hallo all,
I´m new to the 733 an I like it very much, especially that you have to do your own descent calaculations.
I´ve read the forums and watched Jan videos, still have some questions because I don´t descent that smooth (LVL CHG), at this point it´s not a linear descent but more in waves (speed up/down trying to match the figures in Jans table. I hope that it "only" needs a lot of practice, I only did 5-6 flight, so I am really the beginning :-)
My test flight is EDDL-EDDS at FL230 to ILS07/25 - for the landing on 25 I fly over the IAF LBU than vectors to final | for the landing on 07 I delete the IAF LBU and I fly directly from the clearance limit "BADSO" into final (see attached screenshot).
Reaching CRZ FL230 the FMC gives me a ToD at 82nm EDDS.
I do the following calculation, hope I got that right:
EDDS airport elevation nearly is at 1300ft - I think Jans table describes the altitude above MSL.
So I substract 1.300ft from 23.000ft, wich gives mir 21.700ft / 300 = 72,33nm, round it to 73nm.
Is that the way to go if any airport is higher than MSL?
While cruising I decided to give me a direct to "BADSO" and delete the IAF "LBU" and head by myself to the final approach ILS07.
Track miles were now shortened and the FMC calculates a new ToD at 75nm EDDS, is that right? With less track miles, the ToD should come more to the airplane, and stretch the distance to the arrival airport, or do I think in a wrong way?
Besides that the new calculated ToD (75nm) is 2nm ahead of my own calculated ToD (73nm):
In my flight I´ve overflown the TOD at 75nm to descent at 73nm - so I was high on the profile from the first second on.
In this case I think I should have gone with VNAV and descent and then check the figures in the table if I match the correct distances at the given altitudes.
(When the VNAV profile would not correspond to the table figures, the I could still use LVL CHG to correct the desend, right?
The whole descend is like playing piano, compare figures and push the keys, isn´t it?)
Being high from second one on, I chased the path and I got into that "wavy descent" ;-)
Not a nice descent but I could manage it, to reach 3000ft approx @180kts 5nm prior to the FDP "VATER" and land safely.
I´m looking forward to your help, very satisfying if the descent works how wanted it to be, really glad that the 733 (at least the IXEG) does not have a backup when you screwed up and have to head for delay vectors :-)
Cheers and greetings from Hahn-Airport (EDFH) Daniel