I use radar contact (atc program) on my flights and often times during my descent the controller will tell me to be at an altitude within so many miles from the airport. Is there a way to put this info into the FMC or do I need to disconnect from LNAV and manually get myself down to that altitude?ThanksChris

Go to the LEGS page in the FMC. Key in your desired speed and ALT and then press the appropriate button on the right hand side of the FMC and the FMC will calculate the rest of the SPD and ALT for you. Enter like so: 250/10000

I don't know what FMC you are using but for the PMDG Boeings I go to the FIX page. Key in the destination airport code in the scratchpad and LSK it to the Fix block. Then put in /40 in the scratchpad and LSK it into the Rad/Dist box. I do this during the FMC prep. This puts a 40 nm range ring on your destination airport that shows up in your ND display. When you get the descent command disable VNAV and dial the restriction altitude in your MCP ALT window followed by an FLCHG MCP command. You'll see descent green arcs. Adjust your V/S and maybe IAS as you go so the descent arcs do not go beyond the 40 nm range ring.Also, if a fix shows up within the area (but not beyond) the 40 nm range ring where it crosses your flight path. you can hard code the altitude on your legs page.Until you start to get vectors you do not need to disengage HNAV.

thanks for the help. It's not a pleasant experience getting scolded by ATC.

I don't know what FMC you are using but for the PMDG Boeings I go to the FIX page. Key in the destination airport code in the scratchpad and LSK it to the Fix block. Then put in /40 in the scratchpad and LSK it into the Rad/Dist box. I do this during the FMC prep. This puts a 40 nm range ring on your destination airport that shows up in your ND display. When you get the descent command disable VNAV and dial the restriction altitude in your MCP ALT window followed by an FLCHG MCP command. You'll see descent green arcs. Adjust your V/S and maybe IAS as you go so the descent arcs do not go beyond the 40 nm range ring.Also, if a fix shows up within the area (but not beyond) the 40 nm range ring where it crosses your flight path. you can hard code the altitude on your legs page.Until you start to get vectors you do not need to disengage HNAV.

@ Ronzie:That's the way I do this when flying the PMDG Boeings too. But typing /40 in the fix page with the destination airport as the fix doesn't seem to work for the MD-11 FMC though... :( Any ideas how to do this for the MD-11?Eric

Sorry. Not an MD-11 user so I'm not familiar if the FMC has this function.

@ Ronzie:That's the way I do this when flying the PMDG Boeings too. But typing /40 in the fix page with the destination airport as the fix doesn't seem to work for the MD-11 FMC though... :( Any ideas how to do this for the MD-11?Eric

MD11 doens't draw the circles, Ron. It can place a fix along the route at an offset distance, as in FIX/-40. See also http://ops.precisionmanuals.com/wiki/FMC_WP_Entry_Notes

This sounds like it would meet the criteria using if possible airport/-40 to establish a 40 mile fix from destination. This would establish a guide point for altitude. Since RC would not be issuing vectors at this time taking you off the plan this should be a valid method.Thanks.

MD11 doens't draw the circles, Ron. It can place a fix along the route at an offset distance, as in FIX/-40. See also http://ops.precisionmanuals.com/wiki/FMC_WP_Entry_Notes