PC-Primus Apex USER’S GUIDE

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PC-Primus Apex User’s Guide

Table of Contents
PC-Primus Apex User’s Guide ...................................................................................3
About PC-Primus Apex ............................................................................................................................... 3
Minimum Requirements .............................................................................................................................. 3
Accessing PC-Primus Apex ....................................................................................................................... 3
Accessing Freeplay Simulation ................................................................................................................. 4
Freeplay Simulation .................................................................................................................................... 4
Cockpit layout .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Select Display Unit ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Select Controller .......................................................................................................................................... 7
START ENG ........................................................................................................................................................... 7
Caution Acknowledgment .................................................................................................................................... 7
Warning Acknowledgment ................................................................................................................................... 7
Toolbar.......................................................................................................................................................... 7
Gnd Rst .................................................................................................................................................................. 7
TakeOff .................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Reposition ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
Sim Speed ............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Air Speed ............................................................................................................................................................... 8
Freeze .................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Use Mouse ............................................................................................................................................................. 8
2 DU Layout ........................................................................................................................................................... 8
Guides and Lessons ............................................................................................................................................. 8
Menu ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Exit ......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Gnd Rst .................................................................................................................................................................. 9
TakeOff .................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Use Mouse ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Sim Speed ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Reposition ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Freeze .................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Snapshot ............................................................................................................................................................... 9
Save Flight Plan .................................................................................................................................................. 10
Preferences - DU Cursor .................................................................................................................................... 10
PC-Primus Apex User’s Guide ........................................................................................................................... 11
Computer System Info........................................................................................................................................ 11
PC-Primus Apex Registration ............................................................................................................................ 11
About PC-Primus Apex ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Simulate Aircraft Flight ............................................................................................................................. 12
Set Aircraft Position ........................................................................................................................................... 12
Start Engine......................................................................................................................................................... 12
Take Off ............................................................................................................................................................... 12
Reposition Flight................................................................................................................................................. 13
Simulation Speed ................................................................................................................................................ 13
Stop Engine ......................................................................................................................................................... 13
PC-Primus Apex Utilities .......................................................................................................................... 13
Shutdown PC-Primus Apex ............................................................................................................................... 13
Update Databases ............................................................................................................................................... 13
HFP Flight Plan File Support Tool ..................................................................................................................... 13

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PC-Primus Apex User’s Guide

About PC-Primus Apex
PC-Primus Apex is a take-home, free-play software package for individual pilots who want to
familiarize themselves with the operation of the Primus Apex electronic display & flight
management systems.
Use the PC-Primus Apex tutorials consisting of multimedia content to familiarize yourself with
cockpit control panels and display units. The Avionics Pilot‟s Guide is also provided for your
reference.

Minimum Requirements
PC-Primus Apex requires Windows® XP/ Windows® Vista/ Windows® 7. For PC-Primus Apex to
operate properly, you need:
 A Laptop / PC with Pentium 4, 2GHz or equivalent
 Local Hard Drive with minimum 3GB free space
 Minimum Active Memory of 1GB
 Video Graphics Card with OpenGL Capability (Graphics card with Nvidia chipset recommended)
 Minimum Screen Resolution of 1280x800 True Color

Accessing PC-Primus Apex

1. Ensure PC-Primus Apex is installed on your computer.
2. Click Start > Programs > PC-Primus Apex for Twin Otter > PC-Primus Apex.
Alternatively, you can click the PC-Primus Apex icon on the desktop. The PC-Primus
Apex splash screen appears momentarily and then the PC-Primus Apex Main Menu appears.

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Accessing Freeplay Simulation

1. To access the Freeplay, click the Freeplay Simulation link. The PC-Primus Apex display
appears with the Set Aircraft Position dialog box.

Freeplay Simulation
The Freeplay Simulation mode displays the Cockpit layout at the right bottom corner of your
screen, selected Display Unit on the top left corner, the Flight guidance panel at the bottom left
corner, PFD/Baro controller or multi function controller on the top right corner. Also provided are
caution and warning acknowledge buttons and an engine start button.
The tool bar provides buttons to change flight scenario and access the various simulation features.

