After hearing the news about the new heavies coming from PMDG I have decided to get us many medium/short haul flights in with the NGX as I can. For these flights I am using a flow checklist provided by a user here on the Avsim forums (Forgotten his name and cant link as all forum links seem to not be working)

 

Anyway a couple of things I wasn't sure on was when to start running the clock. The checklist states that it should be run when entering the runway but I had always done it as pushback commenced. This links in with another question which is that if I get the times of a real world flight off the airline website are these times gate to gate or takeoff to landing? If they are gate to gate then I am doing the correct thing and pressing the CHR button as pushback starts right?

 

Another thing I noticed from the checlist is that Cont ignition is selected before taxi instead of before takeoff which is what I was used to, is this correct? Also should ignition be selected to both for takeoff/landing that way if one igniter fails the other will still function?

 

And the last item is during start-up I noted that Hydraulic pumps B (Elec and Eng2) are selected on whilst the A pumps are turned off until after start-up. This seems odd to me but was wondering if this is the same procedure you guys use?

 

Thanks for the help with these small questions which are nagging me a little.

 

Rich

Hi!

 

Here's what I do in the real thing: As soon as Toga is pressed I start the clock. Times for Offblock and Onblock is automatically calculated via the FMC, so theres no need to start running the clock when pushing back.

 

For the second part with the times I don't know.

 

And for the pumps: I turn all of them on with the "before start checklist/items" I guess yours could be some company specific thing

 

best regards

quote name='richyboy422' timestamp='1334416626' post='2338505']

"Anyway a couple of things I wasn't sure on was when to start running the clock. The checklist states that it should be run when entering the runway but I had always done it as pushback commenced."

 

Time is noted out of the blocks to start crew flight time for pay, contract and leagality reasons.

 

 

"This links in with another question which is that if I get the times of a real world flight off the airline website are these times gate to gate or takeoff to landing?"

 

Airlines usually want know OUT, OFF, ON, and IN; OUT (of blocks at gate), OFF (takeoff ), ON(landing) and IN (in the blocks at gate). These times track crew duty and flight time for pay and uty time legality reasons. Airlines are required by law to have accurate flight following and they do this with Dispatch. Dispatch needs to know when the flight actually gets airborne and when it arrives. Flight must arrive within 15 minutes of ETA. If not, Dispatch must begin a search from destination backwards to locate the flight.

 

 

"If they are gate to gate then I am doing the correct thing and pressing the CHR button as pushback starts right? "

The flight crew may note the times on paper or ACARS will do it automatically.

 

The flight crew should start the time on the clock when the takeoff roll is started.

 

 

 

"Another thing I noticed from the checklist is that Cont ignition is selected before taxi instead of before takeoff which is what I was used to, is this correct? "

 

Yes.

 

 

"Also should ignition be selected to both for takeoff/landing that way if one igniter fails the other will still function?"

 

Airlines may have their own procedures. For takeoff and landing, the igniters were always left on L or R, and never both unless called for in a checklist. The reason was to save the igniter life.

 

 

 

"And the last item is during start-up I noted that Hydraulic pumps B (Elec and Eng2) are selected on whilst the A pumps are turned off until after start-up. This seems odd to me but was wondering if this is the same procedure you guys use?"

 

When I flew the NG for Aloha, it was: Hydraulics.................Pumps ON, Pressure, Quantity checked on the Before Start Checklist.

 

Airlines may have different procedures though and alter the Boeing standard 737 checklist. They can alter Boeing checklist if they get approval from FAA.

 

John Floyd

Thanks for the replies John and Chris my questions have been answered and I'll make a few little adjustments on the checklists.

Thanks again.

 

Rich