This feature is inspired by the old ATIS frequency which was removed some time ago.
What it’s all about?
The Tower controller should have the possibility to choose and mark the active runway for takeoff and landing. His desicion will be visible for every player who opens the airport on the map and for the Ground and Approach controller.
That‘s not useful! Or is it?
It is. Why? I’m glad you asked. It’s about planing. If a pilot knows the active runway way before he’s able to contact tower, he will be able to do a more accurate flight planing. It also helps the controller because the planes will approach directly into the active runway. The planes on the ground will taxi directly to the active runway as well. It also improves the communication between Tower and Approach.
But that’s not realistic!
Of course it is! It’s the Tower who decides the active runway. And pilots normally know that runway before they get in touch with the controllers at their destination.
But it’s way to complicated.
Then add it only for Expert Server. We have some well trained controllers there. They’ll know how to use this properly.
One more thing
I originally planned to request the return of the ATIS frequency. It was a great way for controllers to inform the pilots about the operations. Since that frequency was often misused though, I decided to request it in another form.
Exactly, happened to me earlier today, I told someone to takeoff on one runway and they went to a completely different one. This would help with that tremendously!
During pushback the controller already gives a runway. Even if the runway was flashing or had it in the info which was using people would still not plan. I see your point but I dont know how much it would really help people for planning purposes.
It’s not. But look at LAX. You have 4 runways aligned in the same direction. That means that you have 4 runways with the same wind. If the controller could choose the active runway here, that would be extremely helpful. Especially when there is no ground controller around.
My idea isn’t just to change the runway colors. I hope I’ll be able to add a visual of my idea to this topic soon so you can see what I mean.
But what do you mean by active? 24L and 24R are both open for the controller to use as they see fit. You shouldn’t be in the middle of the terminal and plan to take off from 24R. You go where the controller tells you to go? When I spawn I look around and see where the controller is sending other planes. Chances are the controller will send you to the closest runway within reason. Most of the time the inner ones are departure and outer ones are arrival. If someone spawns to the south of 25L, I’m not going to make them cross to take off on 25R. I just find a slot in the arrivals to get them out.
I’m struggling to understand the pilot problem you are attempting to solve with the feature.
You are flying into KJFK. According to the wind, 31L/R and 4L/R are all available. If the controller is able to mark 31R as active for landings the pilots could see that before they get in touch with Tower. They can fly directly to that runway instead of flying into 4L first. It also helps the Approach controller. He can guide the planes towards the runway the Tower prefers to use