach Speed, Target Altitude, and Waypoint arrival updates. The realism continues with all new graphics which unlike previous versions include a 32 bit rendering which has no impact on the refresh rate so all graphic simulations perform smoothly with no risk of over pixilation or graphics freezing.

After mastering the A318 simulation, you are reading to take your simulation to the next level by flying the Airbus A340-600 which is the longest commercial aircraft in the sky. Feel the size and power with double the engines and increased weight for smooth aviation experience without feeling like you are simply piloting a longer A318.

Wilco Publishing promises a fantastically real user experience and that you can pick up no matter what your level of expertise. Beginners can jump right in with step by step instructions. More advanced users can simply pick where they left off and enjoy the host of new features this excellent installment provides.

Look to Wilco Publishing for the best in advanced flight simulation expansion packs for FSX and FS2004.

Manufacturers Description

Now from Flight1 and Wilco is the stunning Airbus Series Evolution 'Pilot In Command': Volume 2 for Microsoft Flight Simulator X and 2004.  The package features many great features and a fully featured aircraft model; this is more than just an add-on aircraft, it's a complete package that can be used in so many ways.  Volume 2 covers the heavier and larger Airbus aircraft.

"At times when I was flying the aircraft, I forgot that I was virtually flying it.. beads of sweat would roll down my head, when I found it hard to stay on the approach. The other manufacturers of Airbus have some catching up to do. It is one of the most-used aircraft in my collection and I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone." - Flightsim.com

The 'Pilot in Command' label suggests excellence and does not disappoint. In the award winning Series 1, Wilco/FeelThere, delivered the ubiquitous A318 through A321 series. Series 2 looks to five of the 'heavies', the A330-200/300, A340-300/600 and the military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport.

This new 'Evolution' release of the Feelthere-developed Airbus range of aircraft has been re-worked with a whole host of new features.

• Weather Radar
• Head Up Display
• New Details
• Navigation Systems (including Navigraph support)
• New More Detailed Systems Functionality and Alerts
• Useability Improvements
• Difficult Level Selection
• Pushback Steering
• Multi-Monitor Support

The Airbus ethos of faster training and crew rating through keeping elements similar across airframes is rewarded here. Seated in the virtual cockpit, pilots familiar with the A320 will feel instantly at home, ready to face the challenges of flying these larger craft.

Those new to Airbus will enjoy the discovery that gaining skills in one, they are already well advanced for their next.

Exploring the aircraft

The sleek lines of modern transports can challenge the sense of detail, but not here, the undercarriage is simply a joy. Numerous liveries are included with realistic night lighting, and the easy to use paint-kit enables users to create additional liveries of their choice. The high resolution textures are beautifully executed and feature dynamic shine and reflection.

These are complete aircraft including detailed interiors of both business and economy sections, (no 'upgrade' is required to access business class!). Animation rich, the models include wing flex, suspension, thrust reversers, doors, hatches and of course all flight surfaces operate exactly like the real thing. At the gate, watch jetways and luggage vehicles interact.

Assisting that best view, FSX Viewpoints including Gear, Wing and Cabin are all included.

Flight Deck Perfection

'On the bridge' you'll be struck immediately by the detail. Three realism levels ensure enjoyment for the ab-initio and expert alike whilst night and day lighting are equally considered for those long haul journeys.

Vector graphic technology (GDI+) ensures the smoothest of operation and clarity. This is complemented by a full set of 2D panels for left and right seat operation, designed not only for 1024x768 but 1600x1200 resolutions. Using GDI+ pop-up EFIS displays can be detached and scaled at will with no loss of quality at all. Superb for multi-monitor PCs, even brightness is adjustable.

For the serious simmer, the avionics run from 'cold and dark ' to full auto-landing. The beautifully replicated glass cockpit includes Cat II and Cat III certification, and the Fully Featured fly-by-wire and autopilot system includes ALL Airbus specific modes.

The Airbus EFIS is meticulously represented and encompasses Primary Flight Display ( PFD), Navigation Display( ND), Engine Warning Display (EWD), System Display (SD) complete with all system pages.

