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Products Support => GSX Support FSX/P3D => Topic started by: crauds on August 15, 2018, 02:32:06 pm

Title: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: crauds on August 15, 2018, 02:32:06 pm
I've recently installed Majestic Q400 and aircraft seems to have been pre-configured already by GSX, but when I request fuel, the truck arrives, asks for my custom fill parameters, begins to fill but stops after 8 gal and drives away.  I have set progressive fill and custom fill check in the GSX config file.  This works for all my other aircraft.

  My exact scenario:  I first verify tank#1 86 lbs/tank #2 86 lbs.  Then I request fuel.  When prompted I select "custom" and put 2150 in each tank (FSX).  I hear the clicks when I exit the menu and hear the fuel beginning to fill.  Screen message shows the correct current target amount required in gallons and it begins to fill.  BUT after 8 gal, it packs up and leaves with tanks only having 250 lbs each!

I have FSX SP2, Win10, but should have no effect since GSX works for all other of my aircraft.  Please advise.  I am using exactly the same procedure that I do for all my other planes without issue.

Craig
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: virtuali on August 18, 2018, 01:52:30 pm
We'll look into it as soon as possible.
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: Richie Hell on August 30, 2018, 09:56:33 pm
I have the exact same issue with the Q400 in P3D 4.3.

Tells me refuelling will take approx 9 minutes but then only gives me 35kg and drives off.

At least I know it's not just me and glad to hear it will be looked at.

Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: robains on October 14, 2018, 06:24:48 pm
I didn't have this exact problem with the Q400, but I had a similar related problem.  I had about 10% fuel in both tanks, requested GSX refuel, truck arrived and I selected 70%.  Truck proceeded to fill and I saw the counter move and waited about a minute or so and then it leaves.  Nothing in the aircraft changed, fuel was the same.  Once the refuel truck actually "disappeared" (visually) then ONE tank showed 70% and the other tank was untouched still at 10% -- leaving me with an unbalance message in the Q400

This is with the latest GSX L2 updated externally.

On a side, love the passenger boarding and unboarding and everything else works like charm, very impressed.

Cheers, Rob.
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: virtuali on October 15, 2018, 11:43:31 am
Rob,

which airplane you used ? Was it flagged as using the default Fuel/Cargo page ? If not, GSX is not actually refueling it, and it would still be up to you to do it, using whatever method the airplane use to refuel itself.

Have a look at the manual, there are a couple of examples how it's supposed to work with airplanes flagged has not using the default fuel page.
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: Gabe777 on May 21, 2019, 09:31:56 pm
Has this been resolved ?

No fuel at all here - just turns up, stops for a few seconds then leaves !!!
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: virtuali on May 21, 2019, 09:48:58 pm
Has this been resolved ? No fuel at all here - just turns up, stops for a few seconds then leaves !!!

See my previous reply, in which I made a question that would help start troubleshooting the problem, assuming there is one.
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: Gabe777 on May 23, 2019, 12:45:16 pm
Hi again.

So it seems as though different fuelling systems are used.

The Dash 8 does not use progressive fuelling like the 747, but it does have either a load manager (real time) or via the cdu, that allows you to change the fuel.

So presumably, we set the fuel using the cdu, and then call the fuel truck.

But when the fuel truck arrives, instead of waiting a while and 'pretending' to refuel, it stops for 5 seconds, and then sods off !
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: virtuali on May 23, 2019, 05:01:33 pm
But when the fuel truck arrives, instead of waiting a while and 'pretending' to refuel, it stops for 5 seconds, and then sods off !

As I've said in my previous reply:

"See my previous reply, in which I made a question that would help start troubleshooting the problem, assuming there is one."

This was my question:

"which airplane you used ? Was it flagged as using the default Fuel/Cargo page ?"


Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: Gabe777 on May 23, 2019, 09:19:08 pm
Which aircraft ?

The clue is in the title - the Dash 8 !!!

As for settings - it doesn't seem to matter - any setting I use does not make any difference.

