How to Activate Your Flight Plane in the Garmin 530 in X Plane

[@dspindl1]

Thanks so much for making these videos. I just started using x-Plane again after a 3 year hiatus and your instructions are invaluable. Keep up the great work...it is much appreciated!

[@WEHVideos]

Hi Dave, Thanks, glad to hear the videos are helping, welcome back!!! Blessings, skip

[@roysquires9486]

Hi Skip, thank you so much for taking the time to create these videos, they have been really helpful to me. One thing I did find in my setup. Although I followed your advice, the plane was still flying in the oposite direction! I discovered that on my "S-TEC like AP" Autopilot I had to press the NAV button twice until it displayed "gpss" to fly my waypoints. Not sure if that's correct but works fo me. Now activating legs, VORS & all the other good stuff to get my head around ;-)

[@WEHVideos]

Hi Roy, Glad the videos are helping. There's a lot to learn hang in there you will get it :-) Blessings, skip

[@Danny-fc2je]

Same thing happened to me !!!! Thx for the heads up on how to fix this

[@WEHVideos]

Hi Danilo and Roy, I really dropped the ball on this one Roy, my first reply is pretty lame must have had a bad day sorry. To be honest I never heard of S-TEC but glad you figured it out and were able to help Danilo here thanks!! Blessings, skip

[@DavidrKun]

I only wish I seen this Video before. I was trying to Fly from Las Vegas, Amarillo, Pensacola, Lynden Pindling, To Aguadilla PR (15Hours flight time with my way points as stop for refuel.)with the Baron B58. It took me some time to get it. 30Mins but once I found it. I was on my way. LOL man Like I said. This would of saved me so much time. Thanks for making these Videos.

[@WEHVideos]

Thanks David glad it helped. Blessings, skip

[@dspindl1]

I have a couple quick questions if you have time. When do I use the "activate flight plan" option in the Garmin menu? Also, how do I lower or raise altitude while in flight plan/ autopilot mode...for an approach for instance. Is there a way to actually program the desired altitude into the Garmin along with the flight plan? Thanks, Skip!

[@WEHVideos]

Hi Dave, Good questions. As for activating the flight plan you would do that when you are ready for the Auto Pilot to control the airplane. So you would get to your cruise altitude and be heading in the right direction then turn on the autopilot. If you were flying out of a towered airport at some point the tower would tell you to "resume own navigation" (VFR flight) and if you were ready that's when you could activate the AP. At a non towered airport you would just get clear of all traffic and turn to the heading and climb to the altitude you want and activate the AP, it's up to you when to use or not use the Auto Pilot. Have you watched my videos on the Garmin 530? Go to the link below and watch "how to enter and fly a flight plan with approach" series I think that will help you with getting the correct altitude on approach. I hope it explains what you are looking for. Let me know what you think and if the videos help. kzbin.info/aero/PLjqSrWIZDAi_KbXDZnj9-eOnwrOFeV7V3 As for programming the altitudes in the Garmin I haven't looked into that but off the top of my head I'd have to say no. You can do that with an FMC but I don't believe that's available in the 530. I have to admit here that I don't have much experience with GPS in real life flying. Blessings, skip

[@sturisa]

Hi Skip, I am flying the Cessna 172 and entered a flight plan in the X-Plane 530 with departure airport - KSMQ and waypoints to the destination airport KEWR. This is a short flight of about 30 miles. I exited out to the GPS map and could see my course on the map. I pushed the CDI button from VLOC to GPS. I then took off from KSMQ and once about 1000 ft AGL, I selected the NAV button on the auto pilot. The auto pilot did not fly to the first waypoint, instead it flew in some other direction. The funny thing is, when I moved the heading bug, the plane started to turn, even though the HDG button was not selected on the auto pilot. I have tried this a few times with other airports with no success. I have even done direct to an airport and the auto pilot will not fly it. The auto pilot will maintain altitude, heading, VS, etc. Any help would be appreciated. BTW, your videos are terrific, have been watching many and learning a lot.

[@WEHVideos]

Hi Sal, I assume you mean the 172sp that comes with XP11. Did you activate the plan in the GPS? Also on the auto pilot control "S-TEC Like AP" you must push the NAV button and I believe gpss should be displayed, I had to push the button twice before the GPS would work. Right above the NAV 1 VOR indicator the GPS green light should be on. I have to tell you I have no experience in this 172 and using the 530 in XP11, this video was made in XP10 so there most likely are some changes. Let me know if this helped. Blessings, skip

[@sturisa]

@@WEHVideos Skip, Yes, the 172 with XP 11. As far as activating the plan in the GPS, I just entered the waypoints, assuming that's all is needed. I will have to try again with your suggestions and see if I can get the AP to fly the course. I will let you know, thanks for the reply.