Cockpit layout
You may use the cockpit layout area at the bottom right corner of the screen to select which
display and controller is visible simply by clicking on any component that is highlighted by a green
box. Those items that are not highlighted may not be selected.

The cockpit layout can be used to invoke one of three following display units:
 Pilot‟s Primary Flight Display

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 Situation Awareness Multi Function Display a.k.a Upper MFD

 System Multi Function Display a.k.a Lower MFD

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Additionally, the cockpit layout can be used to invoke one of the following two controllers:
• PF Controller • MultiFunction Controller

Select Display Unit

Hovering your mouse over the cockpit layout highlights the display unit. Click to select the desired
Display Unit.

The location of the cockpit cursor is indicated by the cyan highlight around the window on a display
unit in the cockpit layout.

To make a window active:

1. Ensure Multifunction controller is displayed. If it is not currently displayed, click the
Multifunction controller in the cockpit layout.
2. Use the ▲    buttons provided in the Multifunction controller to move the desired
display window.
Note: The active window with cursor focus may not be part the DU that is displayed on the
screen. Use the cockpit layout to select the display with the cyan highlighted window.

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Select Controller
Hovering your mouse over the cockpit layout highlights the control panels. Click to select the
desired controller.
START ENG
This button is used to start the engine. Press and hold this button for two seconds to start the
engine. The engine must be started with this button to enable the Takeoff button on the toolbar.

Caution Acknowledgment
If a message categorized as caution appears on the CAS window, the Push to Reset text glows in
bright amber color. Acknowledge the message by clicking this button. This will silence the aural
caution tone.

Warning Acknowledgment
If a message categorized as warning appears on the CAS window, the Push to Reset text glows in
bright red color. Acknowledge the message by clicking this button. This will silence the aural
warning tone.

Toolbar
Gnd Rst

Use the Gnd Rst button to kill the engine when you want to return the aircraft to the ground.
Observe that the TakeOff button is grayed out and unusable when the Gnd Rst button is pressed.
Alternatively, you can click Mode > Gnd Rst from the menu bar.

TakeOff

Use the TakeOff button to simulate a takeoff from the selected airport‟s chosen runway.
Observe that the TakeOff button is selectable only immediately after the START ENG is clicked. If
you click the Gnd Rst button to kill the engine, the TakeOff button is grayed out and is not usable
until the engine is started again.
Alternatively, you can click Mode > Take Off from the menu bar.

Reposition

Use the Reposition button to change an aircraft‟s position in mid-air or on the ground. You
may reposition the aircraft to any navaid location that is defined in the FMS navigation database.
Alternatively, you can click Simulation > Reposition from the menu bar.
Note: The ‘In Air’ selection of the ‘Set Aircraft Position’ dialog box is only enabled if the
aircraft is in the air.

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Sim Speed

Use the Sim Speed control to change the freeplay simulation speed. You have
the option to increase simulation speeds up to 5 times the normal speed.
Alternatively, you can click Simulation > Sim Speed from the menu bar.

Air Speed

Use the Air Speed control to increase or decrease the air speed of the flight. You
have options to change the airspeed of the flight. This is not linked with any of the Flight Director
modes.

Freeze

Use the Freeze button to temporarily halt the simulation. For example, in the midst of
freeplay simulation, you might want to temporarily halt and observe. Clicking the Freeze button
again will restart the simulation from exactly the same state from where you had pressed Freeze.
Alternatively, you can click Simulation > Freeze from the menu bar.
Use Mouse

Use the „Use Mouse‟ button to enable control of the display cursor via the computer mouse.
While using this option, the cockpit cursor's movement can be controlled by the mouse, and the
MFD Controller's knob can be controlled by the mouse Scroll Wheel.
Alternatively, you can click Mode > Use Mouse from the menu bar or press F2 key on your keyboard
to invoke this feature.

Note: This button is enabled only when the Situation Awareness MFD is displayed.
Attention: To cancel the ‘Use Mouse’ mode, press F2 on your keyboard.

