Exploring the systems of the ATR 42 600 in Microsoft Flight Simulator

In the absence of any official documentation covering what is simulated, and what is not in the ATR family of aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator, it falls on the community to "figure things out". Hopefully this helps a few people along the way :)
Today we walk through a circuit of Stansted Airport - starting the aircraft from cold and dark, programming the flight, trying out LNAV and VNAV, managing the throttle, configuring the autopilot, using ILS, and finally performing a landing. We also look into the various EFIS display modes, and the data available while in-flight.
#msfs #flightsimulator #atr #atr42 #coldanddark #startup #learning #flightplan #planning #autopilot #ils #lnav #vnav #throttle #takeoff #landing #throttle #lights

[@rickharriss]

Having watched a lot of ATR videos I find yours clearer and more informative than the others. Many thanks for your time.

[@williamnesbitt9076]

Thankyou ever so much. Without guys like you, we numties would be totally lost.

[@jonbeckett]

You're welcome :)

[@cliffordspackman1907]

Learning to fly the ATR off your excellent videos. Appreciate you are taking the time to step in to cover the current lack of a manual.

[@jonbeckett]

There's actually an official set of KZbin videos now (a day late!) with a real ATR pilot demonstrating it. Check out the official Microsoft Flight Simulator channel. Of course as is typical the pilot is showing but not explaining anything :)

[@brainflight7144]

You feel like you're being taken by the hand, so that something new can't deter you. Thank you - as always, it was a great pleasure

[@jonbeckett]

There's no such thing as cannot - just new things that we don't know enough about yet :)

[@conlethbyrne4809]

I have noticed that you do a fine job of explaining the little details that matter & for that & more, Thank you. The fact you are also an excellent Pilot also helps. Slainte, Jonathan 👍

[@jonbeckett]

Cheers

[@rohitvishalkumar]

This works man. Finally able to get an ATR off the ground. 😅

[@shaundale46]

Amazing Video, great to see how a real person does the flight instead of scripted nothing wrong. I love how you troubleshoot why things don't do what was expected. I can now finally fly the ATR comfortably after watching this thank you.

[@jonbeckett]

It's a journey :) I hate scripted videos that only show the happy route through everything :)

[@pilot_paul42]

You can get the fuel in KG. You need to change this in MSFS under General Options > MISC > Units of measurement and change to 'METRIC SYSTEM' You can then change the EFB in the ATR to read KG as well. Hope this helps

[@jonbeckett]

You can switch the aircraft in the EFB too. Also - finally discovered the FOB is in one of the EFIS displays too :)

[@CliveDavis-jp4eh]

Hi Jonathon, Another helpful video. Just wanted to point out that ZFW is everything but the fuel so includes Empty Weight, Crew Weight and Payload (Pax & Baggage). All three are shown on the EFB so you just have to manually add them together. Also FOB (Fuel on BOARD) is shown on the right hand MFD.

[@jonbeckett]

Good to know - thank you.

[@CrashEd1664]

Great video. One thing I’ve found when setting up the FMC, when inputting ZFW, FOB and GW, there’s a handy shortcut whereby you can press & hold the LSKs (1-3L) for a second or so and it will automatically fill the field in without having to type the data.

[@jonbeckett]

Great shout!

[@CrashEd1664]

@@jonbeckett no probs! I also forgot to mention that there are some handy click spots on the PFD/ND screens that allow you to switch between modes. This is often more useful than leaning back and using the physical buttons on the centre console. There’s a guide on the setting me page of the EFB that explains where they are 👍

[@DEFkon001]

Nice. The EFB also lets you switch the plane from kg to lbs if you want.

[@berylshard]

16:10 For the MFD clickspots the EFB has "display clickspot help" to show you what/where the clickspots are. They look to be designed to emulate the buttons on the center console in an attempt to save you the trouble from having to move the camera back and forth between the buttons and screen, something that probably isn't as troublesome in real life.

