Programming FMS

[tobbe490]

Hallo,

 

I am a beginner and I am trying to learn how to program the FMS in Boing 757. When I come to the POS INIT page and want to set my position then SET IRS POS is blank (no boxes). I have a manual that says: "The prompt boxes at 4R indicate that current aircraft position has not been initialised, or that any of the IRS modules is in align mode. (If neither of these condions is true, then 4R will be blank)." 

"4R is blank", does this mean that there are no boxes or that the boxes are blank? And how do I initialise my position? On the page I have set coordinates to the airport. 

[jettojig]

Assuming you've set the IRS switches to align on the overhead panel, everything should work as it does in this video (which I would highly recommend watching if you want help on flying the 757! http://youtu.be/Z-KdHRxeths?t=11m56s

[tobbe490]

Thank you! I have just found the IRS switches by myself and now it works. But I have still a lot of questions. The video you tipped me about is going too fast for me and it doesnt explain everything to a rookie like me. 

[jettojig]

I'm no qualified 757 pilot, but I have a good understanding of it, so feel free to ask away!

Edited October 22, 2014 by jiggyb2

[tobbe490]

Hallo jiggyb2,

 

If you can help me a bit I would be very grateful. Remember I am a beginner and maybe I ask silly questions.

I refer to the video and

1.I have a question: When he begins programming the route he puts in LOPIK, UN852, LNO, N852, GESLO and so on. Where does he get this from? I have used a flightplanner (http://www.flightsimaviation.com/_flight_planner.html). When I use it on the route EHAM-LSZH the only things that match is LOPIK, LNO and GESLO?

2. On departure I will choose a runway. The only answer I get is "No active runway" for example on Hamburg airport (EDDH).

[jettojig]

Don't worry - no such thing as a silly question to me!

1- UN852 and N852 are airways. These are routes between waypoints (like LOPIK, LNO or GESLO), and basically condense a lot of other waypoints between locations. X-Plane's default FMC does not currently support these, and so you have to just fly directly between waypoints. This is probably why that website does not include airways. The 757 uses a fully custom FMC which has full airway support.

To create a flight plan with airways, I would recommend EFASS, which is an application that can generate full flight plans for all Flight Factor's aircraft, as well as for many other payware aircraft like the A320neo. You could also try using the high-altitude charts on Skyvector if you wanted to plot things manually!

Another workaround (I think) is to type "DIRECT" instead of an airway, which will bypass the airway system and allow you to fly straight from waypoint to waypoint.

It's worth noting that these can change frequently, and I'd really recommend purchasing Aerosoft or Navigraph nav data else you might find that you can't use your flightplan as your data may be missing airways.

The "no active runway" error sounds like you've not set a SID. These are standard departure routes from an airport, and are runway specific - hence the "no active runway". Select the DEP/ARR button on the FMC and pick the runway you wand to use and an appropriate SID (EFASS is great for helping figure these out).

One thing that's worth doing is looking at section 11 of the FCOM provided with the aircraft. I also have a bunch of training aids given to me by my flight instructor, who is rated on the 757/767, and I'll have a look for anything useful there too if you'd like!

Hope this all helps,

Jiggyb2

[tobbe490]

Hallo jiggyb2,

 

Thank you very much for your information. It will certainly help me a lot!

Tomorrow I will go on vacation for a week - so I cant fly and practise flying and proceed with programming the FMS. Hope I can come back to you if I have more questions!

[jettojig]

No problem Tobbe! I'm subscribed to this thread so just post any more questions and I'll get back to you very quickly in all likelihood!

[tobbe490]

Hallo again,

 

At last I managed to program the FMC and fly to my destination! Thanks to you and your tips (especially EFASS and the Youtube clip). But I have still of course a lot to learn. Unfortunately I did not land so well. Are there a way to see when I approach the destination and how far it is? I have made an ILS landing with a much simpler aircraft. Have you some tips how to do it on this aircraft (Boing 757)? Do you know how "Autoland" works which I can see on the instrumentpanel?

[jettojig]

Glad you got some flying done! 

 

Assuming you have also programmed in a STAR (which can be taken from EFASS), the FMC has a button titled "LEGS",  and this page will have altitude restrictions, and distances between waypoints - handy for finding out how far you have to go (and the restrictions usually match the intercept altitude for the glideslope). If you leave the aircraft on VNAV and set your altitude on the MCP to be at the lowest altitude listed here BEFORE top of descent, the autopilot will fly you nicely down to that point. While that happens, set up the ILS frequency and course using the panel on the back half of the pedestal. Press the APP button on the MCP as you near the ILS intercept point , and hopefully the aircraft will perform a nice autoland.

 

Section NP.21.38 to NP.21.43 (pages 48 to 53 of the pdf) of the "757 Procedures" pdf explains this much better than me - follow the tutorial there and you should get an autolanding!

 

Also, the landing section of those Froogle videos may be useful, and while he disconnects the autopilot on final approach, not doing so would have led to an automatic landing. 

 

Hope this helps too!

[sizziano]

For an auto land don't forget to engage all three autopilots.

[tobbe490]

Thank you all for your advises! I have seen the video and for me his landing was too difficult. He also speaks very fast. I will now try to practise and try to understand it all. Forgive but I dont understand what STAR means.

[jettojig]

Sorry, my bad - a STAR is a bit like the opposite of a SID, which is the departure route you program into the FMC (when you select runway etc). It gives you a route from cruise all the way to touchdown (or to ILS intercept) at your selected airport, with altitude and speed restrictions/guides.

Try using the manual sections I recommended in my previous post - following those will give you a good auto landing!

