Logging a Flight

Steps to perform to start-logging an ACV flight

Before being able to start your first ACV flight, please verify the following software installations:

Install/Update the respective flight simulator (P3Dv5, XP12, MSFS, etc.)
(only if P3D4 or lower) Install Navaids AIRAC (https://www.aero.sors.fr/navaids3.html)
(Optional) Install/Update GSX of FSDreamteam (http://www.fsdreamteam.com/products_gsx.html)
Install/Update the respective basic aircraft addon(s)
Install newest version of FSUIPC (http://www.fsuipc.com/) for P3D/MSFS or of XPUIPC (https://www.schiratti.com/xpuipc.html) for XP11/12
- Freeware version is sufficient, no need to get the payware version
- This software is used as data exchange interface between flight simulator and ACVacars

Install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8.1
Install ACVacars and Update ACVacars to its newest version
ACVacars-Download-Centre (ACVacars/Menu Main --> Download-Centre), download the following:
- checklist(s) of the respective aircraft
- pre-existing flight-routes (is only optional, feel free to use your own flight-routes)

Install ACV liveries of the specific aircraft
If not done already, copy downloaded flight-route into the respective folder of your flight sim.

The following steps must be executed before starting an ACV flight:
Visit ACV-website and log in with your account
ACV-website, go to Pilot-Center/Add a bid
Select available/wished flight bid
Start-up ACVacars
ACVacars, load flight bid
Start-up flight simulator
Open menu to compose a new (free)flight inside flight simulator
Select ACV-aircraft inside flight simulator (set similar to loaded flight bid)
- Select correct aircraft type with correct registration number (e.g. N312LH)
Select departure airport inside flight simulator (set similar to loaded flight bid)
Select departure local time inside flight simulator (set similar to loaded flight bid)
(optional) select starting position (cargo parking, gate, etc.) inside flight simulator (set similar to loaded flight bid)
Flight simulator, start (free)flight
ACVacars, press button "Start Log"

First, you have to reserve a new bid on the webVA. Login on the webVA and click “Add a Bid” on top
of the website.
Scroll down to the desired available flight. Choose a free bid on webVA by clicking “Add this Bid”.
This cannot be done inside ACVacars.
After reserving a new bid on your webVA, you are able to load the reserved bid into your ACVacars.
Return to ACVacars.
Press btn “Choose Flight-Bid” and select the wished bid. If added as last bid, you can press btn “Get latest Flight-Bid” for selecting the relevant bid directly.

After loading the bid into ACVacars, its main parts “Aircraft” and “Flight” show the most important parameter of the selected bid (e.g. aircraft type, waypoints, needed fuelload, etc.).
To start a flight, the following bid parameters are of special interest:
- Aircraft type
- Departure airport
- Relevant gate, cargo position or parking at departure airport
- Time at departure airport
- Fuelload

Start up your flight simulator (e.g. Prepar3D). After, manually adjust the following parameters inside your flight simulator:
- Choose the respective ACV aircraft type (e.g. “ACV L-1011-200F”) with matching registration number (e.g. “N312LH”).
- Select the correct departure airport and the correct starting position (e.g. “Cargo Parking Gate W42” at airport KMIA). If the by ACVacars mentioned starting position is not available at the airport, please choose a starting position which is as close as possible and of the same type (e.g. gate, cargo, parking).
- Set the correct departure time. “locDepT” means local time of departure airport. Do not set UTC time. The day, month and year can freely be chosen. But it is advised to use the current day, month and year of real-world date.

(as example taken the PMDG 737-800BCF)

If using a PMDG add-on with ACVacars, you have to consider the following:

Inside P3D after PMDG-addon has been loaded up and you are in the virtual cockpit view: