Thanks in advance for any replies......So I thought I'd train myself a bit on visual approach and landings..... in order to do this I tried programming FMC with start and end as the same airport and no points in between. This worked sort of for the first circuit . Second circuit went a bit pair shaped as landing runway disappeared from the FMC and I got a disco. What the procedure for flying visual circuits without having to fettle with the FMC all the time?Paul Yates

There is probably more than one way to skin this cat, my procedure is to select from/to same airport, select departure runway, select a nearby VOR (ideally abeam the airport but distance away doesn't matter) then select the runway and approach if desired. Once everything is set up for departure fly HDG modes and if you flying an approach use the Direct To Fix feature to bypass the VOR and set up the FMS for the IAF or FAF of the approach. I am just putting the VOR in the flightplan sequence as a place holder and never end up flying to it. This way I can handfly and the F/D is available if desired.To fly a SID and STAR at the same airport, I use the same basic method. Select a runway, departure, transition to a fix (ideally a fix that is also used by one of the STARs but not important), then select the runway, approach and STAR with transition to complete the loop. Once airborne, I may elect to climb to only a few thousand above the approach gate (the fix with an altitude constraint of 10-12,000 usually about 30-40 nm from airport) and "promote" that fix to the next fix when ready to return. This provides practice getting her slowed down and in landing configuration from a realistic distance from the airport.Have fun.

There is probably more than one way to skin this cat, my procedure is to select from/to same airport, select departure runway, select a nearby VOR (ideally abeam the airport but distance away doesn't matter) then select the runway and approach if desired. Once everything is set up for departure fly HDG modes and if you flying an approach use the Direct To Fix feature to bypass the VOR and set up the FMS for the IAF or FAF of the approach. I am just putting the VOR in the flightplan sequence as a place holder and never end up flying to it. This way I can handfly and the F/D is available if desired.To fly a SID and STAR at the same airport, I use the same basic method. Select a runway, departure, transition to a fix (ideally a fix that is also used by one of the STARs but not important), then select the runway, approach and STAR with transition to complete the loop. Once airborne, I may elect to climb to only a few thousand above the approach gate (the fix with an altitude constraint of 10-12,000 usually about 30-40 nm from airport) and "promote" that fix to the next fix when ready to return. This provides practice getting her slowed down and in landing configuration from a realistic distance from the airport.Have fun.

Thanks, I'll give this approach a try. On a slightly different note I'm also getting problems with duel land. This has worked well in the past, but the last few autoland approaches have ether defaulted to single land or briefly displayed duel land and then dropped out. I'm presuming this is because the approach was outside parameters for some reason.. any ideas?

See System manual page AUTO.10.17A lot of info in the books... the pdf search is handy tool.

Thanks, I'll give this approach a try. On a slightly different note I'm also getting problems with duel land. This has worked well in the past, but the last few autoland approaches have ether defaulted to single land or briefly displayed duel land and then dropped out. I'm presuming this is because the approach was outside parameters for some reason.. any ideas?

Hi, you mean DUAL LAND right? Can you post some screenshots of the Appr, may be that will help...

So I thought I'd train myself a bit on visual approach and landings..... in order to do this I tried programming FMC with start and end as the same airport and no points in between. This worked sort of for the first circuit . Second circuit went a bit pair shaped as landing runway disappeared from the FMC and I got a disco. What the procedure for flying visual circuits without having to fettle with the FMC all the time?Paul Yates

Paul, you are aware of the "safe panel state" function? From there you just reload that panel and fly again. This is the easiest way right now. There is a different way for traffic pattern with touch + go landings. If you need to know this, send me a msg with the aerodrome you are using. Or check the manual again, may be it is explained there.RGDS

Hi, you mean DUAL LAND right? Can you post some screenshots of the Appr, may be that will help...Paul, you are aware of the "safe panel state" function? From there you just reload that panel and fly again. This is the easiest way right now. There is a different way for traffic pattern with touch + go landings. If you need to know this, send me a msg with the aerodrome you are using. Or check the manual again, may be it is explained there.RGDS

Hi you mean "SAVE panel state" ....This is not really what I was looking for, more procedures that actual crew's would use for flying visual curcuits and touch and go's. I've settled on just using manual throttle input and remembering the inital approach speeds. This of course does not account for fuel burn, but whats a few hundred Kilos between friends.