[tobbe490]

Hallo,

 

It seems that I now have a better understanding of things. But I have still more questions. Hope you dont get tired of me

In the FMC I can see on each legs 3.000 ft, 2.000 ft. and so on.  Will the aircraft descend automatically or must I do something? When I try to land manually for me it is difficult to find the right angle. Either land on the nosewheel or have the nose too far up. Is it a way to correct this or is it just experience?

In the videos nobody contacts ATC, but to make it more realistic you have to do that. What about you?

[jettojig]

It will descend automatically provided you set the autopilot to one of those altitudes before top of descent. I normally find the next "hard" restraint and set it to that ( these are altitudes with letters, e.g 2000A is "you must be above 2000ft here", B would mean below). When you approach that restraint, set the autopilot to the next, and keep going until you intercept the glideslope.

 

As for landing, generally if you're going too fast you'll land 'flat', with all three wheels touching together, while too slow and you'll land too high. Try approaching at 10 knots more than the speed given in the FMC's Approach page for your flap setting, and keep them until you flare - this should give you a good approach speed. If you're landing with the nose wheel first, you've probably come in too high and are trying to dive to the runway - again, lower speeds can help this. Finally, remember your flare only needs to be a few degrees pitch up between 20 and 30 feet from touchdown.

Practicing approaches is the best way to improve this really, and if you keep the speed good and don't deviate from the glideslope, and keep a good flare, your landings should work out alright.

 

As for ATC, it depends. X-Plane's built in ATC is rather poor at times (it only really helps to guide the AI traffic), so not many people use it from what I can tell. VATSIM provides ATC services worldwide, but this is run by users and so depends on who is online - most of the time, there aren't too many controllers about. If you really like flying in California, PilotEdge is definitely a good option as they provide professional coverage for that area between 1600 and 0700 GMT. Downsides are that it really is only california, so if you want to fly in the rest of the world you're stuck - I only fly in Europe usually, so it isn't a service I use.

[tobbe490]

Hallo,

 

I am training landings manually and doing nicely. Yesterday it was very cloudy and I could not see the airstrip. I certainly was in need  how to manage an ILS landing. I set up the frequency alright but which course? And how do I know which course? I cant engage all three autopilots only the left CMD - why?

Another question: When I program the FMC I sometimes get a message: "Not on interception hdg" what does that mean and what have I done wrong?

[jettojig]

Good to hear you're starting to get the hang of it! 

 

The course is the direction of the runway. You can find this in the local map screen (by clicking the ILS Glideslope of choice), or by finding a relevant approach chart (the course will be labelled clearly at one end of the glideslope).

 

I think you can only engage all three once APPR mode is activated and you've captured the glideslope. Not 100% sure on that one.

 

Usually, the intercept error comes from a route discontinuity. Scroll through the LEGS page of the FMC until you find it, most of the time you can fic it by selecting the waypoint below it and then pressing the Left key next to the discontinuity.

 

Hope this helps!

[tobbe490]

Yes! I suceeded in an ILS landing (could not engage all three autopilots though, only two). Landing was made 10 nm from the airport when the aircraft is already aligned with the airport. Now I must learn to made that from a distance, to make those turn so I will be aligned with the airstrip. Do you have some tips how to make it?

[jettojig]

Excellent!

Perhaps only 2 can be engaged at once on an approach, haven't flown the 757 for a while so I'm not 100% sure.

Best way is to a follow a STAR for the runway you want, which you can get from EFASS; these are entered like a SID but you select the arrival option for your destination airport. Once that is entered, you can follow the magenta line and in most cases it will line you up with the ILS.

Which airport(s) are you practicing at, by the way?

[tobbe490]

Lately I have been landing on Hamburg airport (EDDH) because I have bought a scenery for that airport (makes it more fun). Unfortunately there are no sceneries for Arlanda airport, ESSA (Stockholm) where I live. Thank you again for all your tips! 

[jettojig]

Ah, Hamburg is a nice airport to fly to, should be good for learning at - and it should have SID/STAR charts to help too!

You're welcome!

[tobbe490]

Hallo,

 

I am sorry but I really don´t know STAR. I know what it means but not how it works. You have told me that I select the arrival option for my destination airport. Where can I find it in EFASS?

[jettojig]

It's a bit like a reverse SID, and is entered (and found) very similarly. In EFASS, it is the drop-down menu below your arrival airport (like the SID is below the departure airport), and once you've planned it, the STAR should show up next to your airport (or perhaps runway) in the sidebar.

Entering one into the 757's FMC is also similar to how you enter a SID, except you select 'approach' next to the airport you want to land at, instead of choosing departure at the the airport you left. Hope this helps!

[tobbe490]

Hallo,

 

I am not so clear about how to program the FMC with STAR. But I shall try it. I have tried to go from Heathrow airport (EGLL) to Paris (LFPG). After that I have programmed the FMC I get the message: "PERF/VNAV unavailabe". Why is that? I also have problem in the air when the autopilot disconnects. Has that to do with the VNAV? It is a little bit frustrating when there is so much you don´t understand.

[cessna729]

Hi tobbe490,  Most Boeing Ops Manuals will  say something like:

PERF/VNAV UNAVAILABLE = VNAV selected and gross weight, cost index, or cruise altitude are not entered.

But unfortunately you havn't told us which STAR? or exactly what you did enter into your FMS (eg. RTE pages, PERF INIT pages, any ARR/DEP pages - ALL of them!) ect. so that's just a guess.

Have you checked any manuals that came with the aircraft (DOC's folder maybe)?

cessna729.

Edited November 22, 2014 by cessna729