Please don't mis-interpret my title, I have had a blast finally getting a chance to fly the NGX with my good ole FS2Crew FO. Got it for a birthday gift back in April, but only just got a chance to install and try it out now.

 

Which actions by the FO are blind? meaning no regard to the current status of the switch or setting? I was hoping to still maintain some of my old procedures I had developed myself for flying this aircraft solo, old habits die hard and that sort of thing, but the FO flips switches and changes screens so fast and often on me, I just want to know what to anticipate so I dont throw him off.

 

For instance, I prefer to have the lower center display unit on the SYS page for turning on the hydraulics, have the 2nd Eng screen (the one that adds the info on the top screen) on for ops under 18,000 feet, and have the FOs CDU set to Progress.

 

I also prefer to carry over the flight deck state, and not start from the same cold and dark, so which switches should I anticipate getting into the right position before letting my FO get going on his pre-flight flows.

 

Cheers, and excellent stuff as usual Bryan!

Scott,

I wouldn't worry too much about flipping switches as long as it's part of the normal flow. Sometimes I will preempt the F/O by turning on the fuel pumps and EMDPs before the before start procedure. You can see him turn these switches on again, but it's irrelevant because they're only two position switches. Also, you need to make APU is on before you ask him to put them on bus. Just remember, the F/O will NOT correct you after that flow has been completed.

 

Turns are very intuitive with FS2Crew, the after shutdown flow leaves the A/C in the short-turn state and securing aircraft is similar to long turn (IRS off, but with AC power source).

 

The display unit buttons (ENG and SYS) are the only thing that I'm aware the F/O can't read. As long as you don't touch them he will have the lower DU before turning on hydraulics and setting T/O flaps. For takeoff he will blank the lower DU and have primary engine indications only on the upper DU (recommended config). If you want the secondaries as well I suggest you set it manually after the before taxi checklist.

 

I, too, did my own flows single handed and it may feel a little uncomfortable starting out, but once you start to learn what to say and any differences in your procedures, it's extremely easy and predictable.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Cheers!

Hi Scott,

 

Also check the "Flows" section in the manual.

 

All the Captains (PF) and FO (PNFs) action flows are broken down in detail there.

 

Cheers,