[@jonbeckett]

Yes - I spotted that earlier - I was trying to show the "real" functionality in the video :) There's quite a lot hidden in this plane, isn't there :)

[@bpilot1992]

Great video and helped a lot to get me started. Thanks

[@jonbeckett]

You're welcome :)

[@GulfCoastTim]

As i've quickly realized last night, there's quite a bit to learn about this plane. However, i'm totally enjoying it. There's plenty enough plane here for me.

[@jonbeckett]

It's great!

[@jip5873]

Thanks for another useful video, Jonathan! You can scroll/tick through the checklist with clicking in the empty bar, left of the checklist. There are 3 (hidden) clickspots. There is an overview of clickspots in the EFB.

[@jonbeckett]

Yep - I was trying to keep to "real world" functions as much as possible :)

[@karlossargeant3872]

I hope that MSFS2020 will add more systems for the ATR42-600 And ATR72-600 Series of Turboprops also Bug Fixes needs to be looked at properly but that will come on a later date Awesome Video Man!!!!

[@jonbeckett]

I guess they have to aim for the middle of the market, rather than the top 2% that want full systems fidelity :)

[@donaldholman9070]

They claimed that they were working on this for years and it is a hot mess..because of lack of documentation. Boing pulled that crap on it’s pilots and a lot of people got killed. I figured Asobo would be the highest standard and it just does not come up to the mark. It is the last plane I will buy from them until they work out their bugs. But thank you for helping. You are a great communicator!

[@jonbeckett]

It has some minor bugs here and there - but overall I think it's very good. The lack of documentation is common across most of the aircraft in the simulator. Heh - maybe I should start writing books ?

[@simonargent62]

Brilliant video....10/10

[@jonbeckett]

Cheers :)

[@muhammadnimji4626]

Thank you Jonathan! This was good!

[@jonbeckett]

You're welcome :)

[@muhammadnimji4626]

@@jonbeckett Can the Asobo flight plan be used on this aircraft.?

[@IanBrodiePhoto]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[@jonbeckett]

You're welcome :)

[@flyc3]

Loving learning the ATR with your videos - nice pace and finding out things as you/we go along. Pretty certain the ATR doesn't have spoilers but I'm sure someone will correct me. Think the new STOL one will though.

[@jonbeckett]

I'm about to re-record, using the new reference materials to correct the ordering :)

[@ferrabras]

You should check the manual for the old Flight1 ATR. I used tj love this plane. Actually I decided to try MSFS after release of this ATR. And also I have more spare time😅. I reactivated my FSECONOMY account and started readapting to MSFS. From what I remember you needbto set TO from CRZ when you are at final approach. Great video.

[@jonbeckett]

Since the New Zealand ATR pilot released the videos on the official MSFS account, the fog has lifted :)

[@mikecoffee100]

Another Spot on Video deffo.

[@jonbeckett]

You're welcome :)

[@eduardogranja6418]

you are awesome. thank you thank you thank you

[@jonbeckett]

You're welcome :)

[@jean-paulrederik4203]

At minute 29:58 you can see (top left) the old Ridgewell Airfield. It was a Class A heavy bomber airfield from the Second World War. In the 1990s it became farmland again.

[@jonbeckett]

Fantastic

[@sasapopovic8079]

Great one. Only thing missing is using the prop brake system and hotel mode, and you'll have complete ATR tutorial😊

[@jonbeckett]

Hahaha - I may do a video showing that startup sequence - the method to use when you have no external power available :)

[@sasapopovic8079]

​@@jonbeckett yeah, but it's in standard checklists, so it's worth seeing it. Nice video again 😊

[@wollaminfaetter]

"There are two brains, we'll go for the one in England, it's obviously the right one". Haha.

[@jonbeckett]

:)

[@brendanbeery6792]

Thanks for all your work. Unfortunately I can't get the plane to move in cockpit view (it only moves when I'm in external or drone mode, then stops when I'm anywhere inside the plane). So it looks like I'm grounded, but thanks to you I do know how to start it. :)

[@jonbeckett]

That's a bit of a weird one!

[@OpinionatedHuman]

FYI You don't need to uncage the battery switch, uncaging is only necessary for the ''OVRD" setting of that switch.

