January 5, 2009
ETC ProTrainer - Flight Simulation/Flight Training
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ProTrainer PCATD Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
How does ProTrainer differ from the current PC simulation ‘games’ out there?
What is a PCATD?
What flight controls are compatible with ProTrainer PCATD?
What flight controls are compatible with ProTrainer Desktop?
How do I authorize ProTrainer PCATD or Desktop?
Where is the documentation for ProTrainer?
How do I determine what graphics card my computer has??
How do I set up multiple monitors for use with ProTrainer PCATD?
Troubleshooting
When I launch ProTrainer I receive the error message, "Cannot Create D3DDevice". What is wrong?
Why is the scenery in ProTrainer PCATD entirely white?
Why are the menus black when I click on them?
My menu bar is missing and I am not using multiple monitors. How do I get the menu back?
I started ProTrainer and see the instrument panel and scenery. What do I do now?
Why does my magnetic compass misbehave when I make a sharply banked turn?
Why doesn't my joystick work?
Why is it so hard to fly with the keyboard?
Why don't some of the keyboard commands work when the joystick is enabled, like the throttle?
How do I setup the Nav instruments for an ILS approach or use the Autopilot?

General Questions
  1. How does ProTrainer differ from the current PC simulation ‘games’ out there?


    1. ProTrainer is not a 'game'. It is a training simulation. ProTrainer is available in many configurations from the Desktop, PCATD and into ETC's GAT line of motion based simulators.


    2. ProTrainer’s flight models are of the highest quality and have been tested extensively by professional pilots and flight instructors. They are safe and accurate enough for use in motion platforms. ProTrainer is the only flight simulator software available commercially to be used in motion applications.


    3. ProTrainer’s panel and instrument rendering and fidelity is superior to all of the consumer flight sim games. We believe any pilot could see the difference for themselves. The clarity and readability of ProTrainer’s panels are unparalleled. Rotational fidelity on all instruments is 1/10th of a degree.


    4. Only flight simulator capable of being used to simulate and train for spatial disorientation.


    5. Unique Task Builder that allows the user to create their own event driven training scenarios. Script nearly any feature with in the simulation, including weather events, failure events, SD Illusions and custom sound files.


    6. Data Recording feature logs 30+ flight variables up to 30 times a second, including ILS and glideslope deviation. This data is useful for benchmarking and performance grading using charting or graphing applications.


    7. Flight Recording allows the entire flight, including much of the 3D visual display, to be saved and played back at anytime.


    8. One of a kind Quick Entry system provides the ability to instantly set up on any airfield, heliport, approach or navaid in the database.


    9. Derived from the same software used at such prestigious flight training and research centers as
      • The US Air Force Academy
      • USAF Randolf Air Force Base
      • Flight Safety International
      • Oklahoma State University
      • Fredericks Flight Center
      • Sinclair College

  2. What is a PCATD?

    PCATD stands for Personal Computer-based Aviation Training Device. This is a term used by the FAA to describe specific combinations of flight simulation hardware and software. In order to be a PCATD, the simulation must comply with the requirements set forth in the FAA Advisory Circular 61-126.


  3. What flight controls are compatible with ProTrainer PCATD?

    Currently ProTrainer PCATD requires Precision Flight Controls hardware. This hardware is available in a variety of configurations, each providing an increased level of spatial accuracy and realism. Work is currently underway for ProTrainer to interoperate with hardware from FlightLink. We will post information to our website as soon as the device drivers are available.


  4. What flight controls are compatible with ProTrainer Desktop?

    Currently ProTrainer Desktop requires a Microsoft Windows compatible joystick with rudder control (twist). Work is underway to allow ProTrainer Desktop to work with any Direct X compatible control device. We will post information to our website as soon as this feature is available.


  5. How do I authorize ProTrainer PCATD or Destkop?

    After you purchase and install ProTrainer PCATD or Desktop, you will need to authorize it on the installed computer. ProTrainerwill operate for up to 30 days in evaluation mode in order to give you plenty of time to authorize your software. The authorization process is described on our website at http://www.flyprotrainer.com/authorize.php


  6. Where is the documentation for ProTrainer?

    Documentation is installed on your hard drive as a standard part of the ProTrainer installation process. You may find these documents at "C:\Program Files\ProTrainer PCATD\Documentation" or "C:\Program Files\ProTrainer Desktop\Documentation". Shortcuts to these documents were installed in the Start Menu under "Programs\ProTrainer PCATD" or "Programs\ProTrainer Desktop". The documentation is provided on your installation CD and is accessible from the Startup Shell or by exploring the CD using Windows. You may also download the documentation from the ProTrainer website at http://www.flyprotrainer.com/downloads.php


  7. How do I determine what graphics card my computer has?

    1. Right click on the Windows Desktop.
    2. From the pop up menu that appears select 'Properties'.
    3. In the Dialog that opens click on the 'Settings' tab.
    4. On the 'Settings' screen, click the button in the lower right hand of the dialog that is labeled 'Advanced'.
    5. Now click on the 'Adapter' tab in this 'Advanced' dialog.


  8. How do I set up multiple monitors for use with ProTrainer?

    Multiple monitors can be configured using two graphics card or using one graphics card that has two video-out connectors. We recommend using either nVidia or ATI graphics boards. You may find instructions for setting up dual monitors on the respective video card manufacturers website. You should set up your monitors to use "True Multi-Display Mode", also known on Windows as "Dual View". Once you have your system configured for use with two monitors, ProTrainer PCATD will auto-detect your setup. Refer to the User's Guide for more detailed information.


Troubleshooting
  1. When I launch ProTrainer I receive the error message, "Cannot Create D3DDevice". What is wrong?

