Docking system

 

Since docking system are normally small panels placed on the ground or in a wall you will be using small scales to make the macro. 

This is a description of the NovaEx28.NOV file example.

This first panel shows the 
  • The width of the panel
  • The height, and 
  • The altitude of the panel above the ground.

TIP: You should use an scale of 1/8 or 1/10 for the entire macro and components. Actual measurements are based in a 1/8 scale.

One very important point is the altitude of the panel. Aircraft heights for a B747 and a Cessna are not the same. You have to set the right altitude for the docking system in the coordinates panel.

 

To make a docking system you will require 9 different pictures to make the complete display. The picture may be any format in size and, as in the custom Nova texture Nova040.bmp and Nova054.bmp, you can place them all in the same textured bitmap.

Each picture represents a phase, and requires an action from the aircraft position or distance to the panel.

 

 

You use this panel to select each texture to go with each of the docking system phases. The panel shows, from top to bottom, the right sequence order of all phases.
Inactive means the panel that will show when the aircraft is out of range.
Back texture means the optional texture to use for the back of the panel. If you place the panel against a wall you will not need to use it and you can check the Draw box to off.
docksys4.gif (3950 bytes) This is a graphical representation of the docking system. From the bottom we have:
  • Activate docking system position: This is the position and distance from the stop mark where the system becomes activated. The system will be deactivated when the aircraft is away from this mark. Normal distance is around 120-200 meters to the stop mark.
  • Move forward 1: You must decide when to display the warning or message to move forward. Normal distance would be 100-150 meters.
  • Move forward 2: A second message of the same kind but the aircraft is getting closer to the target. Normal distance would be 75-100 meters.
  • Slow forward: The aircraft is still moving closer but the aircraft alignment is now also checked more precisely. Normal distance would be 35-75 meters.
  • Stop short: The aircraft is very close to the target and must stop soon. Normal distance would be 3-35 meters.
  • Stop: The aircraft must stop now or you will get a panel saying Too close. Normal distance would be 0-3 meters.
This panel is where you control the distances from phase to phase as well as the deviation of the airplane to be verified.

Note that all measurements are based on a 1/8 scale value.

You can control the aircraft deviation in all approach phases and the closer the aircraft is to the panel the narrower the deviation will be.

According to the values in the picture the panel is placed at 80/8 = 10 meters from the stop point. This distance will vary with the aircraft type and length - this example is based on a B737 aircraft model. The first calculation of the distance you need to enter will be the distance from the panel to the center of the aircraft.

The panel also shows 5 different default options based on 5 different scales you may want or need to use. You can choose the one you think will fit your needs and also modify it if required.


 

Finally the panel can be placed between two posts made using the cube (as in this example) or placed at a given altitude against a building wall.
You can add as many panels as you need to your docking system. As an example you can load the NovaEx29.nv1 file for this purpose.

This second panel will display different messages based on the aircraft position and will normally follow the same rules as the first one for aircraft approach to final position.