Systems extend to a fully featured (FADEC) Full Authority Digital Engine Control system, full Inertial Reference System (IRS), Ground Proximity Warning (GPWS) with caution messages, Radio Management Panel, Realistic Auto-brakes and SID/STAR Management

All FMC parameters can also be retained as part of a saved flight.

Quiet enough to appreciate the sound

These Airbus are famously quiet. All engine noise you do hear is digitally recorded from the real aircraft, as is the APU, the air conditioning, batteries, passenger signs, and clicks. Adding the 'human factor', sound even extends to crew and ground dialogs.

In-Flight

Thanks to the Airbus design philosophy pilots with skills already honed on the smaller variants, can expect to master these aircraft at accelerated speed, and will be pleased to discover that such similarity does not mean an A340-600 is simply an A318 with different graphics.

Double the engines and numerous additional systems, the A340-600 at 75m is the longest airliner in the sky today, longer even than the A380 and twice the length of the Wright brothers first powered flight.The flight dynamics of these aircraft have been developed by the acclaimed Rob Young of Flight Dynamics, and tested by active Airbus Pilots to ensure that each of these related aircraft offers a unique and authentic experience.

Set to full realism the Airbus Fly-by-wire computers can alert to pilot error in areas a 'dumb' aircraft cannot. These aircraft are excellent for honing that extra level of piloting skill that in real flight can make all the difference between a landing, and just an 'arrival'!

Video

Additional Features

WEATHER RADAR

Airbus Series Evolution features a highly advanced Weather Radar developed by RealityXP. It is fully integrated into the Navigation Display (ND) and follows the ND range/mode and brightness settings. The route and the moving map are still visible as they are displayed on top of the weather radar display. The Weather Radar can be activated from the 2D cockpit only.

HEAD-UP DISPLAY (HUD)

Based on specifications from the real manufacturer, a Head-Up Display has been integrated into the Airbus Series Vol.1 and Vol.2. Your aircraft can land in any visibility conditions, whatever the weather.

All the necessary flight informations are displayed on the HUD so that no other instrument is needed. You can look through the window while flying the aircraft on the right trajectory.

The HUD is useful to manually fly low-visibility approaches. It even allows the lower the minimal visibility distance.

The HUD is designed to be used in full-screen mode and can be displayed in the 2D cockpit too.

NAVIGATION

• SID/STAR Management
  One of the most important improvement of Airbus Series Evolution is in the management of the SID/STAR procedures. The information management contained in the database has been improved so that all the waypoints that describe a SID or STAR procedure are no taken into account, whatever their type. This is especially visible for waypoints that describe a turn to a waypoint or a radial interception because a nice curved route is then drawn on the navigation display (ND).In order to take advantage of these improvements, getting a recent version (AIRAC) of the navigation database is strongly recommended. You can get a more recent database at Navigraph.
• DIR Operation
  The DIR operation used to proceed direct to a route waypoint is improved. A temporary flight plan is created (like for any flight plan modification) and requires a validation. In addition, the trajectory is drawn as the aircraft flies, with a curved route when appropriate.
• Holding Patterns
  The aircraft flies the holding pattern trajectory almost perfectly. Flight tests have also been conducted with crosswind.
• Target Altitude
  The target climb or descent altitude is shown on the route with a blue arrow and its position is updated in real time. These arrows are sometimes called “hockey sticks”.
• TOC Real-Time Update
  The position of the top-of-climb (TOC) point is computed in real time. It is very important if the ATC asks for a level during the climb. If it happens, the TOC point is moved accordingly instead of being wrongly positioned.
• Second ADF
  A second fully functional ADF receiver has been added. On the navigation display, 2 different green needles can show the 2 ADF signals.
• SID/STAR filtering
  When a departure or arrival runway is selected, only the SID/STAR procedures that apply for the selected runway are displayed. Hiding the useless procedures reduces the list of the displayed SID/STAR, making the selection easier.
• Flight Plan Edition
  When a new waypoint is inserted on the F-PLN page (immediate waypoint insertion) at the place of a discontinuity, the discontinuity is shifted down and no discontinuity is added.
• Flight Plan Display
  As the aircraft flies toward the next waypoint, the displayed distance to the next waypoint is updated in real time.
• Approach Speed
  The managed speed on approach depends on the flap handle position instead of depending on the flaps position, like in the real aircraft. This makes the approach the approach smoother with less variation of engine power.
• Updated Flight Management System Database
  Thanks to a partnership with Navigraph, the latest navigation database (December 2010) is provided with Airbus Series Evolution. This database is up-to-date and contains much more information than the database originally provided with the Airbus Series. This is especially true for Europe, most airports have all the SID/STAR procedures available.