    This error has been known to happen under a few circumstances.

    1. The screen resolution or color depth of the monitor has been changed and the computer has not been rebooted.


    2. Another application has control of the graphics card or did not release control the last time it was shut down. This happens most often when using remote control software such as PCAnywhere or the Remote Desktop Connection utility in Windows.


    3. The graphics board in your computer is not compatible with ProTrainer. ProTrainer uses a number of advanced graphics technologies to render it's terrain and weather systems. Older graphics boards do not support these technologies. In particular ProTrainer uses Hardware Lighting and Transforms (HT&L), Directx 9 and Shaders 1.1. The solution in the first two cases is to reboot the computer. In the third case, the only solution is to upgrade to a new graphics board. Information about graphics board compatibility is available at http://www.flyprotrainer.com/prospecs.php If you feel that your error is not related to any of the above conditions or rebooting does not correct the problem, we would like to know. Please provide a detailed description of your computer settings, any graphics intensive hardware you may have run recently, and any other detail you think may be pertainent.


  2. Why is the scenery in ProTrainer PCATD entirely white?

    If the sky and panels display properly but the terrain is entirely white, then it is likely that the "Enable Fog Table Emulation" is disabled in your nVidia display properties. Make sure that this property is checked and your scenery should return to normal.


  3. Why are the menus black when I click on them?

    On certain monitors (particularly LCD), there is a Windows setting that causes the menus to draw in black. To correct this problem, set the "Use transition effects for menus and tooltips" option in the Display Properties dialog to Scroll Effect.


  4. My menu bar is missing and I am not using multiple monitors. How do I get the menu back?

    Under some conditions ProTrainer PCATD may loose track of the current monitor configuration. This condition is evidenced by the lack of a menu bar at the top of the sim window and no Instructor Station display. To correct this situation, delete the following entries and their values from the ProTrainer.ini file located at "C:\Program Files\ProTrainer PCATD". (If you did not install to the default directory then this path will be invalid. You will need to search your system for ProTrainer.ini). The text in your ini file may be different.

    UIDisplay=1
    UIDisplayLeft=-1024
    UIDisplayTop=-768


  5. I started ProTrainer and see the instrument panel and scenery. What do I do now?

    The recommended course of action when running ProTrainer for the first time is to review the included documentation, see FAQ "Where is the documentation for ProTrainer?" You will find the 'Help' menu a good place to start. To access this menu move your mouse to the top of the computer screen and leave it there for a second (If you have dual monitors, ProTrainer's menu system will be attached to the Instructor Station displayed on the second monitor). ProTrainer's menu system will pop down and you can then choose any number of options. The most useful at this point is likely to be the "Key Commands" option in the "Help" menu.


  6. Why does my magnetic compass misbehave when I make a sharply banked turn?

    At moderate bank angles the magnetic compass is well behaved and the simple rule of thumb of 30 degrees before north and 30 degrees after south can be applied. At steeper bank angles the behavior of the magnetic compass becomes more radical. A 40-degree bank going through north will produce lead/lag errors of up to 60 degrees or more, and coupled with acceleration effects at those bank angles can cause the compass to behave erratically. (see the graph of lead lag errors at http://williams.best.vwh.net/compass/node4.html) If you bear in mind that at a 90 degree bank angle the compass can only point up or down or something in between, and can't possibly even point at any real compass headings, you will see way it is that the closer to a 90-degree bank you get the more erratic and untrustworthy the magnetic compass becomes.


  7. Why doesn't my joystick work?

    1. To use a joystick with ProTrainer Desktop, the joystick must have rudder control (twist).
    2. Test your joystick in Windows using Start->Control Panels->Gaming Options or select Calibrate Hardware from the Tools menu in ProTrainer.
    3. toggles the joystick on and off. Make sure that your joystick is enabled. There is an Enable Joystick menu item in the Options menu in ProTrainer, if the joystick is enabled there will be a check mark beside the menu option.
    4. If none of this helps, one of many things could be at fault; the port you are using on the computer does not function; the joystick is broken; or the joystick is not compatible with ProTrainer Desktop.


  8. Why is it so hard to fly with the keyboard?

    The reality of the flight sim genre is that you will want to purchase a joystick for regular use. Nearly every simulator supports mouse and keyboard controls, but you really won't enjoy flying without a stick. This point cannot be over-stressed. There are many sticks on the market, with prices ranging from $30 to $300 (with quality to match), so you should have no trouble finding a decent stick within your budget.


  9. Why don't some of the keyboard commands work when the joystick is enabled, like the throttle?

    Certain functions, particularly throttle, can not be controlled by the joystick and the keyboard simultaneously because there is no way for the software to adjust the joysticks hardware throttle position to match the input from the keyboard. In other words the keyboard can't make the throttle knob on the joystick move. If the joystick and the keyboard were both allowed to modify the throttle then there would be no way to keep their setting in sync. For example, you could have your throttle on your joystick set to idle and then use the keyboard to set the throttle to full but the joysticks throttle knob would not move to this new position set by the keyboard. Control of the simulation would get out of sync very quickly and would create a great deal of user confusion. In addition, this is why the throttle is not adjustable by clicking near the throttle indicators on the startup panel as is possible with the mixture and prop pitch controls.


  10. How do I setup the Nav instruments for an ILS approach or use the Autopilot?

    Hitting the key on your keyboard will cycle you through a number of pop up panels. One of these panels is the radio stack. It uses a mouse click interface to tune the radios and activate the autopilot. There are key commands for many of the radio operations. They are listed in the ProTrainer User Guide that is installed with ProTrainer and in the Key Commands dialog in the Help menu.
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