Version: Python 3.11.3

Overview:

• WIP flight progress strips for vZTL, on the VATSIM Network.
• Code Author: Simon Heck (Simon-Heck)
• Printer Technician: Joey Costello (JoeyTheDev1)
• Technical Advisor: Zack B)

In Progress:

• [ ] Electronic Flight Strip Transfer System (EFSTS) / Networking
• [ ] Print all the memory aid things
• [ ] Add more comments and documentation

To do:

• [ ] Make starting text prompts easier to understand
• [ ] Don't print VFR strips/Don't print amended VFR strips?
• [x] Clean up Code for new airports. Add new airports. Store in JSON?
• [ ] EFSTS needs to actually track SIGMETs in order to charge to SIGMETs... lol
• [ ] Add visual flag to scanner elements. Build network for scanner.
• [ ] Add GUI elements to the program

Features:

• Barcode with pilot VATSIM CID on ATL strips (for strip scanning)
• Truncates route to first 3 waypoints
• Prints only remarks after RMK/
• Multi-threaded to simultaneously listen for user input, update JSON data, and scan for new departures
• Print Hazardous Weather Information
• Log airport delays & limited logic to determine cause.
• Data refresh syncs with VATSIM data refresh cycle
• GI command to print GI stuff.
• Others

Hardware:

• ZebraZD410 Printer
• 1x8 Flight Strips
• Computer with python 3.1 or greater
• Install Flight Progress Strip font to the Zebra ZD410 printer.

How to Run:

• Aquire the following modules:

  pip install zpl
  pip install zebra
  pip install requests

  Run python on main.py. For example:

  python main.py

  _{Note that the program may overwrite settings that are already on your printer... so you may want to save those before running it. Additionally, you need to define the font of the flight strips to be used in main.py. You can send open communication with the printer and send ^XA^WDE:*.TTF^XZ to show the name of all available fonts.}

Strip Alignment [doesn't work lol]:

• Strips require manual alignment prior to first print.
  1. Launch program. Type "Align" after selecting positions.
  2. Move "line" on alignment strip to mouth of printer.

Commands:

• Memoryaids - Prints several memory aids, including STOP and NO LUAW.
• Times - Prints the current taxi times & associated callsigns.
• Purge - Clears queue count for delay reporting
• DROP (Callsign) - Removes cid from queue counter.
• Align - Prints blank strip with singular line. Align line with mouth of printer to achieve serenity.
• FRC (ACID) or SR (ACID) - Prints strip with all flight plan info.
• GI (message) - Prints a strip of inputted text.

ARMT commands (ATL only)

• countproposals - Counts all the aircraft on the ground and organizes it based on filed departure gate.
• ALL north/center/south - Amends the departure split.
• {departure} OR {gate} north/center/south - Amends the departure split (to determine queue count).
• worst queue or queue count - Generates length of line for departure if all aircraft on the ground were holding short of their runway, according to the departure split.
• FTD - enables/disables runway 10/28

• display or current - shows the current split

  Configuring the Positions File:

• Start with Facility
  • Next in heirarchy are the position(s) within the facililty.
    • Within each position, list the "airports" to watch out for. Must be found in airports.json.
    • Type of position (Determines "how far out" the program is looking for each airport & other additional functions, such as strip scanning): CD (Clearance Delivery), GC (Ground Control), LC (Local Control), TAR (Feeder), DR (Departure), TMU, COMBINED
    • Auto_Print_strips: true/false
    • hasBarcode (Departure Strips Only): true/false
    • stripType: Both/Departure/Arrival
• Example setups are already included in program.