Do you need a weather client as well as a pilot client for your altimeter to work right?

Support Pilot Software
1

I know the VATSIM environment has weather. The altimeter settings (QNH) from controllers and ATIS vary place to place and day to day like real ones do.

I thought vPilot was pulling enough real-world weather into the sim until today. I was flying on VATSIM in the middle of a big winter high pressure system. I entered 30.37 inches from the ATIS, and my altitude on the ramp read 400 feet too high. I started FSrealWX and the altimeter then read correctly.

I’ve been flying with just vPilot when on VATSIM. Have I forgotten something?

The software setup for VATSIM doesn’t say you need a weather client. I searched forums and the internet about VATSIM, altitude, and altimeter settings, and nowhere says, “You need a weather client.”

Here’s the setup I think I need:

  1. FSX:SE (don’t judge me)
  2. vPilot
  3. AND FXrealWX

This seems like a big deal, especially in winter.

What have I completely overlooked?

2

vPilot pulls absolutely zero weather into your sim.

The proper place to look for rules on this is the Code of Conduct, which says the following:

B13 Pilots are encouraged to utilize current real-world weather at all times. Pilots must utilize at least the following current, real-world weather parameters throughout all phases of flight:
(a) Winds
(b) Pressure
(c) Temperature

How that can be achieved depends on your sim. If the sim has a native solution to get the latest real world values then you don’t need to do anything other than enable the appropriate functionality. If your sim doesn’t have a native solution though, then you are required to use some third party real weather solution. I haven’t used FSX in ages, but I think it falls into the latter category.

3

Thanks, everything makes sense now.

I didn’t think to look in the CoC, and my search didn’t mention "pressure,’ only “altitude” and “altimeter setting.”

I hope this improves the learning journey for someone and improves altitude compliance on the network, even if only a little. It got me in trouble today!

4

You can always press “B” to set your “local” pressure that is generated by FSX. Another nice weather tool is FSGRW.

5

Pressing “B” resulted in a different altimeter setting than VATSIM’s.

6

Thanks for the recommendation about FSGRW (Global Real Weather). For those reading later, here’s a review and discussion.

7

Of course it does, but it will put your plane at the correct altitude and your pilot client will report the correct altitude to all other network users.

8

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