2 DU Layout

Use the 1 DU Layout / 2 DU Layout button to change the display layout, to view one Display
Unit or 2 DU Display Units side by side. When PC-Primus Apex starts, it will start with 1 DU Layout
in which only one Display Unit will be visible. The User can change the layout to 2 DU Layout in
which one can view PFD along with one of the MFDs side by side.

Guides and Lessons

Use the Guides and Lessons option to invoke System Lessons, the PC-Primus Apex User’s
Guide or the Avionics Pilot's Guide.
Note: The Freeplay simulation state is frozen when the System Lessons are invoked. The
Freeplay simulation resumes automatically after exiting the lessons.

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Menu
Exit
Use the menu item “Exit” under the “File” menu to shut down the PC-Primus Apex software.

Alternatively, you can click the Button of the Window to close the software.

Gnd Rst
Use the menu item “Gnd Rst” under the “Mode” menu to perform a ground reset. Refer to the
Toolbar section for more information on this function.

TakeOff
Use the menu item “TakeOff” under “Mode” menu to simulate a takeoff from the selected airport‟s
chosen runway. Refer to the Toolbar section for more information on this function.

Use Mouse
Use the menu item “Use Mouse” under the “Mode” menu to enable the “Use Mouse” mode. Refer
to the Toolbar section for more information on this function.
Sim Speed
Use the menu item “Sim Speed” under the “Simulation” menu to control the speed of the
simulation. Refer to the Toolbar section for more information on this function.

Reposition
Use the menu item “Reposition” under the “Simulation” menu to perform a reposition of the
simulation. Refer to the Toolbar section for more information on this function.

Freeze
Use the menu item “Freeze” under the “Simulation” menu to perform a reposition of the
simulation. Refer to the Toolbar section for more information on this function.

Snapshot
Use the Snapshot items under the “Simulation” menu to save the current state of the simulation
and load it at later point of time to return the simulation to a known configuration.
There are three option available related to Snapshot under the “Simulation” menu.
Load Snapshot is used to load an existing snapshot which has been previously saved.
Save Snapshot is used to save the current simulation state so that it can be recalled at a later time.
Manage Snapshots shows all existing snapshots and allows user to “rename” or “delete” the existing
snapshots.

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Save Flight Plan

Use the menu item “Save Flight Plan” under the “Simulation” menu to save the loaded flight plan
to a HFP (Honeywell Flight Plan) formatted file on the disk. When this item is selected, a dialog
box is displayed that allows you to enter a flight plan name, select a folder where the HFP flight
plan file will be stored, and choose whether or not to save fuel, weight, wind, and temperature
data. Only primary flight-plan waypoints and an alternate destination, if specified, will be stored in
the HFP file. No SIDs or STARs will be saved.
The flight plan file name must be between 6 & 10 characters in length. The „HFP‟ extension is
automatically appended to the filename, so it should not be entered as part of name.
This feature can be used for off-aircraft flight planning.

Preferences - DU Cursor
Use the menu item “Preferences” under the “Simulation” menu to set the cursor sensitivity.

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Once user selects “Preferences” menu item, the below dialog box would be launched.

Using the slider control one can increase or decrease the speed of the DU cursor. The user can
preview the cursor sensitivity by using the MFD Controller‟s joystick without closing the preferences
dialog box.

PC-Primus Apex User’s Guide

Use the menu item “PC-Primus Apex User‟s Guide” under the “Help” menu to display this guide in
the freeplay environment.

Computer System Info

Use the menu item “Computer System Info” under the “Help” menu to launch a utility that will
provide information about the computer that is running the PC-Primus Apex software.

PC-Primus Apex Registration

Use the menu item “PC-Primus Apex Registration” under the “Help” menu to display software
registration information.

About PC-Primus Apex

Use the menu item “About PC-Primus Apex” under the “Help” menu to display software version
information.

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Simulate Aircraft Flight

Complete the following procedure to simulate an aircraft flight:
Set Aircraft Position
1. Logon to the PC-Primus Apex Freeplay Simulation. The Set Aircraft Position dialog box
appears.

