Starting Positions

When initiating a flight in the inFlight addon, your aircraft's starting position will be automatically detected or manually set. Each starting position has specific configurations to ensure a smooth transition into your flight. Below are the descriptions of each starting position and what they represent:

Parked at Gate or Parking

Trigger Conditions:

  • The aircraft is initially positioned at a gate or parking spot.

  • The aircraft has not yet moved from its starting position.

Description: The Parked at Gate or Parking phase represents the state of the aircraft when it is positioned at a gate or parking area before any significant movement occurs. It signifies the start of ground operations where the aircraft is stationary and awaiting further procedures such as boarding or pushback.

User Tips:

  • This phase confirms that the aircraft has started its journey parked at the gate or parking area.

  • Ground handling and boarding activities typically occur during this phase.


Started on Runway

Trigger Conditions:

  • The aircraft starts on a runway, engines running, and ready for takeoff.

Description: The Started on Runway position sets the aircraft on a runway with engines on, ready for an immediate takeoff. This phase is perfect for quick departures without going through ground procedures.

User Tips:

  • Ensure your aircraft is configured for takeoff, including flaps and trim settings.

  • Be ready to initiate takeoff clearance from ATC or self-coordinate for departure.


Started in Air

Trigger Conditions:

  • The aircraft starts airborne at a designated altitude, engines running, and potentially already in a climb or cruise.

Description: The Started in Air position places the aircraft already airborne, bypassing takeoff and initial climb procedures. This is ideal for mid-flight training, testing specific flight phases, or resuming from a previous session.

Special Considerations for In-Air Starts

When starting in the air, the system checks various altitude points:

  • Above 400 Feet: Marks the initial climb stage.

  • Above 3000, 5000, 10000, and 18000 Feet: Each altitude triggers a corresponding flight phase recognition, such as passing certain climb checkpoints or reaching cruising altitude.

  • Descent Phases: If the current session indicates descent, it automatically updates to reflect the correct descent phase.

When starting in the air, the current flight phase is identified up to the cruise phase, provided that a cruising altitude is defined. If no cruising altitude is specified, the aircraft will only display as "Airborne" rather than progressing through the "Climb" phases.

User Tips:

  • Check the Flight Details on the inFlight Status window to ensure the proper cruising altitude is set.

Failure to verify proper cruising altitude may incorrectly trigger cruise phase.


Other Ground Positions

Trigger Conditions:

  • The aircraft starts on the ground, not on a runway, with engines either on or off.

Description: If your aircraft starts on the ground but not on a runway, it will automatically configure based on engine status, similar to the Pre-Boarding phase.

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