Hello there. I have found that when lowering the landing gear on a manual approach, the throttle increases to about 30% N1 when idled. Yes, auto throttle is off, and it won't reduce any more. It has nothing to do with the Anti - Ice as it was switched off. Could it be something to do with the Landing Gear down alert siren, as it went on before I lowered the gear?Thanks, as this is really messing up my landings.

If I recall correctly, it's perfectly normal. However: how is it really messing up your landings? At what speed are you coming in?

Well I am currently practicing landings with an empty load at SNN and my Vref speed is 125 so I am trying to do about 130. The throttle though idles at around 35% N1, and the lowest I could get the speed down to was about 137. If that's normal, how do I fully idle the throttle during the flare, without holding in F1 on the keyboard?

That has much more than you think to do with anti ice as what changes N2 (N1 is slave of N2) is the idle control.Use the search function or browse one or 2 pages to find all info about low, flight, approach idle.Is all simulated, the only "wrong" thing is that the throttles will not move in real life, but landing gears, air/ground logic, flaps, and cowl anti ice will do adjustments to the idle control. Also a cold start values are a bit different from a warm start as some components needs to be heated (like the IDG)

Ah ok that is fine, but how do I get the throttles to fully idle when I start the landing flare?

Well I am currently practicing landings with an empty load at SNN and my Vref speed is 125 so I am trying to do about 130. The throttle though idles at around 35% N1, and the lowest I could get the speed down to was about 137. If that's normal, how do I fully idle the throttle during the flare, without holding in F1 on the keyboard?

You're not supposed to slow down more than the indicated idle, F1 will force it but is a fake as the pilots cannot do in real life.If you're experiencing big problems in slowing down the plane dusring VNAV or something else, you must know 2 things:1) The real plane has a great efficiency, it don't want to slow down easily.2) If the problem is present always in vnav, and wheater or AI cannot be involved in the problem (no winds, no AI, good flight plan) so, you are having the IDLE BUG that some other users have.Do a search about it if your problem is always present.

Ah ok that is fine, but how do I get the throttles to fully idle when I start the landing flare?

Just put throttles back pushing F1 one time or by using the controller.It will be lower to around 30-35% at low altitudes.If you want less idle N1, land and wait 4 seconds, then low idle will come back.

Are you saying pilots land 737s in real life with the throttles at 38% N1?! Because I don't think so.It hasn't been a problem before so why now?

I think it should be 30-35%. The EEC comands an higher idle when the gear deploys of to reasons: 1. To encounter for a part of the drag added by the gear. 2. More important, to reduce the time wich the engines need to spool up to maximum continus thrust requierd by a go around. From 25% it takes a long time to spool up. From 40% it is a lot faster.When I am perfectly aligened with the GS and LOC, in landing configuration with flaps 35 I carry a little bit of thrust down until at 40-30 above the runway. Then I pull back to idle. I start my flear and land smoothly then I deploy reverse thrust.Why they shouldn't idle with 38% N1. Whats wrong there?

Are you saying pilots land 737s in real life with the throttles at 38% N1?! Because I don't think so.It hasn't been a problem before so why now?

Please, search the oter topics about the idle/N1 issue/bug, and search for low, high, flight, approach idle.As I told you, there are 3 idle settings, if your idle is at 38% at the final approach, probably you have the bug, however 35-30 is normal for the reasons John told you.Low idle is on ground, flight idle is in air with clean configuration (no flaps, no gears, no antiice), approach idle is below 15500 with flaps more than 15,OR landing gear down OR antiice.There is nothing wrong in the logic, it is a real world operation, it was working from the first release I think.However, searching in the forum you will find some users having troubles with the idle and slowing down the plane. It is called idle bug, but there is no official confirmation about its presence after SP1b (pmdg have not confirmed)The solution is "have a good luck", by uninstalling and reinstalling or use an old service pack if all was working.But I think you will solve with a clean install and then sp1b.Spend sone time searching ;)

Ok, sorry to bother you and thank you very much for your time. I will have a look about the idle bug, I looked earlier but will try different phraseology in the search box

Actually umm. My real question is how to fully idle the throttles during the landing flare without holding F1. It is not possible to safely land with throttles producing 37% N1 when idled. I have searched, and there is no instructions on how to do this. I accept that the throttles idle higher with landing gear down, but I am sure landings are not conducted with throttle idled at 37% N1.

Please, search the oter topics about the idle/N1 issue/bug, and search for low, high, flight, approach idle.As I told you, there are 3 idle settings, if your idle is at 38% at the final approach, probably you have the bug, however 35-30 is normal for the reasons John told you.Low idle is on ground, flight idle is in air with clean configuration (no flaps, no gears, no antiice), approach idle is below 15500 with flaps more than 15,OR landing gear down OR antiice.There is nothing wrong in the logic, it is a real world operation, it was working from the first release I think.However, searching in the forum you will find some users having troubles with the idle and slowing down the plane. It is called idle bug, but there is no official confirmation about its presence after SP1b (pmdg have not confirmed)The solution is "have a good luck", by uninstalling and reinstalling or use an old service pack if all was working.But I think you will solve with a clean install and then sp1b.Spend sone time searching ;)

I just quoted myselfI can add:Use the G key to rise/lower gears.Do not use anti ice.Use the F1 (and hold it) if you want to override the problem.Except for the above, the only solutions will be to uninstall and reinstall.It solved for few users.Other than that, you can't do any more, the real cannot, the simulated one has the F1 override that is just much more than you can do in real life.If you don't solve, send a ticket, I don't know if other did, but noone reported a pmdg answer here about this problem after SP1b.If you're sure that you are experiencing the idle issue, the ticket is the only solution.I think the first answer will be: clean install.

Edited January 6, 201214 yr by davierosoft

Ok sorry to take up your time, thank you very much, I am trying a re-install now and am hoping that will solve the problem. I am starting to wonder if I even have a problem after watching the following video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK_gOrNBALs The throttle was at about 40 % N1 on touch-down!

I think that there are a lot of people having troubles with idle, it could be good to send tickets in order to have official answers.

Nice video ;) , but, the 40-45% of N1 you can see after touch down is with reversers deployed (green REV above N1 indication)You can badly see the N1 increase after landing gears are selected down at minute 2.04, it is just a second of video or 2, then, you will see engine indications back only after landing.I hope you will solve wit the re-install.If you want to do more, after uninstall manually check for saved flights, panel state, fmc settings of the previous installation and delete all old files.This could help.Uhhh... missed the last thing...The warning.You have the warning because you're putting flaps before LG extension.