I have just done a 2,300NM flight (5 hours) with the 737-700 using the latest specs introduced by the -800 & -900 release. As soon as I reached the intended flight level I got a message in the FMC saying that there was insufficient fuel to reach the destination, however, before the TOC the fuel left estimative stated aprox 9.5K lbs *:-*. I had done the fuel calculation with the latest version (v3) and clearly stated that with MTOW I would have some 8,000lb worth of fuel on landing. At the end of the flight I had just over 7,000lb of fuel left but the FMC indicated up to landing that there was "insufficient fuel". Is there a bug in the FMC? or have I done something wrong in the programing (I followed the set route)(-:?.Please advise. Regards,Christian Conesa.PS: Great aicraft!!!

I get the insufficient fuel warning when I'm going to arrive below the minimum I've programmed (in my case 5,000 lbs) in the FMC. I don't think it means you're running dry, just that for the current flight parameters, you'll be below the programmed minimum. I haven't seen that warning unless I go below minimums.

I get it all the time, but I think (and someone who's more knowledgable on the NG than I) what it's doing is computing fuel at that exact moment, with the exact parameters you're experiencing. If that's the way the real NG FMC works, it's a bit of brilliant programming by PMDG. Usually, after I've climbed, and more than likely climbed to Optimum altitude, I've got just enough fuel, pretty close to what my VA has dispatched me with. Again, Brilliant.

The instructions say not to ignore this message, but I get it on every single flight. I set my reserves for 1 (1000 lbs) in the FMC (although I am actually planning a much higher number 5000-6000), and I still get the message sometime during cruise for every flight. If I look at the estimated fuel remaining in the cruise section of the FMC, it says zero. However, I have yet to run out of fuel (or even come close to dropping below 5000 lbs of fuel). I'm usually at around 8000 lbs at touchdown. Towards the end of cruise, the warning stops happening, and the est. fuel remaining in the FMC begins climbing from zero up to a realistic number. Maybe I am just cutting things a little too close with my fuel planning. In the real world, you have to account for holds, bad weather, etc.

Joe your not flying the 700 are you? LOL let me know if you want my midcon repaint.

Christian, Are you accelerating the sim during a long flight? I would get those messages also, and I asked in a different thread the same thing you are, and I was using 2X and 4X sim rates during part of the flight. The answer came back that it was caused by the sim acceleration. If you are, just set the sim back to normal (1X) and after a few minutes you will see the fuel remaining start to climb on the PROG page of the FMC. After I was told that was the problem, I did another trip and did not accelerate the sim and I got no messages.Hope this helpsSteve

Jeremy, sure I'll take the repaint. Although I normally fly a "Frankensteing" Boeingbus A320 NG conglomeration!! HeHe. Obviously not supported by PMDG or warrantied. Just waiting for the NG to become a part of Midcon before I make the transition. The NG is just WAY too good not to fly, especially compared to the 'bus.Forgot to ask as well, you plan on doing an 800/900 paint for Midcon as well? That's the one I'd really want, the 800!!

In the real aeroplane you will get this message if you have a problem with your route of flight as set in the FMC. Ensure you have no discontinuities on your legs page for a start and that the total distance to go shown on the PROGRESS page agrees with your flight plan and is reasonable. This is a real world check done before every sector. If you are tight for fuel then make sure you have entered the leg winds on the Legs, Extended Data page.For max range flights we wil sometimes depart with this message being displayed because we plan to fly out to the 'Point of No Return' and then decide if we can safely continue. We do this because we are required to depart with statutory reserves of fuel and as we often do not burn as much as we expect to then we should actually 'make' fuel as we call it in the job and this amount may be enough for us to continue to planned destination.In the real aeroplane if you see this message DO NOT BLOW IT OFF!Trust the box.. as long as you give it good info it will not lie to you.This make sense?Regards,Brad MarshZK-PBC in Hawaii on the way to NZ from KBFIhttp://homepage.powerup.com.au/~speedy/pic...Hawaii_Crew.jpg

I'm not absolutely positive, but I think it's a combination of your reserve fuel limit, total fuel onboard, and the current wind/temp aloft. The FMC calculates the fuel considering the "current" conditions. On taxi and climb out, this is always going to be different than cruise level (assuming you have winds enabled), which can lead to the FMC error message.The longer the flight and the more variation in the winds, the more persistent this error becomes. For example, I planned a flight from New York to Los Angeles. High head winds were planned for the first quarter of the flight, with variable winds in the middle of the flight and a light tail wind nearing the destination. The FMC was all over me for the first hour of the flight thinking I wasn't going to make it to Los Angeles with the fuel onboard, the distance to go, and the strong head wind. Once the head winds subsided over Missouri, the FMC stopped complaining, and it showed adequate planned fuel in reserve for the destination.If you do proper planning, and monitoring of the fuel at checkpoints on your route, you will know if it's safe to ignore the warning. If you get the warning close to your destination, then you have something to worry about! :( Bruce

I get the same. Usually it stops complaining after I've climbed to Optimum altitude, or I've finished the climb. It's like the fuel planning logic in the FMC lags behind the flightplan, but is right on in regards to current conditions, winds, Fuel flow, those sorts of things. I am so impressed by the FMC in this bird!! It's gotta be more advanced than the SCNS we use in the C-130.

>Are you accelerating the sim during a long flight?Hi Steve,Yes I was. Maybe that explains why in the climb the fuel left was correct but upon acceleration it showed insufficient fuel. Thanks for the tip, I will try again and see what happens.Regards, Christian Conesa.

I have further tested the Pmdg 737 and it is indeed the rate of simulation that throws the estimate and creates the insufficient fuel message. When run at x1, it correctly shows fuel at destination. Mistery solved.Regards, Christian Conesa.

ChristianThis has been solved for a whileThere was a thread about this issue a while ago. Sometimes a search can do wonders. ;-)Cheers,