In fact the PMDG 747-400 is even worse - in passive mode for 50 percent fuel, it is still fuelling after30 minutes - at 10x simulation rate.

Crazy broken.
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: virtuali on May 23, 2019, 09:50:35 pm
Which aircraft ? The clue is in the title - the Dash 8 !!!

I just repeated the sentence, highlighting in bold the part which hasn't been answered yet. The clue was in the bold.

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As for settings - it doesn't seem to matter - any setting I use does not make any difference.

It's not possible you won't see "any" difference to the plane as using the default Fuel/Cargo. The most obvious difference would be that, if it's enabled, you'll see a menu from GSX asking how much fuel to load, and if it's disabled, no menu and a message from GSX asking to use the airplane fuel loader instead, when it's required.

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In fact the PMDG 747-400 is even worse - in passive mode for 50 percent fuel, it is still fuelling after30 minutes - at 10x simulation rate.

If you are making this question, it means you DON'T understand, at all, how GSX works when the setting to use the default Fuel/Cargo is disabled, although it's clearly explained on the manual, Page 17.

When it's disabled, because the airplane is known to use a custom fuel system (and with the PMDG 747 surely is, because this is how we set in GSX internal database,  unless you changed it) GSX IS NOT FUELING THE AIRPLANE!. The refueling speed in this case will be controlled by the airplane ITSELF and having GSX or not won't change anything. So, if it's too slow refueling, it's because it always was like that.

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Crazy broken.

Yes, when nobody reads the manual...
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: Gabe777 on May 24, 2019, 01:14:47 pm
I don't seem to be getting the "Use aircraft loader" message at all, when not using the FSX menu option. Don't know why.

The fuel loading section in the manual is not easy to understand. I've read papers in "Nature", easier to follow to be honest (which I did for many years).

However...... not withstanding the fact that clearly, I'm 'thick' ...... I have found workarounds after 8 hours of trial and error, which I'm happy with.

Just wondering though: is there a way of clicking on 1 button (number or option), that would automatically run everything in order (user configurable ?), rather than clicking on multiple options ?

If this is possible already, I don't know how. The "Auto Services" option, again, does not work for me. This is merely a request/suggestion.

Thank you for your patience. It must be awful having all these customers asking questions, buy hey - "Kerching !"  :)
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: virtuali on May 24, 2019, 09:11:23 pm
I don't seem to be getting the "Use aircraft loader" message at all, when not using the FSX menu option. Don't know why.

Have you seen the GSX refuel menu instead ? Because, the message and the menu are mutually exclusive depending how the airplane is flagged in relationship to the fuel used.


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The fuel loading section in the manual is not easy to understand. I've read papers in "Nature", easier to follow to be honest (which I did for many years).

Then tell me, point by point, what is not clear, exactly, and I'll try to explain it better.

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Just wondering though: is there a way of clicking on 1 button (number or option), that would automatically run everything in order (user configurable ?), rather than clicking on multiple options ?

The automatic servicing option doesn't call Fuel for you. This is of course made intentionally, since fuel has so many variation that is best left to the user.
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: Gabe777 on May 24, 2019, 10:01:10 pm
Hi.

OK, in order of easiest to hardest....

1. So, if I start in the aircraft, 1st flight of the day, which option starts the entire process (not including fuel) 'automatically' ?

2. The standard P3D fuel menu DOES pop up..... and it seems to animate the fuelling correctly in terms of time, but if I use any of the other modes, it does not do anything that the manual suggests it should.

I am using the PMDG 747-400. When I enter the fuel in the CDU, the aircraft immediately adds that much fuel.... presumably NOT progressive fuelling. But if I enter the fuel into the CDU, and then call the fuel truck as suggested for non-progressive fuelling, it arrives and stays forever. And, I do not seem to get a message telling me to enter the fuel manually !??

3. The section on fuelling, is very confusing, and would benefit from a re-write, with some more examples. I have seen many threads discussing the fuel issue, and right now, is the main issue for me.

