I have been flying the NGX for some time now, and would call myself competent at inputting a route, managing systems etc. I have a RW checklist, etc etc.

 

However, I noted on the attached video (which is very nice) that on the route, some of the waypoint diamonds are surrounded by a green or white circle line. I've never seen this in the NGX. Any thoughts, anyone? Is this due to some special waypoint the RW pilots in the video are using and I've just never needed the NGX to display this, or is this something the NGX did not need to simulate?

 

Thanks :)

 

http://www.youtube.com/share_popup?v=kk-8uu8f7Pc

 

In fact, having now watched the video to the end, at

 

there is a solid green circle line around the waypoint they are approaching, plus a broken green circle line further out...

 

Mystified!

This a selected reference point selected on the FIX page of the FMC, Bearing and/or Distance from the FIX shown in green dashes. This is also simulated on the NGX.

The nifty thing about the tutorials is that you learn new things in them. Both contain invaluable information that would have explained exactly how to do this.

 

It may just be the instructor side of me speaking, but I've never understood it when people are given information for free and never bother to look at it. In the game of life, you're only as valuable as the information you have, so take any of it you can find.

Ah wonderful! I haven't used the FIX page much yet... I think that may prompt a flight to try it out.

 

Many thanks!

I think tutorial two gives you a flight and a reason/explanation as to why you use it. If not that, then tutorial 1. Go ahead and check them both out, but I'm pretty sure that it's tutorial 2 on the way into LOWI.

@Scandinavian13

 

As it happens I have printed and use the QRH frequently. I am digesting the main manual as we speak. I am not a professional pilot and have do not possess a 737-NG rating.

As a result, alongside my busy RW life I may from time to time overlook or miss something, just like the rest of us. You will note I very rarely (if at all until now) post on this forum asking 'what's this bit what's that bit'. As far as I was aware, a forum is for asking those in the know for advice. It's a little unfair to generalise and assume that anyone asking questions on here doesn't ever try to look for advice. That kind of approach will simply cause people not to ask any more...

 

And since I didn't know what was causing the display to look like that, diving into the reference might have taken some considerable time to work out the source. Also, RW pilots would get time with instructors to fill in the gaps and reinforce their paper-based learning. This, surely, is our equivalent?

 

This reply is not meant with any malice, I am quite aware a lot of people post on here without looking first - as a TWR controller on VATSim I am regularly exposed to pilots who are flying big tin before they've even tried a VFR circuit and have no idea how to plan a flight, program the FMC, etc etc etc and quite often how to land the plane in one piece! - I'm just saying it's unfair to assume :)

 

I think tutorial two gives you a flight and a reason/explanation as to why you use it. If not that, then tutorial 1. Go ahead and check them both out, but I'm pretty sure that it's tutorial 2 on the way into LOWI.

 

Thanks :) I haven't had time to try TUT2 out yet. I'll give it a run-through!

As it happens I have printed and use the QRH frequently. I am digesting the main manual as we speak. I am not a professional pilot and have do not possess a 737-NG rating.

As a result, alongside my busy RW life I may from time to time overlook or miss something, just like the rest of us. You will note I very rarely (if at all until now) post on this forum asking 'what's this bit what's that bit'. As far as I was aware, a forum is for asking those in the know for advice. It's a little unfair to generalise and assume that anyone asking questions on here doesn't ever try to look for advice. That kind of approach will simply cause people not to ask any more...

 

Fair enough, and I haven't noticed you asking those questions to your credit. Note that I didn't reference the manuals in my post for the very reasons you post, however. I only referenced the tutorials.

 

And since I didn't know what was causing the display to look like that, diving into the reference might have taken some considerable time to work out the source. Also, RW pilots would get time with instructors to fill in the gaps and reinforce their paper-based learning. This, surely, is our equivalent?

 

Surprisingly, no. It's often more "here are the manuals, your sim session is in a few days, you're expected to know the content." You do get cursory run throughs that give you time to acclimate yourself (both on static posters - similar to those available with the manual sets - and in the simulators), but nobody ever sits down with you and explains exactly how it works with that amount of detail. That's why they gave you manuals. Then again, I can't speak for everyone's experience. I just know how the flight school I worked at ran their sessions.

 

EDIT: Granted, there are gound sessions that explain some more features than you'd be shown in the sim. This is more in a classroom setting, but you are partially correct in that some of it is pointed out to you (note, I didn't use "taught").

 

This reply is not meant with any malice, I am quite aware a lot of people post on here without looking first - as a TWR controller on VATSim I am regularly exposed to pilots who are flying big tin before they've even tried a VFR circuit and have no idea how to plan a flight, program the FMC, etc etc etc and quite often how to land the plane in one piece! - I'm just saying it's unfair to assume :)

 

None taken. I appreciate the direct approach, actually. Then again, I didn't fully assume what you may be thinking. As I mentioned above, I only referenced the tutorials. I did not mention the manuals because most people bring up the same defense you did: it's a lot of info and takes time. This is the reason for the tutorials (quicker summary of the major manual info, while you digest the manuals over time).

Very interesting! I'd seen a clip of a training session on Youtube where the four student pilots were asking their instructor about a particular function. This was to my view a reasonably straightforward function. Probably something they'd read in the manual but the brain hadn't quite digested yet - As I'm sure you'd agree, practical training really helps embed the academic work much better.

 

I'm with you - it seems a shame that nowadays the approach to learning pretty much anything is just to google the answer, rather than understanding the thing. It's the whole reason I settled on flying the NGX as my first 'proper' airliner after about 20 years of using MSFS for VFR only... If you're going to do it, do it properly. Thankfully, the NGX was there for the flying...

 

Added to that I work in IT! The manual changes on a daily basis :lol:

As I'm sure you'd agree, practical training really helps embed the academic work much better.

 

Yep. Can't beat the concept of intensity.

 

Added to that I work in IT! The manual changes on a daily basis :lol:

 

Yeah, me too, except I'm the middle man (for now). Someone writes the manuals, others won't read it, so I have a job in the middle: training it.

Nice video. The good thing about these videos for us non-RW-pilots is the feeling of "hey, I know what they are doing". Thank you PMDG for your products (and tutorials).

Very interesting! I'd seen a clip of a training session on Youtube where the four student pilots were asking their instructor about a particular function.

 

Richard - check out "How To - Custom Waypoints" in the Pilot Training forum on Vatsim UK. Tis all in there matey :good:

Good point, I must go take a look in there. I just got my S2 so as you can imagine there's not been much time for flying recently! And my main comp died on me, so only just got a temporary replacement sorted. Amazing how much one needs to refer to the checklist again after a couple of months enforced break from flying...!