[@jonbeckett]

Good to know - thank you

[@Steevee5k]

Your ZFW is not just the empty weight of the plane, you have to add the crew and payload weight as well.

[@jonbeckett]

Yep - I've corrected that in the checklist :)

[@SkyNeox]

Hello, I am using airbus thrust master throttle and everything sounds good with it, I do not have any pedals so I am using Logitech yoke pro flight and the airbus joystick as axis Z to rotate the airplane, but I have steering issue especially during take off and landing and I always go our of runway, do you know a way I can set axis Z of the joystick as tiller only? then I have Logitech yoke for flight controls during the flight. thanks

[@anbrod1]

Cheers.

[@jonbeckett]

You're welcome :)

[@LuisArgerich]

Systems are nice but the flight model is wrong, the plane has no drag, it rotates on his own, can cruise with full flaps (at Idle!), is hard to slow down, floats on ground effect and the nose stays up like a jet fighter when rolling. Please take a look at those issues, being a very visible channel maybe that helps Asobo take notice and fix the drag model asap. Cheers!

[@jonbeckett]

I imagine it will get fixed pretty quickly. Not apologising too much for Asobo - they tend to target their aircraft at the middle of the audience - which explains why they are always easy to fly. A bit like Carenado.

[@pennywise5095]

​​@@jonbeckett shouldnt they just make it realistic? And maybey fhey could add option too ignore real flightmodel its not that middle ground players will use all those systems and then want some easy flightmodel

[@hot00head00red]

Hopefully theirs an update, Veers off to the left a bit, no speed brakes, no reverse thrust, descent plane but needs updates!

[@jonbeckett]

@@hot00head00red Erm... the real thing has no speed brakes. It DOES have reverse pitch. And the veer to the left is accurate (torque + pfactor + slipstream)

[@hot00head00red]

@@jonbeckett sorry I thought for sure the real plane had speed brakes, plus the plane veering off to the right didn’t know that was a normal thing for that plane, i know some prop planes do that when giving thrust to take off but didn’t know it happens during flight too, thanks for information!

[@adrianubiaga5695]

Hi Jonathan! Thank you for your video! When I am during taaxi I cannot turn, always forward even I use my joystick to turn. Is there something I am missing? I can see pedals are moving, but no response. Thank you so much for your help!

[@jonbeckett]

Hydraulics ?

[@oliverbradley4939]

does the atr even have speedbrakes but an absoulute brill vid again keep up the good content

[@jonbeckett]

I thought it might - but I'm not sure. I need to look into it more.

[@Leturane]

No it isnt, but when you idling the throttles the props itself are more than enough as a drags also the 100%/OVRD on the CL do help in slow down the plane as well.

[@bryfly737]

Hi Jonathon flying with P3D i see tour NZ scenery outstanding does it come in one package ? I heard the msfs 2020 has good scenery but yours is awsome

[@jonbeckett]

You're seeing the stock NZ scenery that comes for free with MSFS. It is part of the recent "World Update 12".

[@bryfly737]

@@jonbeckett makes me want to txfer to 2020 fromp3d just for the scenery

[@VlRUSOFFICIAL]

Is the plane supposed to move in idle with no parking brake or chocks set? Mine does and I dont know if its because of the throttle calibration or because thats how prop planes are.

[@jonbeckett]

With the propeller condition set to auto, and no brakes, there is a positive amount of thrust at idle.

[@VlRUSOFFICIAL]

@@jonbeckett okay thanks!

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Is there a problem with FS2020 at the moment (17.30hrs 1st May 2023 - UK time). My sim failed to synchronise data today. Restarted FS2020 ok. However some of m aircraft are no longer seen in FS2020 - Fenix A320, FBW A320, Just Flight Hawk T 1 and the ATR42. The ATR 42 is no longer visible in the FS2020 Market place. FS2020 was working ok yesterday. Is this just a problem for me or is it a wider FS2020 problem?

[@jonbeckett]

I've not had any issues.

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

@@jonbeckett Thanks. I restarted my computer/FS2020 again and it worked OK. Not sure what the problem was.

