Flight turbulence is not a "performing dangerous maneuvers". IMHO.

[Izomag]

First I'd like to say, that "FS Passengers" is a great addon and is worth it's price. It's one of my favourites addons for FSX and I've been using it for years in almost every flight.

I fly virtual turboprop airplanes in the mountainous areas of High North where bad weather is a common thing. Because I am doing quite short flights, I am in the virtual cockpit all the time and in the case of unexpected turbulence I turn on the seat belt sign relatively quickly. But sometimes turbulences happen so suddenly and are so violent that it's not enough to save my virtual passengers from throwing them out of their seats.

It's perfectly okay that virtual passengers are annoyed or even scared after turbulence. I like it  

However, silly texts (and penalty points!) about criminal act committed by a pilot who allegedly performed some kind of dangerous maneuvers that threw passengers around a plane, are definitely not okay if the real cause was turbulences.

The weather is getting worse from year to year all over the world. And many of us are flying using real weather data.
I believe it's a high time for "FS Passengers" to know the difference between turbulence and aerobatics.

It probably is not too difficult to implement. "FS Passengers" could just check the position of the yoke and/or flight control surfaces when the g-force occurs - if the yoke is in the neutral position (or within reasonable limits), it should be quite obvious that pilot is not performing any aerobatic maneuvers and there is no reason to punish him.

Please, release a patch that will correct that feature.
Thanks in advance
Paul

P.S.
Is a -0.18G really enough to start flying around the cabin???
I'm quite sure that it never threw me up into the air after sneezing (2,9G), or coughing (3,5G).
And my last PRIEP says that passengers "Were irritated by the excess G-forces. (+1.36 -0.18). Didn't like that some passengers started flying around the cabin caused by your negative G flying.".
It definitely look like a bug to me.
OK, we hit turbulence, but no way someone could fly around the cabin! Not at -0.18G. Am I wrong?

[Joeflyer]

Operating an airline is partly about passenger comfort, and is quite important. Paxs do get uneasy when turbulence causes physical and mental discomfort, so when a pilot or flight crew allows the aircraft to get near a storm or to fly directly into one, don't expect nice things to happen. You didn't mention what weather engine you use...that could be the key in taming the drastic winds you described. Perhaps we could discuss this further before I go into to any aspect of your assessment about G forces

[Izomag]

You misunderstood me. 
I am not complaining about the reaction of virtual passengers.
I'm aware that passengers do not take into account objective conditions.
"FS Passengers" simulates it perfectly. And that's perfectly okay. What is more, that's a part of the fun
 
I just think that "FS Passengers" should not accuse (and punish) a pilot for things he did not commit.
 
OK, there were turbulences on the way. The plane was throwing. The passengers felt it and were not satisfied. That's clear.
However, the pilot did not perform any violent or dangerous maneuvers and "FS Passengers" should take this into account in his assessment.

Turbulence - yes.
Aerobatics. - no.

 
I'm using FSXWX weather engine.  The biggest problem with a "FS Passengers" that thinks I'm doing some aerobatics, is so called Clear-Air Turbulence at the cruising altitude when the seatbelt sign is off.
When I'm "diving" into the clouds covering the fjord, passengers are sitting in their seats securely strapped, and everything is okay.

[Joeflyer]

No, I didn't misunderstand you at all. I didn't expand on my explanation. Turbulence (moderate and heavy) can put the airplane in unusual attitudes. Typically more than 60 deg. bank and more than 30 deg. nose up or down is considered aerobatic flight, so when you get into any moderate or heavy turbulence, the airplane will likely do both. The FSX wx engine cannot be tamed unless you use FSUIPC to calm the drastic wind shifts.

"I just think that "FS Passengers" should not accuse (and punish) a pilot for things he did not commit."
You may be correct in that assessment but most paxs wouldn't agree in real life The way paxs look at it, the pilots should know if there is forecasted turbulence along the route of flight...especially with the technology that most aircraft have these days to detect it. I do get what you are saying, but sometimes mother nature has different plans of her own. We just have to deal with it.

[Izomag]

That's why we have two separate sections in the Flight Report: 
"PAX Feedback" - which is subjective opinion of passengers,
and "Pilot Assessment" - which, if I understand correctly, is an objective opinion of the aviation authorities.

And it works already in other cases!
For example: on the Rejected Takeoff situation, passengers opinion is negative. They are angry  because they didn't reach their destination. But in the Pilot Assessment section a pilot is praised and rewarded for the correct reaction in an emergency situation. Shouldn't be similar way in a case of turbulences?

Has any real life pilot ever been punished in any way because his airplane got into the clear-air turbulence???

I always check weather reports, including SIGMET, before flight. I usualy know where I can expect turbulences and I try to either avoid them or pass through them safely (with correct speed and passengers strapped to their seats). But only a few planes in FSX have weather radar and I am not sure how functional it is. Planes I fly in FSX (Dash 8-100 and DHC6) don't have it. I simply cannot predict the clear-airturbulence. I can only react to it quickly.

I would really like "FS Passengers" to check what is the cause of excessive G-forces: pilot or bad weather. And on this basis, would give verdict in the "Pilot Assessment" section.

I believe that negative assessment about "performing dangerous maneuvers in flight" should be issued if the pilot, using his yoke, performs too sharp turns, too steep diving, etc. But not when turbulence put the airplane in unusual attitudes.