The navigation database is updated every month, you can keep updating it by visiting Navigraph here: http://www.navigraph.com.

SYSTEMS

• Electricity
  All the electric devices, such as lights (landing, taxi, beacon, strobes) and the 6 EFIS screens (PFD, ND, E/WD and SD) are properly managed and can be switched ON only if the appropriate electric source is available, APU, GPU or engine generator.
• Alert Clear and Recall
  The alerts displayed on the E/WD can be cleared and recalled if necessary. This is important when a master caution alert is shown because it blocks the display of the take off/landing memo.
• Fly-by-Wire (auto-coordination)
  The fly-by-wire system provides auto-coordination. The rudder pedals are active even if auto-coordination is active. This allows you to "kick" the aircraft, very important with crosswind, like in the real aircraft.
• Computed Speeds
  The FACs (Flight Augmentation Computers) are in charge of computing the Green Dot, F and S speeds. Consequently, these speeds are not displayed on the PFD speed tape if both FACs are off.
• Fuel Tank Management
  The center tank fuel feeding is active only when the slats/flaps are not extended. During take off and landing, each engine must be fed by its own tank. In case of a fuel problem, both engines would not stop at the same time.
• Metric Altitude
  The metric altitude is implemented: the FCU selected altitude is displayed on the bottom part of the SD.
• Speed Brake Alert
  A new alert has been implemented to display a warning if the speed brakes are deployed while the engines are providing thrust.
• FADEC
  Improved multi-throttle devices to control each thrust lever independently.
• Engine and Door Selection
  Improved engine selection from FS standard keys E-1, 2, 3, 4. This allows separate engine control with a single throttle lever.
  Also valid for doors selection: Shift-E-1 and 2 open/close the aircraft doors.
• Radio
  The radio master switch located on the Radio Management Panel is efficient and the radio stops when the switch is off. In addition, this switch is turned off when cold & dark option is selected.
• Hydraulics - Yellow Electric Pump
  The yellow electric pump has its own sound, familiar to all the A320 passengers.
• Landing Lights
  On the A320 (Airbus Series Vol. 1), a specific sound is heard when the landing lights are deployed. This is because the landing lights on these aircrafts are deployed below the wings when they are turned on.
• MCDU AIRAC Cycle and Version
  The AIRAC cycle is displayed on the MCDU A/C STATUS Page.
  In addition, the current version of the Wilco Airbus systems has been added on this same page, at the VERSION line.
• SD DOOR Page
  The door status page shows the right door selections.
• Network Flying
  The TCAS mode is fully compliant with the IVAO/SquawkBox TCAS specifications, very useful for network flights. The AUTO mode is implemented so that the TCAS is automatically set to C-mode when the aircraft leaves the ground, and set back to standby mode when the wheels touch the ground upon landing.
• 32-bits rendering
  The EFIS screens (PFD, ND, E/WD and SD) are now rendered in 32-bits mode. Rendering is improved without any impact on the refresh rate.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Push-back steering (FSX)
  FSX users will be happy to see the aircraft can be steered during pushback with PPU in FSX. This feature used to work in FS2004 only.
• Cold & Dark (FSX)
  The Cold & Dark feature can be activated through a key press. The key can be defined in the key configurator
• Multiple Monitor Display
  Improved multi-monitors management for pedestal and overhead consoles.
• Expert Mode
  Improved Expert mode with no more MCDU assistance.