I am re-acquainting myself with the excellent PMDG MD11. It’s an enjoyable challenge compared with the more familiar (to me) Boeing style FMC/FMS and MCP navigation. I’ve been looking at the FMS manual and found some good info on creating new waypoints while en-route, as well as a “direct-to” subsequent waypoint in the flight plan. What I can’t seem to find is how to go “direct to” the next waypoint after a heading change from the current leg. Say I am flying from ABC to XYZ on my flight plan, and ATC says “fly heading 080” which takes me off my intended route. Some time after that, ATC says “Fly direct XYZ, rest of route unchanged”. In the Boeing style FMC I would push LSK 1L twice which would give me a “direct to” navigation to XYZ. How does that work with the MD11?

 

Thanks- I love the PMDG MD11 for various reasons- firstly the way that the auto flight, systems and flight envelope protection routines are modeled, and secondly the sound in the front office is awesome, with a lot of wind noise from flap/slat deployment, as well as subtle engine noises as one would expect in that location on the aircraft. I have never been to the “front office” of a MD11, however will always recall how a visit up front in a B763 in flight was many years ago, and just how quiet it is up there (the was a trans-Tasman flight on Air New Zealand back in 1994).

 

Thanks, Bruce.

How does that work with the MD11?

 

Press the DIR-INTC button. Then choose the waypoint you need. Then press LSK1. You may need to select FMS NAV again.

 

firstly the way that the auto flight, systems and flight envelope protection routines are modeled

 

If you can fly the 737 on autopilot, you can fly the 787 on autopilot. However, the systems programming (in my opinion) is years before it's time.

 

B763 in flight was many years ago, and just how quiet it is up there

 

I wonder what a MD-80 sounds like...

Hi, push DIR INTC button, select XYZ to put it in the Scratchpad, then push LSK1L once to select XYZ as the next waypoint, and again LSK1L to confirm the direct to XYZ, push NAV on the MCP.

 

Stéphane LI-THIAO-TE

Envoyé de mon iPad à l'aide de Tapatalk HD

Thanks Stephane and Kenny, much appreciated....

 

I wonder what a MD-80 sounds like..

 

Yes- I once travelled in first class on a Continental promotional upgrade and was amazed at no sound at all. This was in the late '80's, and the cockpit door was open, quite cool....

 

As far as the B763 cockpit visit goes, my wife and I were both completing our PPL's in the SFO Bay Area and had traveled to Australia and then (my country of birth) New Zealand. The flight crew was buying scotch whiskey in duty free ahead of us, so you can imagine how that conversation went. The FO noted out seat assignments and said he would come get us when in flight, and several hours later we were drinking and eating and had forgotten when he turned up .... I recall he said "I didn't know the plane went back this far" (with his uniform on of course), and you should have seen the other pax around us, it went really quiet. A great experience, we spent about 30 minutes up there until the captain noted some nav errors when the NAV receivers picked up the New Zealand VORs and threw us out.....

 

Thanks again, Bruce.

Just a minor correction to my answer as I was posting from memory (now I am in the MD11 cockpit).

When you select your waypoint XYZ, it goes directly in LSK1L. You just push LSK1L to confirm the direct TO.

Thanks Stephane.

 

Actually, after selection of DIR TO/INTC you get the option of DIRECT TO (LSK1L) or ABEAM PTS (LSK2L). ABEAM PTS can be very useful for knowing where you are/when to report (e.g. "report abeam XXX").

 

The MD-11 is by far PMDG best product. Shame it is so under-appreciated (art imitating life?)

 

Best regards,

Robin.