How Detection of Flight State Works

This is a snapshot of v0.5.0 transitions, so it might evolve. It should answer most questions on ‘what fires when’.

State Transition Table

File to Play	Things to Check	Timing Logic
BoardingWelcome	GSX Mode: IsOnGround=True AND IsGSXBoardingInProgress=True AND IsBeaconOn=False Traditional Mode: IsOnGround=True AND IsLogoLightOn=True AND IsBeaconOn=False	Play once when GSX boarding starts OR logo light first turns on, then repeat every X minutes (configurable, default 5) until BoardingComplete
BoardingWelcomePilot	Settings: BoardingWelcomePilot enabled AND BoardingWelcome played AND IsOnGround=True AND IsBeaconOn=False	Play once after the initial BoardingWelcome during boarding (off by default)
BoardingMusic	BoardingWelcome played AND BoardingComplete not played	Loop continuously until BoardingComplete or next BoardingWelcome
BoardingComplete	IsBeaconOn=True AND IsOnGround=True OR GSX Boarding complete (when GSX enabled)	Play once when beacon first turned on OR GSX boarding completed (whichever happens first)
ArmDoors	IsOnGround=True AND (IsEngineRunning=True OR GroundSpeed > 1)	Play once when engines start or aircraft begins moving
PreSafetyBriefing	ArmDoors played AND IsEngineRunning=True	Wait for ArmDoors to finish playing
SafetyBriefing	PreSafetyBriefing played	Wait for PreSafetyBriefing to finish playing
CabinDimTakeoff	SafetyBriefing played AND IsDaylight=False	Wait for SafetyBriefing to finish playing + 10 seconds
CrewSeatsTakeoff	IsOnGround=True AND (IsLandingLightOn=True OR IsStrobeLightOn=True) AND IsEngineRunning=True	When landing lights (default) or strobe lights are turned on (takeoff imminent)
CallCabinSecureTakeoff	CrewSeatsTakeoff played AND IsOnGround=True	Wait for CrewSeatsTakeoff to finish playing + 5 seconds
AfterTakeoff	AltitudeAGL > TakeoffDetectionAltitudeAGL (3,000 ft) AND IsOnGround=False	Wait 2 minutes after takeoff detected (independent timing), configurable altitude
FastenSeatbelt	Climb/Cruise Phase AND AfterTakeoff played AND Seatbelt Sign OFF→ON transition (CABIN SEATBELTS ALERT SWITCH or ANNUNCIATOR SWITCH binding)	2 Minute Cooldown (Repeatable)
Cruise	Climb/Cruise/Descent Phases AND only plays the once per file	Use the file naming convention of ‘CruiseElapsedXXPercent’ where XX represents the number % through the flight e.g. CruiseElapsed33Percent is 1/3rd through the flight time
DescentSeatbelts	(AltitudeAGL < DescentDetectionAGL (10,000 ft) AND VerticalSpeed < -500) OR LandingLightJustTurnedOn=True	When descending below configurable altitude OR when landing lights just turned on
CrewSeatsLanding	AltitudeAGL < CrewSeatsLandingAGL (3,000 ft) AND VerticalSpeed < -300 AND IsLandingLightOn=True	During final approach phase with landing lights on (configurable altitude threshold)
CallCabinSecureLanding	CrewSeatsLanding played AND AltitudeAGL < CrewSeatsLandingAGL + 2000 (5,000 ft)	Wait for CrewSeatsLanding to finish playing + 10 seconds (uses CrewSeatsLandingAGL + 2000ft)
AfterLanding	IsOnGround=True AND (SpoilersDeployed=False OR GroundSpeed < 15) AND (previous phase was descent/approach OR descent announcements played)	After landing and spoilers retracted OR ground speed below 15 knots
AfterLandingMusic	AfterLanding completed AND DisembarkStarted not yet played.	Loops continuously after AfterLanding completes. May be interrupted by DisarmDoors and then resumes (from offset if resume enabled). Stops when DisembarkStarted plays.
DisarmDoors	AreEnginesOff=True AND IsParkingBrakeOn=True AND AfterLanding played	Wait for AfterLanding to finish playing
DisembarkStarted	DisarmDoors played AND (IsBeaconOn=False OR IsGSXDeboardingInProgress=True)	Wait for DisarmDoors to finish playing

GSX Integration

The Universal Announcer now supports GSX (Ground Services eXtended) integration for more realistic boarding announcements. This feature must be enabled in the Settings → Integrations tab.

