Why is there no GPS window for PMGD NG 737-600/700?Or is it that I just cannot find it?Shouldn't there be a GPS in every Boeing 737 in real life?Thanks in advance.Nico

Hi Nico,>Shouldn't there be a GPS in every Boeing 737 in real life?:). If the 737s are GPS equipped, it would only be standard on the NG, the older ones would have to be retrofitted. In any case, the GPS will only function to update the IRUs. There will be no GPS map for the pilots to access, the information from the GPS is fed to the IRUs, and then to the FMC, so you'd access it from there.I'm sure Ian Riddell can provide a much more accurate explanation...Cheers,Gosta.http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/images/wxrebeta.jpg

See here:http://www.b737.org.uk/navigation.htmAFAIK GPS is the primary source of positin updating, however, this may be in IRS equipped 737's- the 800/900.The 737-600 is not even certified for autoland :)Tim

with all of the above said, if you want to add the garmin to your NG, do a search on "add GPS" in this forum, and you'll find a post by me, among others, on how to set up a gps window in panel.cfg.

">Shouldn't there be a GPS in every Boeing 737 in real life?<"Definitely not all 737's, but I'd say there'd be quite a few 737NG's with GPS ;-)"In any case, the GPS will only function to update the IRUs."Strictly speaking, IRU's are not updated (unless you re-align them). Only the FMC position is updated. The FMC uses IRU's and whatever radio aids (GPS, DME, LOC) there are available to update it's position. The FMC does all the necessary navigation number-crunching on FMC-equipped aircraft. The resultant position is used to draw the MAP on the ND. If the FMC broke, the MAP would disappear (although on some Boeings it is possible select IRU-only navigation if the FMS fails).There are a number of giveaways that GPS's are fitted to your 737NG. One of these is the FMC POS REF page 2/2.As Gosta says, there is no Garmin-type GPS system. I'm not familiar with the Garmin, but I'd say that the FMC does everything the Garmin would do (if not more).Hope this helps.Cheers.Ian.

Thanks, Ian.So, the FMC updates directly from both the IRUs and GPS. How does it prioritise? Is it GPS, DME, IRU, LOC? Cheers,Gosta.http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/images/wxrebeta.jpg

"So, the FMC updates directly from both the IRUs and GPS. How does it prioritise? Is it GPS, DME, IRU, LOC?"Actually, I discovered today, it appears to depend on the type of FMC. I posted a message on the 767 PIC forum, today, on how the Honeywell FMC handles priorities (The Honeywell FMC is fitted to 767's and 747-400's). The Smiths FMC (737) handles it differently...ADIRU/GPSADIRU/DME/DMEADIRU/DME/VORADIRU/DME/LOCADIRU OnlyIn the case of DME/VOR, they must be co-located and the pilot has to tune the VOR. In the case of DME/LOC, the LOC must be manually tuned.There are a number of prerequisites for LOC to be used:The aircraft must be no more than 20nm from the runway.Airplane altitude must be no more than 6000' above the thresholdAirplane track must be no greater than 45deg of the loc inbound course.Loc deviation must be less than 1.25 dots for 5 seconds.I see that the ADIRU position is used in all cases. This may be similar to the Honeywell FMC in that the ADIRU position is compared with the radio position: If the difference is not to large, the FMC uses the radio position only. If the difference is too large, the FMC defaults to the ADIRU position.Hope this helps.Cheers.Ian.

Thank you for enlighting me on the relationship between GPS and FMC etc. which I have not been studying till now. But it is certainly something which I will study now. The fact is that in FS2002 I always clinged to the graphic GPS window during my flights. But in this new FS9 I completed my first flight there from Copenhagen to Stockholm without it, just complying with the instructions from ATC. So I am learning to do it the hard way (which is more interesting too).Nico

Hi,I am an engineer for Virgin Blue in OZ operating 700/800s. Just for your information, as far as a physical presence in the cockpit, the GPS is represented by two clocks, on for the Capt and one for the F/O. They display GMT time, and provide normal clock and timing functions. If the time is not displayed, indicates the GPS is not functioning or has no reception ie when we put the planes in a hanger.Apart from that there is no other diplay you would associate with GPS, but GPS position info can be accessed on the FMC on pg 2 of the Pos section.What you have also been alluding to regarding a form of moving map display, this can be brought up on the I/B diplay, by pressing selecting MAP on the EFIS panel.But the information displayed is from the a/c database. It gives info of relative position of nav/airport/wpt etc, but not ils beams.But Virgin has just started installing an upgrade program that provides the pilot with approach profile showing terrain, runway, target approach path, and actual a/c approach including projected point of impact/touch down on the runway. All a graphical real time image showing a side profile which can be provided for any airport ils or not. Especially good for airports with challenging terrain profiles.I am sure this function would be possible in FS9see yap.s.I will try to give further tech info people require.I have encountered some obvious problems with the PMDG 737NG which i will post about.