Without the taxi ribbon.... how on earth do you know where to go?!

[Skippy]

I'd like to shut EVERYTHING off in this sim. The only thing I have left to do is that damn taxi ribbon. I can't find my butt with two hands if it weren't for those blue arrows, and yet I hate how the appear on the game. I would like to actually KNOW where to go without it. Any tips? Any online videos for budding flight simmers or flight students to talk me through this without cheating?

[Hootman]

Here's a good start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKHF0hMTDlU

[Hootman]

Also, for all things charts, frequencies, airport diagrams, routes, pretty much everything a pilot needs to know I recommend using an Ipad or laptop (or another windowed screen) and use SkyVector. It's pretty awesome, and also has a weather overlay.
https://skyvector.com/

[OriginalGrubby]

Pilots generally have charts of the airports they fly to. Once you've been a few times it's just like knowing your way driving around your town.

[Athlonic]

If you press on the "smart view" key ('F' by default), the view will snap to the next taxiway "waypoint" you should go to.

I bind this fonction on a button on my Hotas, it is really handy for taxiing, doing traffic pattern, flying in formation or even for sight seeing, hope this helps ;)

[NinjaTrek2891]

I use the ribbon.. only because not one taxiway is valid in MSFS. Only so far i've seen on the handcrafted airports

[Clif]

Taxiway markers are not clearly visible in the airport. So it is hard to see which turn to make in complex crossings

[OperationDx]

Some good suggestions but sadly they all fall flat. Most if not all of Americas FAA charts have no gate locations. They don't even give you the terminal letter. So far every airport I have landed at in the sim have no gate markers. I also personally hate the ribbon system because it just ruins the atmosphere of the experience. Gates should be marked on the map in your aircraft.

Skyvector does not show gates it just shows the airport diagram and as I have already said almost none have gate information.

Really the only way to get gate information is to go to the airports website or google image search the airport. I would rather not have to leave the sim and search out a map every time I want to fly.

Another problem is sometimes ATC sends you to taxi ways that don't exist.

[Erufailon]

Well, in real life you prepare for the flight, so download the appropriate AIP and learn the layout of the airports you are using or at least have it close and refer to it when needed. That said, it seems not all taxiways are properly named in non handcrafted airports and yes, the markers are hard to see, so I don't know. :)

As for finding the right gate, it seems like it's the one where there are a bunch of people and vehicles seemingly waiting for someone. :D

[OperationDx]

Yes. The gate with people waiting is always going to be your gate. If you can find it.

[OperationDx]

But in real life...... The airlines own areas of the airport and tell the pilots what gate to park. They often have separate frequencies to guide them to the right gate. But often they will know ahead of time and have MAPS!!! to the gates.

[Spikenard]

Originally posted by NinjaTrek2891:

I use the ribbon.. only because not one taxiway is valid in MSFS. Only so far i've seen on the handcrafted airports

This. Taxiways in the sim are a disaster. The signage is wrong in most cases. And the taxiways, apart from the handcrafted airports, in no way reflect real life nor do they follow naming conventions. i.e. Charts and airport diagrams are 1000% useless if the sim data doesn't match the real life data. Also parking areas don't match either. Most airports it's impossible to actually tell where to park without having the taxi ribbon on. If it's a small airport you can sometimes get lucky and find the parking guy with the flashlights. Assuming he's not blocked by a fuel truck, a tug, or another aircraft. Plus he's terrible at his job. I've gotten to where, if it's my final destination, I just pull past the hold short line and end the flight there.

[banzai]

yes it suck's and a lot, the ribbon is too big we are not blind fot god sake it's kind of ok in the airliners but in a ga it is 10 times too big. also the markings on stock airports is bearly visible no proper taxiway numbering, no gate/parking numbering, and verry,veeeeery dark airports at night.
so my advize is wait for payware or free mods

[flitzpiepe0815]

Originally posted by OperationDx:

Skyvector does not show gates it just shows the airport diagram and as I have already said almost none have gate information.

Are you not using the Jeppesen chart kits? Those contain every information possible. I honestly never had issues to find a gate or parking spot. To be prepared if an airport has no markings I always go "apron A, fourth gate on the left". Hard to miss.

Originally posted by OperationDx:

Another problem is sometimes ATC sends you to taxi ways that don't exist.

That's true. ATC AI currently sucks, imo.

[OperationDx]

Does Jeppesen have free maps? Can you link them?

[flitzpiepe0815]

Originally posted by OperationDx:

Does Jeppesen have free maps? Can you link them?

I don't really think so but they pop up all the time if you google the aerodrome name plus "charts". (e. g. "kjfk charts"). Not sure about the legal situation here.

The IVAO network also offers charts containing terminal and ramp numbers, at least in my division (german). The different divisions seem to use the charts of their local authorities, though.

I hope it helps a little.