Simviation Forum - Key mic to turn on runway lights

Feb 14^th, 2005 at 2:02pm

pcoon Offline
2nd Lieutenant
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Anyone know if you are able to turn runway lights on by keying your mic in Flight Sim 2002? Or for that matter in FS 2004? For anyone that doesn't know what I'm talking about - in real life, when you fly over a small air field that turns off their runway lights, you can turn them on from your aircraft by keying your mike 5 or 6 times when you are tuned into the airport. I'm not a pilot so don't quote me on specifics. As far as I know there isn't a mic available in FS2002 - so it's probably not possible. It would be neat to be able to do this.
Thanks.

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Reply #1 - Feb 14^th, 2005 at 8:56pm

Saratoga Offline
Colonel
757/767 Captain Major,
USAF
Dallas-Ft. Worth Intl. (KDFW)

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I know of some add-ons where you can tune a certain frequency to activate the lights, but I don't think any standard airports in FS2002 or 2004 are like that. Most have standard lights which stay on or no lights at all. Sucks eh? Anyways, most of the time it's five keys of the mic to make sure no one accidently trips it I assume.

Pilot for a major US airline certified in the: EMB-120, CRJ, 727, 737, 757, 767, and A-320 and military, T-38, C-130, C-141, and C-5 along with misc. other small airplanes. Any questions, I'm here for you.

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Reply #2 - Feb 15^th, 2005 at 3:18pm

beefhole Offline
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common' yigs!
Philadelphia

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The keys are normally (NORMALLY! back off other RW pilots) done on the CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency).

3-low lights
5-medium lights
7-bright lights

Just thought I'd toss in my limited experience. I've never heard of being able to do this in fs, I think if an airport is listed as having lights then those lights are on once it's nighttime, regardless of whether or not it's real-world counterpart has part-time lighting.

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Reply #3 - Feb 15^th, 2005 at 3:40pm

Saratoga Offline
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757/767 Captain Major,
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Yup, I personally opt for the brighest where available. Just makes it a little easier. Nope, no standard FS airports have this ability. There was an attempt in FS2000 I do remember to make this work, but it didn't. I can't remember the airport perhaps someone else can, but there was a default airport in 2000 that you tuned into the CTAF freq. and it would automatically turn on the runway lights until you tuned another frequency. However (I am speculating here) I would assume with the inclusion of ATC from 2002-on, they probably didn't have a way to do it since you can't key the mic.

In my opinion, they should make it as follows:
Choose an option for TX74 Traffic on 122.6:
[ Announce Landing ]
[ Turn Runway Lights On ]
[ back... ]

I know the buttons aren't correct but I didn't exactly memorize them for kicks.

Pilot for a major US airline certified in the: EMB-120, CRJ, 727, 737, 757, 767, and A-320 and military, T-38, C-130, C-141, and C-5 along with misc. other small airplanes. Any questions, I'm here for you.

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Reply #4 - Feb 15^th, 2005 at 5:00pm

beefhole Offline
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common' yigs!
Philadelphia

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Posts: 4466

Ahh, very smart Saratoga. Hadn't thought of incorporating it that way, that would work well!

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Reply #5 - Feb 19^th, 2005 at 9:13pm

Saratoga Offline
Colonel
757/767 Captain Major,
USAF
Dallas-Ft. Worth Intl. (KDFW)

Gender:
Posts: 571

Well they stick everything else on the ATC menu, why not that?Sound effects, or picking the light's intensity would be cool.

They want realism? They need lights to go out sometimes lol. Random taxi lights should stop working for a day or so. Then they fix it, woohoo. The sound effects I referred to would be just like three, five, or seven "clicks" of the mic being keyed. Would sound kinda cool, especially if you were watching the runway and saw them kick on.

Pilot for a major US airline certified in the: EMB-120, CRJ, 727, 737, 757, 767, and A-320 and military, T-38, C-130, C-141, and C-5 along with misc. other small airplanes. Any questions, I'm here for you.

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