Bongs and Klaxons in AH

Bongs and Klaxons

Just to clarify things a little.  AH makes a lot of sounds but two of them are important to understand.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 

Bong:

AH will play a single bong which sounds very much like the seat-belt warning in commercial passenger aircraft.  It occurs at four distinct times during a flight.

1) Within a few seconds of initially moving the aircraft, whether taxiing under power our using pushback.  A single bong is played and an AH message box appears for a short time.

2) Just after take-off, when passing through about 50 feet AGL. An AH message box will appear briefly.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do not hear those two bongs, do not bother continuing with the flight.  AH is not monitoring your flight and will not know of it.  You will not get credit for deliverning any cargo nor will the location of your AC in AH be updated.  Abort the flight, return to the My Jobs screen, shut down FS and re-start the flight.

3) At touchdown; An AH message box will appear briefly.

4) At engine shutdown.  An AH message box will appear briefly.

These bongs are normal.  They do not signify a problem and only serve to draw attention to the message box. Watching for the first two being played at the appropriate times can save you a wasted flight if AH has not connected properly to FS.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 

Klaxon:

The klaxon sound plays four times in quick succession when it plays.  It has been variously described as the sound of a submarine diving alarm or an alarm that Star Trek fans might be familiar with.  It is a two-note OoooH-Gaaa sound.

The klaxon indicates that the AH Flight Monitor has lost connection with FS.  It sometimes occurs when loading add-on programs after AH launches FS, e.g. weather engines, third-party flight planners, etc. that take a long time to load.

If the Flight Monitor loses connection it will attempt to reconnect and is usually successful.  You may click out of FS to the AH Flight Monitor screen to confirm that AH has succesfully reconnected to FS.  If it has not, attempt to manaully reconnect with the button on the Flight Monitor screen.  If that fails, abort the flight, return to the My Jobs screen, shut down FS and restart the flight.

John Allard