GSX SimVar Integration

When GSX integration is enabled, the system monitors three GSX simvars:

GSX Boarding State - L:FSDT_GSX_BOARDING_STATE:

• State 1: Service can be called
• State 2: Service is not available
• State 3: Service has been bypassed
• State 4: Service has been requested
• State 5: Service is being performed ⭐ ACTIVE BOARDING
• State 6: Service has been completed ⭐ BOARDING COMPLETE

GSX Refueling State - L:FSDT_GSX_REFUELING_STATE:

• State 1: Service can be called
• State 2: Service is not available
• State 3: Service has been bypassed
• State 4: Service has been requested ⭐ REFUELING REQUESTED
• State 5: Service is being performed ⭐ ACTIVE REFUELING
• State 6: Service has been completed

GSX Deboarding State - L:FSDT_GSX_DEBOARDING_STATE:

• State 1: Service can be called
• State 2: Service is not available
• State 3: Service has been bypassed
• State 4: Service has been requested ⭐ DEBOARDING REQUESTED
• State 5: Service is being performed ⭐ ACTIVE DEBOARDING
• State 6: Service has been completed

GSX Boarding Logic

When GSX integration is enabled:

• BoardingWelcome is triggered when L:FSDT_GSX_BOARDING_STATE = 5 (service being performed)
• BoardingComplete is triggered when either:
  • Beacon light turns on (traditional trigger)
  • L:FSDT_GSX_BOARDING_STATE = 6 (service completed)
  • Whichever happens first provides the most realistic timing
• Automatic Fallback: If GSX is not available (not installed or not running), the system automatically falls back to logo light trigger
• Smart Detection: Uses IsGSXAvailable to determine if GSX data is actually being received
• Refueling variants: When L:FSDT_GSX_REFUELING_STATE = 4 or 5 (requested or being performed), sound files with [Refueling] tags are preferred over standard variants
• Deboarding trigger: When L:FSDT_GSX_DEBOARDING_STATE = 4 or 5 (requested or being performed), DisembarkStarted announcement is triggered (supplements beacon light off trigger)
• Provides more realistic timing aligned with actual ground service operations

When GSX integration is disabled:

• Traditional logo light trigger is used (IsLogoLightOn=True)
• [Refueling] sound variants are not selected
• Behavior remains unchanged from previous versions
• No dependency on GSX being installed or active

Manual Flight State Override Menu

The Universal Announcer provides a comprehensive manual flight state override system accessible via the system tray menu. This allows users to jump to any flight phase and get appropriate announcements for that stage of flight.

Menu Access

Right-click the system tray icon → Flight State submenu

Control Options

Menu Option	Description	State Set
Resume	Resume all announcements (only shown when stopped)	Resumes automatic detection
Stop	Stop all announcements (only shown when running)	Pauses all announcements
Auto	Return to automatic flight state detection	null (automatic detection)
Restart	Reset state machine to beginning of flight sequence	Clears all played announcements

Flight Phase Options

Menu Option	Flight State	Announcements Marked as Played	What You’ll Get Next
Preflight	Preflight	None	BoardingWelcome when logo light turns on
Taxi	Taxi	BoardingWelcome, BoardingMusic, BoardingComplete	ArmDoors when engines start or aircraft moves
Takeoff	Takeoff	BoardingWelcome, BoardingMusic, BoardingComplete, ArmDoors, PreSafetyBriefing, SafetyBriefing, CabinDimTakeoff	CrewSeatsTakeoff when landing/strobe lights turn on
Climb	Climb	BoardingWelcome, BoardingMusic, BoardingComplete, ArmDoors, PreSafetyBriefing, SafetyBriefing, CabinDimTakeoff, CrewSeatsTakeoff, CallCabinSecureTakeoff	AfterTakeoff after 2 minutes at altitude > TakeoffDetectionAltitudeAGL (3,000 ft)
Cruise	Cruise	All pre-cruise announcements (boarding through AfterTakeoff)	FastenSeatbelt when seatbelt sign turns on, DescentSeatbelts when descending
Descent	Descent	All pre-descent announcements (boarding through AfterTakeoff)	DescentSeatbelts when below DescentDetectionAGL (10,000 ft) OR when landing lights just turned on
Approach	Approach	All pre-approach announcements (boarding through AfterTakeoff)	CrewSeatsLanding when below CrewSeatsLandingAGL (3,000 ft) with landing lights
Landing	Landing	All pre-landing announcements (boarding through CallCabinSecureLanding)	AfterLanding when on ground with spoilers retracted
Done	Done	All announcements	No further announcements (flight complete)