2. Enter the four digit airport code in the Nav DB Ident field.
3. Click Search or press the Enter key on your keyboard. The list of available runways appears
with their latitude, longitude, and heading details.
4. Select the runway.
5. Click OK. The runway details are loaded and you are ready to begin freeplay simulation.
Note: Select Situation Awareness MFD to initialize the FMS position and to load a flight plan.

Start Engine

Press and hold the Start ENG button for more than 2 seconds. Observe the engine parameters
changing in the engine window of PFD.

Also, the Start ENG button itself appears disabled when the engine is running.

Take Off
Click the Take Off button on the toolbar of select Mode > Take Off from the file menu. PC-Primus
Apex simulates the aircraft take off from the selected airport‟s chosen runway.
Canned Take Off Scenario: Aircraft moves on ground and the airspeed increases gradually. Once it
reaches the airspeed of 60 kts it pitches up and reaches the airspeed of 100 kts. Aircraft levels off
at 400 ft above ground level and then it accelerates to attain an airspeed of 180 kts. Once the
airspeed reaches 180 kts, the take-off scenario is completed, and the user is able to engage the
Autopilot and Flight Director Modes.

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Reposition Flight
You can reposition an aircraft in the middle of a simulation. You can reposition the aircraft to
simulate afresh from the ground including a take off.
1. In the midst of a simulation exercise, if you want to change the position of your aircraft,
click Reposition on the toolbar or select Mode > Reposition on the menubar. The Set
Aircraft Position dialog box appears.
2. Enter the four digit airport code whose runway you want to select or any other Navaid Ident
in the Nav DB Ident field and press Enter on your keyboard or click Search. For the four
digit airport code, all available runways with their latitude, longitude, and heading data is
listed. Select a runway.
3. To reposition to a desired Navaid Ident, select the In Air option.
4. You can enter the desired values for Aircraft Altitude, True Airspeed, and Mag Heading.
5. Click OK. The flight simulation will continue but is repositioned to the new location.
Note: If you select the On Ground option, the simulation will begin from the selected airport’s
chosen runway from the ground necessitating a Take Off. The Aircraft Altitude and True
Airspeed fields are disabled. Click OK to begin the simulation.

Simulation Speed
To increase or decrease the speed of freeplay simulation, select an option from the Sim Speed list
on the tool bar.
Stop Engine
At any point in time during simulation, if you want to stop the flight and turn the engine off, click
Gnd Rst on the tool bar or select Mode > Gnd Rst on the file menu.

PC-Primus Apex Utilities

PC-Primus Apex application suit includes following useful utilities.
Shutdown PC-Primus Apex
This utility closes all executables of the PC-Primus Apex application. It can be used when PC-Apex
application does not close properly. This can also be used when PC-Primus Apex application does
not start properly.

Update Databases
This utility can be used to update “FMS-INAV” or “Aircraft Performance” databases from Red or
Purple CD.

HFP Flight Plan File Support Tool

This utility can be used to create the apexcustfpln._hr and apexcustfpln._dr support files that are
required by the Primus Apex Data Loading System (DLS) for loading HFP files created by PC-Primus
Apex on the aircraft.

All HFP files that will be loaded to the aircraft should be placed in a single folder. PC-Primus Apex
creates a „FlightPlans‟ folder under „\Program Files\Honeywell\PC-Apex\TwinOtter‟ where the HFP
files can be stored. (NOTE: Only „apexcustfpln._hr‟, „apexcustfpln._dr‟ and HFP files should be
stored in the folder)

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To start the utility, select the Windows® start button, and go to the PC-Primus Apex menu under
Programs

The following dialog will be displayed once the utility has started:

Click the Browse button and select the folder where the HFP files are stored.

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Click the Create HFP Data Loading Support Files button to create the „apexcustfpln._hr‟,
„apexcustfpln._dr‟ DLS files. The DLS files are created in the same folder as the HFP files.

All files must be copied to a 2 GB or less Secure Digital (SD) memory card per the instructions in the
„Data Loading Operation‟ section of the Primus Apex Avionics Pilot‟s Guide. Refer to the „FPLN
Source is Flash‟ section of the Pilot‟s Guide for instructions on loading the HFP files from the SD
card to the aircraft.

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