By the time you read this, you will have already seen the refreshed website. We hope you enjoy its cleaner, more modern look.
In this update, we have news on the Dispatch software project and an announcement about a new project.
First, you may have noticed that the graphic for this article features a new GCVA logo. We are evaluating how it looks across various products, and we welcome your feedback in the comments below.
Project Updates
- Dispatch Software (DX Client)
- Significant progress has been made. The full process, from generating the dispatch release to delivering it to the pilot, is largely complete. What remains is some refinement and integration with the PIREP software. The next milestone is the communication link between the DX Client and the PIREP software. Once that is in place, we will polish the product from end to end before releasing it and reopening live Dispatch desks.
- For our newer members: GCVA membership can be maintained simply by dispatching a number of live flights. Becoming a GCVA dispatcher requires passing an exam. If you are interested, please review the DX Manual and take the Dispatcher exam.
Aircraft Updates
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- Behind the scenes, we are adding maximum weights, cargo and passenger loads, and empty weights for each aircraft. This data supports several features, including dispatch release generation and random load generation.
Randomized Cargo Loads Are Here
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- Charter flights have had assigned cargo loads for some time, while cargo loads on bid flights were left to the pilot's discretion. That has now changed. When a flight from the schedule is assigned, a cargo load is randomly generated, up to the maximum cargo capacity of the aircraft. Because September and October bid flights were assigned before this change, you will not see these cargo loads until your November flights become active. Open Flight Board flights will have a cargo load generated immediately, since those flights are assigned at the time they are selected.
- A flight with an aircraft that hasn't had its weight data entered will not have a randomly generated cargo load.
New Project Announcement
Globe Cargo Flight Manager (GCFM) is well into development. GCFM is the next generation of PIREP software and will fully replace GCP upon release.
Features include, but are not limited to:
- Automatic PIREP recording and submission
- Repaint installation, removal, and updating (currently limited to non-.ptp files, the PMDG P3D repaint format, though we are working on a solution)
- Operation over a network
- No FSUIPC or XUIPC required; GCFM uses SimConnect and the native X-Plane data stream for telemetry
- An in-sim panel for X-Plane and MSFS 2020/2024 that displays event times, the dispatch release, the aircraft logbook, and more
- P3D does not support integrated panels, so these functions are not available on that platform
- PIREP statistics
- And much more
Applications for GCFM testers are now open. See the project listing in the Volunteer section of the website, or use this direct link: https://www.globecargova.org/volunteer/volunteerdetails/22
Although it may seem that we have been quiet for some time, a great deal of work has been, and continues to be, under way behind the scenes. Thank you for your patience. We look forward to sharing these updates and upcoming projects with you.