If the 747 is one of those addons that will, by its nature, only ever give an animation, then that's fine as its clearly no-one's fault... but it would be good to know, for sure.

One of my twin props (Carenado SAAB) works 'actively' ... it gives me actual fuel, but another (the Majestic Dash 8), is like 747, in that nothing seems to work, other than just using the default fuel menu and watching it pretend to refuel the aircraft.

What might be really useful, is a thread where users can post the required settings for refuelling specific aircraft, like the threads for aircraft and airport configuration files.

Thnx again.
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: virtuali on May 24, 2019, 10:20:26 pm
1. So, if I start in the aircraft, 1st flight of the day, which option starts the entire process (not including fuel) 'automatically' ?

Not sure why you reference to the first flight of the day. What difference does it make ? If you start with Catering, for example, it will call Catering, then Boarding automatically.

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2. The standard P3D fuel menu DOES pop up.....

I asked if you saw the GSX fuel menu, which has the standard P3D fuel menu only as one of the options. I assume you saw it, even if you haven't said so. This means the airplane is flagged to USE the default fuel system.

But of course, if the plane doesn't *really* use a default Fuel system, then you should tell GSX. And in that case, GSX will NOT refuel the airplane anymore, but will react to the airplane refueling itself.

However, if the airplane use a totally custom fuel system, one that use non-standard variables (and I suspect the Q400 might be the case, since it uses a non-standard flight model, and it's unique in this regard), you CANNOT use GSX refueling with it, plain and simple, since there's no way GSX could possibly know about an internal fuel simulation, possibly with tanks in custom variables known only to the airplane code.

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I am using the PMDG 747-400. When I enter the fuel in the CDU, the aircraft immediately adds that much fuel.... presumably NOT progressive fuelling.

Yes, the PMDG fills immediately with that option. To fill progressively, you use the Turn around options in the PMDG CDU. GSX will react to this refuel very fast, unless you enable the "always refuel progressively"

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But if I enter the fuel into the CDU, and then call the fuel truck as suggested for non-progressive fuelling

You are supposed to to the opposite, instead. Quoting from the manual:

Call the GSX Refuel service now.

When the Fuel Truck arrives, it will wait for you to act on the Fuel menu in the FMC, to set a desired quantity. GSX will display the “Please use the refueling system of your airplane to refuel” message”, to remind you it’s waiting for your action.

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As soon as you change the Fuel quantity from the FMC. the airplane system will load the fuel instantly, and the GSX refuel truck will show it counter simulating the fuel loading visually

This means you must FIRST call the GSX Truck and then, AFTER you see the “Please use the refueling system of your airplane to refuel” message, change the fuel quantity in the FMC.

I see what you might be confused with: the first sentence says:

Quote
Start by selecting an initial Fuel Quantity, using the “FUEL” option in the “FS ACTIONS” menu on the FMC.

But that was just a suggestion to be prepared with the right quantity when the Truck arrives, you are not supposed to confirm it until after the Fuel Truck asked you to do so.
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: Gabe777 on May 25, 2019, 11:34:00 am
Hi.

Thnx for the elaboaration.

I will give it some more experimentation.

The reason I referred to the first flight of the day, is simply because the Options start with "Deboarding". Clearly this is not required !

So, to start the ENTIRE process and have it run sequentially, which option do I start with ? Simple.

Now, I assume that I start with either Deboarding..... or, if not appropriate, Catering Vehicles.

Then, Boarding starts...... and I send for the fuel at the end..... if I want it ?

Thnx.
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: virtuali on May 25, 2019, 04:14:41 pm
Yes. Although, I suggest controlling GSX yourself. Auto-servicing was an option we added because many users asked for it, but I'm not very convinced of its utility...
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: Gabe777 on May 25, 2019, 04:50:13 pm
Well, I set to progressive fuelling, and when it asks me to put the fuel in, whatever I coose - 33, 66 or 100%, it only puts 127,000 lbs.

Wierd huh ?
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: virtuali on May 25, 2019, 11:17:06 pm
Well, I set to progressive fuelling, and when it asks me to put the fuel in, whatever I coose - 33, 66 or 100%, it only puts 127,000 lbs.

