You have completed your routine walk-around check of the aircraft prior to your virtual airline flight, have ceremoniously kicked the left-hand tire before climbing aboard, and now are ready to taxi.
But before you start to move your aircraft in flight simulator, you first have to figure out where your flight simulator is and where you're supposed to go. This is easy, however, if you can use your gyro compass—and if you understand how airport runways are numbered. Runway Numbers. The number of any runway indicates that runway's compass heading. Just add a zero to the end of the runway number, and you know which way it runs.
If a runway is identified as Runway 31, for example, that means you'd have a compass heading of (approximately) 310° while landing on or taking off using flight simulator from that runway.
When used in the opposite direction, the same strip of concrete will be called Runway 13. That is, 310° minus 180° equals 130° (or 31 minus 18 equals 13).
Similarly, Runway 4 would have a compass heading of about 040° (zero four zero degrees), and when used in the opposite direction the same physical strip of concrete would be referred to as Runway 22, with a heading of 220° (two two zero degrees).
How to taxi in Flight Simulator 2004 and Flight Simuator X.
Taxi slowly with your flight simuator, normally not faster than 15 knots or so. If you have any questions about
the route, ask the air traffic controller. Don’t forget to pick up your Airport Diagram as well – it
makes navigating large and tricky airports much easier. Once you approach the runway,
the ground controller will hand you off to the tower; if ground is offline, the tower (or
approach or center) controller will give you a takeoff clearance.You may hear several phraseologies in the takeoff (and runway crossing) clearance,
including “Position and Hold” (which means you lineup at the end of the runway and
wait for further takeoff clearance) or “No Delay” (which means you make your lineup
and takeoff in one smooth movement – but never be so rushed to get off the runway
that you endanger your takeoff). Air Traffic Control will always advise how far out the traffic is, and if
you wish to deny your clearance and wait until the incoming traffic has landed, that is
your right as virtual airline pilot in command.
Airport Diagram. Now get the overhead radar view on the screen and zoom in or out as required to put it into perspective (on the 68000, from the NAV menu select Map Display and then Zoom.). Go the Airport Approach section on your flight simulation charts, where you'll find the official Airport Diagram for John F. Kennedy International. The airports appear alphabetically by location, so you'll find it under New York. Notice that the flight simulator's portrayal of the airport runway and taxistrip layout is surprisingly accurate.
From the chatter on the COM radio, it seems likely that we'll be taking off on Runway 31 Left. This implies that there are two parallel runways with the number 31—Runway 31R and Runway 31L. Our present heading is 310°, so we must be sitting parallel to the two parallel runways in question. Runway 31 Left has to be the one parallel to us on the left, while 31 Right is over on the other side of the airport in your flight simlulator.
To taxi in a professional manner, you'll first increase power enough to get the aircraft rolling for your virtual airline in flight simulator, then ease back on the throttle and let the aircraft coast at an appropriate speed; taxi patiently, and use the time to check your panel and prepare yourself mentally for the departure. Note that the nose wheel steering will be a little sluggish in Microsoft Flight Simulator as you taxi; you'll have to think ahead and move the stick a little bit in advance.
