SurClaro Flight Simulations Resources

Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject: Downloaded WX not actual

I created an IFR flight from ILG to PHL, downloaded weather and took off for the short hop. Now I live about 1/2 way between the 2 airports and can pick up the current weather on my scanner but the ATIS on my flight was reporting an altimeter of 30.14 and higher clouds than actual conditions. The correct actual altimeter setting was 29.14 - a difference of 1 in.
Where are these wx conditions that FS downloads coming from ??

Budo

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:15 am Post subject:

Budo, if your using the "download Wx" option, it's coming from a data feed from some where on the web that's supposedly updated every 15 minutes. It used to be a data feed from Jeppesen but not sure what service is providing it anymore.

Even if the Wx stations are reporting accurately, you may not receive the data in time for it to be "accurate", so you will undoubtedly see some variation between FS weather and your scanners report.

Another possibility is that the area you're flying in is not covered by a reporting station, that is covered by the system FS is getting it's data from.

Checkout the topics in this forum about ActiveSky (or go to www.hifisim.com ) if you want Wx realism.

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 2:10 am Post subject:

Thanks for the reply Rick

Don't know the true answer but it was a suprise with such a difference in the altimeter seting.
Actually the 2 stations I was flying between do report hourly WX.
Anyhow......

Have to make the best with what you got I guess.

Budo

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:10 am Post subject:

Did you get the altimeter setting 29.14 off the ATIS from your local airport?
or from your barometer?

this is important because the baromter gives actual pressure while an atis gives pressure corrected to sea level to allow for airplanes to show the correct altitude when on the ground

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 11:35 am Post subject:

29.14 was gotten off the ATIS and verified when I monitored PHL approach control.

Budo