Should the destination MSA be entered as the altitude 40 miles out... or what ?Presumably, I am going to be told to descend to this point by Approach ? Is this correct ?

MSA will be used to for staged descent altitudes during vectoring on approach. MSA is an average around the airport determined from a terrain database that jd acquired. You can readjust it in the controller panel.If you are using published procedures especially in uneven terrain you may want to use the RC NOTAMS feature which during approach issues altitude advisories in stead of hard limits. This will happen AFTER you meet your crossing restriction.If you are landing at an airport where due to terrain you are approaching via narrow corridors then it is best to include STAR waypoints in your plan and after approach issues your assigned runway and you ack it request then an IAP which will let you follow an approach in your NAV equipment or published charts. RC will then contact you in your final landing stage of tower communications.

Thnx for the info.I had a particular problem approaching Milan from Innsbruck from the North.RC wanted me down 40 or so from airfield, but MSA there was 16200 ft for another 15 miles or so. So, I realised that I had to set MSA at 16500, or easier, set NOTAMS as well.They then asked me to descend to 16200 ASAP...... So then I relaised I could use a more relaistic MSA - nearer airfield - of some 6500 ft.In other words, NOTAMS seems to trump all else, allowing me to descend when ready, to the MSA - which was the MSA at the IAF.So, I guess you can either manipulate RC by using a fake MSA, or use NOTAMS.Does that make sense ?

Should the destination MSA be entered as the altitude 40 miles out... or what ?Presumably, I am going to be told to descend to this point by Approach ? Is this correct ?

msa is used during the approach phase, to make sure you are never descended below MSA+2000 (i think)crossing restriction (at the 40 mile radius), is based on type aircraft, and altitude of arrival airport.and yes, notams, turns off the altitude watchdog, and "...when able..." before every descent clearancejd

msa is used during the approach phase, to make sure you are never descended below MSA+2000 (i think)crossing restriction (at the 40 mile radius), is based on type aircraft, and altitude of arrival airport.and yes, notams, turns off the altitude watchdog, and "...when able..." before every descent clearancejd

Thnx All for the help.I'm finally starting to get it all sussed out - they say the devil is in the detail, and it's only now I've started using the heavies with an FMC, that it's started to matter ! I'm moving on to the "pilot discretion" stuff now..... look out. But, it does help to read the manual - unfortunately RC is the first addon that I've actually needed to read the manual cover to cover.