Are you still referring to the airplane in the subject, the Q400 ? If yes, haven't you read my previous explanation ? I'll repeat again the relevant part:

Quote
But of course, if the plane doesn't *really* use a default Fuel system, then you should tell GSX. And in that case, GSX will NOT refuel the airplane anymore, but will react to the airplane refueling itself.

However, if the airplane use a totally custom fuel system, one that use non-standard variables (and I suspect the Q400 might be the case, since it uses a non-standard flight model, and it's unique in this regard), you CANNOT use GSX refueling with it, plain and simple, since there's no way GSX could possibly know about an internal fuel simulation, possibly with tanks in custom variables known only to the airplane code
.

I'll try to make it even more clearer, I really don't know how to express myself any better:

- If the airplane is flagged as using the default Fuel page ( option Enabled ), GSX will assume IT CAN refuel it, so it will TRY to refuel it using the STANDARD Fuel Variables

- If the airplane is flagged not NOT use the default Fuel page ( option Disabled ), GSX will NOT refuel it, but it will monitor the STANDARD Fuel Variables, to check what the airplane is doing to REFUEL ITSELF, and adapt the GSX animations to it. Of course, assuming you are following the procedure in the manual, to wait for the message from the Fuel truck and then change the Fuel quantity on the airplane. This works for 99% of the airplane that have custom refueling simulations that use the STANDARD fuel tanks variables, but have some custom refueling process that GSX can adapt to, without doing any refueling by itself. Meaning = GSX will *READ* those variables, but it will never *WRITE* to.

- If the airplane is using a totally custom fuel simulation, and this is a very rare case, but it's very likely the Q400 is the one and only using this method, it cannot be used with GSX refueling. Plain and simple. No way out, regardless of the option and there's just nothing we can do about it, unless the airplane came with some kind of SDK that could allow 3rd party developers to read its own custom fuel variables and, assuming such SDK existed, we would have to update GSX to support it.
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: Gabe777 on May 26, 2019, 09:10:46 am
No sorry, I 'm now referring to the 747.

Only ever puts in (progressively) 127,000 lbs... and keeps me informed of the amount in the message bar. Also, I sometimes get asked 2 or 3 times to set the amount of fuel. Sometimes just once.

Surprised that such a popular addon, as the PMDG 747, hasn't been fine tuned !

No matter what I do when it asks me to "Use the CDU to fuel your aircraft", I only ever get 127,000 lbs ! I can use the Turn Type, or directly in the Fuel menu, 33 or 66 or 100..... only ever get the amount that corresponds with the Short haul: 33% = around 60,000 KG.

But...... I can live with it. Life's too short. So let's just call it Case Closed, for the sake of my sanity.

Thnx
Title: Re: Q400 FUELING ISSUE
Post by: virtuali on May 26, 2019, 10:15:52 am
Only ever puts in (progressively) 127,000 lbs... and keeps me informed of the amount in the message bar. Also, I sometimes get asked 2 or 3 times to set the amount of fuel. Sometimes just once.

Please clarify what do you mean with "Only ever puts in". When the airplane is flagged NOT to use the default Fuel page, GSX is not "putting" ANYTHING in it!

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Surprised that such a popular addon, as the PMDG 747, hasn't been fine tuned !

Of course it has.

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No matter what I do when it asks me to "Use the CDU to fuel your aircraft", I only ever get 127,000 lbs ! I can use the Turn Type, or directly in the Fuel menu, 33 or 66 or 100..... only ever get the amount that corresponds with the Short haul: 33% = around 60,000 KG.

The PMDG 747 is fully supported and in the configuration that comes with GSX, it has been flagged to NOT used the default Fuel page. Which is confirmed by the fact you see the message from GSX which says to use the CDU to fuel the airplane.

What do you mean, exactly, with "only ever get the amount". What you are referring to ? The GSX Fuel counter truck, or the quantity actually loaded BY THE PLANE ?