[@Squirel]

So, from the stupid question department :: if I create a full flight plan in LittleNavMap, sabe it as a .pln file and then load that file in the sim, do I still need to enter it into the FMS?

[@jonbeckett]

I think so. I don't think the simulator flight plan is compatible with the FMC.

[@TuffGnarl]

I think the FMS flight plan system is a bit broken. I’ve found that if you put in an airway it often seems to duplicate the waypoints in that airway several times. Which brings me to my question. Is there an easy way to delete entire flight plans? Haha.

[@jonbeckett]

DON'T USE AIRWAYS lol - there's a serious bug in it :)

[@jonbeckett]

If the FMS is not completely borked by putting an airway in, go back to MENU, INIT, and over-write the departure/destination - it wipes the route.

[@TuffGnarl]

@@jonbeckett Awesome, I’ll bear that in mind in future. I’ve since discovered that if you select airways via the soft-keys rather than typing them in to the scratch pad, the problem doesn’t occur.

[@philipfoster7269]

Don't know if you've got any ideas but the yolk doesn't move in mine when I move my controller.

[@jonbeckett]

gust lock.

[@pedroillanes7450]

Does somebody know hot to make the plane turn when I put autopilot? It just go straight

[@jonbeckett]

Press HDG on the master control panel for the autopilot, then turn the knob to move the heading bug on the EFIS display (the monitor in front of the pilot).

[@mikaelstix7721]

Can you help me please so when I fly with the ATR 72 I hear every time a warning sounds which gets on my nerves how can I turn it off

[@jonbeckett]

If you follow the checklist, you'll be fine - I imagine the warning is either configuration, OR you're overspeeding.

[@reason6835]

For some reason I lose electrical power if the engines are in idol. Battery is on, external power disconnected, fuel pumps are on, generators on, hydraulic power on. After about 10-15 seconds at idol, electric power cuts off and the "ACW Bus Off" lights come on. If I move the thrust levers out of idol everything goes back to normal. This doesn't happen in the ATR-72. Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

[@jonbeckett]

When the engines are at idle, the generators don't generate enough power (it's probably a bug)

[@reason6835]

@@jonbeckett: Okay. So it’s not me then. Thank you so much!

[@user-vw3xl4dw6h]

Hello friend how are you? Does anyone know how to calibrate the ATR of MSFS2020 with Saitek pro flight yoke system with throttle quadrant?

[@jonbeckett]

No - sorry - I don't have a Saitek Pro

[@AdminVortex762]

I used the control profile from the BAe 146 for this (duplicated) but I can’t get various things to work. I used to have HDG bug and Altitude bug selector on a coolie switch but they don’t work with the ATR. Neither does the autopilot Alt or HDG hold. VS doesn’t work either. Any ideas because this one has lost me big time!

[@jonbeckett]

I've not tried using any of the built-in mappings yet. I tend to use the controls in the cockpit on most aircraft.

[@AdminVortex762]

@@jonbeckett I've since discovered that you can't set keybinds for even basic things like Increment Heading Bug or Heading Hold or Altitude Hold. Can you believe it was released like this? :(

[@jonbeckett]

@@AdminVortex762 Doesn't really effect me - I use the cockpit buttons in the aircraft :)

[@luismartepr]

Im suffering I can’t put my in LNAV every time I do it goes back to HDG SEL by itself

[@jonbeckett]

You must have a discontinuity in your flight plan.

[@luismartepr]

@@jonbeckett how do I fix it?

[@gretchenpittman8303]

I’m sorry 😞 I can’t figure out the flight computer…

[@TrueBlade-1889]

Why the heck is this the only plane where you get rid of the ugly efb ?

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Where does the ATR take its livery markings from? I'm trying to get a Loganair livery to work. I have installed it in the following location C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community This is where all my FBW A320 liveries are located, which work ok with the A320. However the ATR doesn't pick up its liveries from here or the Lognair livery I have doesn't work - as another possibility.

[@jonbeckett]

You're putting it in the right place. Make sure you don't have a folder in a folder.