In an exciting announcement during their weekly live stream, SayIntentions.ai introduced a cool new feature designed to ease simmers into the experience of handling ATC, while also adding a helpful mentor personality in the cockpit. It’s Uncle Harley!
Uncle Harley sits in the co-pilot seat next to you, acting as a knowledgeable mentor rather than a traditional flight instructor. This AI persona is modeled after a seasoned Vietnam War veteran who later flew commercial planes, bringing a wealth of aviation experience and wisdom to the cockpit.
Uncle Harley can respond to a variety of in-flight questions, offering guidance on everything from flight procedures to interpreting instrument readings. It can answer your doubts about communicating with ATC and since he’s also aware of your instruments, he can provide helpful advice on what’s going on with the aircraft!
Key Features of Uncle Harley:
- Interactive Communication: Uncle Harley can interact with simmers in real-time and provide advice based on the current flight situation. For instance, he can explain how to request VFR flight following, interpret ATC instructions, and guide you through various flight maneuvers.
- Instrument Awareness: Another capability of Uncle Harley is his ability to monitor the aircraft’s instruments. You can ask him, for example, if the oil pressure is OK, and he’ll check that parameter and provide you with helpful feedback.
- Real-Time ATC Interaction: Uncle Harley is aware of ongoing communications with ATC, which allows him to offer clarifications and assistance if you’re unsure about specific instructions. This feature is particularly beneficial for simmers looking to improve their ATC communication skills.
During the video, which as usual was presented by CEO Brian Shellabarger, we can see a few interactions that showcase Uncle Harley’s capabilities. For example:
- Requesting VFR Flight Following: “Harley, how do I get a VFR flight following before takeoff?”
- Response: “To get VFR flight following before takeoff, contact Ground Control and request it. For example, ‘Van Nuys Ground, Skyhawk 123 Alpha Zulu requests VFR flight following to Santa Barbara at 4,500 feet.’ They will give you a squawk code and hand you off to departure.”
- Understanding ATC Instructions: “Harley, ATC just told me to make left traffic after I take off. What does that mean?”
- Response: “Left traffic means you’ll make all your turns to the left in the traffic pattern. After takeoff, you’ll turn left to enter the downwind leg, then left again for base, and finally left onto final approach.”
- Instrument Check: “Harley, does my oil pressure look normal?”
- Response: “Yes, your oil pressure is normal. It’s within the typical range for a Cessna. Keep an eye on it, but you’re good to go.”
Pretty cool, right? SayIntentions.ai continues to innovate at a rapid pace, with more announcements planned for the coming weeks. As for Uncle Harley, he is available now in your Intercom options in SayIntentions, ready to join you on your virtual flights in Microsoft Flight Simulator! For more information, visit the SayIntentions.ai website.
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