[@WEHVideos]

Looks like you only need to turn on the AP with the S-TEC Like AP control by hitting NAV and making sure you have GPS selected not an NAV radio. Activate is only for a Direct To or changing the flight plan. Ok how do you turn off AP?? I got it to work now I don't see any way to fly manually after turning on AP Blessings, skip

[@sturisa]

@UC_cytwz_KcUBCqHZ7SZQIjA Skip, thanks, What worked is hitting the NAV button twice on the AP. It put the AP into GPSS mode, not really sure what that is though, but it flew the flight plan just perfectly. One question, how do I load a saved flight plan?

[@WEHVideos]

Hi Sal, Yea, I read the manual in the cessna172 folder about the AP. Seems the GPSS stands for GPS Steering. To disengage the AP you need to assign a key on your keyboard or joystick/yoke guess that's the only way, strange. I couldn't turn it off. Seems to me there used to be a button (AP) on the controller but now the first button in HDG, have you had a problem with that? Anyway glad you got it figured out Blessings, skip

[@scotts8176]

Skip one of the planes I fly is the cirrus sf50 with s gps 430. It has a flight director option but no fms. If I put the flight director to auto do I still need to click on nav or loc . Is putting the flight director on auto the Way to turn on auto pilot

[@WEHVideos]

Hi Scott, Not familiar with the sf50 but if the FD is Off On Auto then you need to select NAV or LOC also if that's what's there. The Cirrus that comes with X Plane has a Source NAV1 NAV2 GPS switch, a FD Off On Auto, and LOC button. To use the GPS select that with the source switch, Flight Director to AUTO, and LOC when ready to engage. You must select LOC for the AP to engage the GPS skip

[@scotts8176]

Thanks it's not the default but I set the FD to auto but never turned on the loc . Thanks .

[@WEHVideos]

Looking Good :-)

[@DavidrKun]

Is there a way to add this Plugin to the Carenado King Air B200? or any other Carenado?

[@WEHVideos]

Hi David, Not at this time. Maybe in another release it might be available. skip

[@DavidrKun]

+WEH Videos also, on the King air C90 you have to press LOC on the AP controls. could not find the NAV. But works like charm, on my way to SVMI from TJBQ

[@WEHVideos]

Hi David, Your right. I explain the different ways to activate your AP in another video because not all systems are alike which can be confusing. Blessings, skip

[@yogib37]

I just started using X=plane and wanted to do a flight from my home airport Ksts and was trying to go to fresno. so I enter the way points that I got from online flight planer, I cactivated the autopilot on the King Air C90 .it does not take over I have the yd on, nav slected etc, but the plane just keeps going up and down does not hold ALT or seem to let the GPS take over. I have it set on the GPS on the 530 etc. no workie :D what is wrong? maybe I will do a new plane and try the barron

[@WEHVideos]

HI Christopher, There are things that must be set for the Autopilot to control the airplane. There is a rotary switch on the control panel left of the HSI labeled NAV1 NAV2 GPS. Make sure it's set to GPS for the Garmin 530 to operate. There is a console between the seats where you select what autopilot function you want to use HDG, NAV, APP, BC, ALT HOLD, etc. Below that is AP ON/OFF. To set the AP to use the 530 set the NAV1 NAV 2 GPS switch to GPS. After activating the GPS click the NAV button and AP ON button on the console between the seats and that should cause the AP to take over and follow you flight plan in the Garmin 530. Let me know how you make out. Blessings, skip

[@yogib37]

I did engadge the autopilot and put the nav on but what I think I did not do was set the knob by the HSI to GPS.. I will try that again later. I am in a middle of a flight from sfo to dfw that I started two days ago :P

[@yogib37]

hello, I ended my 737 flight and try the barron again I am in mid flight so what you told me help so much Thanks. So much to learn.

[@WEHVideos]

Great! Yep, so much to learn, keep at it. Blessings, skip

[@yogib37]

I was doing so great on my flight then some mountians kind of got in the way LOL next time i ran out of fuel a. My barron ing. switch does not work, I have to start it with engine running and I have the bat l and r alt on full rich etc. but just clicks and does not move.. do you know what is up with that?

[@scotts8176]

Skip this will sound stupid but I'm trying the procedure in the baron 58!and can't find any vref number or landing speed . But the bad part is i can't start the plane I can turn on the battery etc but can't figure out the actual start 😱

[@WEHVideos]

Hi Scott, Here is a link for Baron 58: www.flightsimsys.com/Beech_Baron58_Checklist_VAL.pdf As for starting make sure mixture (below 3000ft) is to full rich and throttle in about 1/8 in, click your mouse on the right sided of the "Off L R Both Start" switches for each engine they should start right up. skip

[@scotts8176]

Thanks I tried that and hit the lights on but no engine I will try again