Robin,The NGX has the option to either follow wings level or heading.I think LNAV is kicking in at 400 ft (which is minimum altitude for AP engagement) but might be mistaken. That is if all criteria are fulfilled for LNAV engagement.Cheers,

Thanks Mats and Etienne.I'm wondering then - why no annunciation of the mode on the FMA?Best regards,Robin.

Hey I was wrong, sorry. I'm into further reading right now. LNAV should kick in already at 50' RA. Before that it's wings level. Still, I assume if you had NOT armed LNAV, it depends if it's wings level or heading select, what option is installed. As I understand it now, it WILL however be wings level IF LNAV had been armed.Oh, and why no indication? You mean no green one? Well because it's simply not active during take-off roll. It should turn boxed green once it becomes active.BTW "Engagement criteria" for arming LNAV on the ground seem to include the first SID fix to be within ±5° of departure runway heading.EDIT again: Ohh you mean no wings level/heading select indication, now I get it. Well - that I don't know.... Maybe because you don't actively select that mode. It's just there.

Edited July 19, 201114 yr by badderjet

Robin,The FMA does display the roll mode here...LNAV is armed. It will be annunciated as the active mode when CMD is selected above 400 feet RA. I did not have HDG SEL option selected in the aircraft configuration options within the CDU for that flight.

Interesting, thanks for the insight Kurt. You sure it becomes active only when engaging CMD though? I'm just curious as I could be flying the departure manually and still might like LNAV to kick in. Well I thought it would get active at 50' as that seems to be what the manual says. Getting confused now with all the modes haha... :(

Just to show the other side of things, here is what you get when you have the HDG SEL takeoff mode option selected. Ignore the items that aren't correct, I just did this quickly without setting anything up. :(

Yep, this makes sense Mike, thanks for the pic. HDG SEL with annunciation, wings level without, as per the book. Had you armed LNAV I suppose it would have been HDG SEL and LNAV (white).While you're at it would you care to check what need be done in order to get the armed LNAV active or when it becomes active? Would be appreciated, but otherwise go ahead and test that bird, getting it out the door is sure even more appreciated by most... hehe

LNAV becomes active (white-->green) at 50', A/P or no - it makes no difference. Hand-fly the whole flight in LNAV if you want.You can't arm LNAV on the ground if the requirements aren't met. If you arm LNAV on the ground, there is no HDG SEL indication with LNAV in arm on the ground.Hey, look what I found:LNAV arming criteria on the ground:- origin runway in flight plan- active route entered in FMC- track of first leg within 5° of runway heading- LNAV selected prior to TO/GA• LNAV guidance becomes active at 50 ft AGL• bank angle is limited to 8° below 200 ft and 30° above 200 ft AGL

Hi,Interesting - thought it would have said WNG LVL or something like that! No annunciation... can't say I like that, but it is what it is. You got me wondering how many "gotchas" there are with the automation.Thanks for the screenshot showing HDG SEL!Best regards,Robin.

Hello, it's my first post here but I follow this forum since earlier.Nice work PMDG, it's the better PFD I have never seen in simulation... Bye.

When armed on the ground LNAV kicks in at 50 ft. Up to 200 RA bank limit is restricted to 8 degrees. Above that there is an automatic bank limit model which depends upon condition.V.PS. The 50ft engagement is common with all other bigger Boeing planes too.

Ahhhhhh, someone knowledgable has spoken, finally this is settled. Thanks Dr Vaos for the clarification! Much appreciated! :(

Thanks Dr Vaos

*Gasp*! You just referred to Dr Vaos as "Dr Vaos"! This is a serious sin considering that this is the Dr Vaos who doesn't like to be called Dr Vaos, especially in the forum. You should be very ashamed that you called Dr Vaos "Dr Vaos"! If I were you, I would certainly not call Dr Vaos "Dr Vaos" to Dr Vaos' face. Now you have to fear the wrath of Dr Vaos because you called him Dr Vaos when Dr Vaos doesn't like to be referred to as Dr Vaos. As I recall, Dr Vaos, who doesn't like being called Dr Vaos, usually goes by EMV. Now go take the walk of shame! :(

Argh, now you took all the fun out of it! I was actually thinking to put my reference to DR VAOS in bold face, but that would have been too obvious... But now he'll never find out I called him DR VAOS so subtle! Shame on you too! :(

Did someone hear say Dr Vaos?:(

A doctorate is a great achievement! In the UK they are not given the recognition they deserve these days, which is sad. The most people aim for is a Degree, which people forget is merely the advanced learning of existing knowledge. To gain a Ph.D. requires new research not published elsewhere. One existing paper can sink it.Best regards,Robin.