I reached cruise alt and levelled off and then prior to TOD I set the FCU alt to 5,000 so that it would (I thought) follow the descent down to G/S and LOC capture.

You must tell it to start the descent at TOD by pushing the ALT button. Then you will have opt and manual option or something to that effect. Not having the "hockey stick" is a  PITA

Yep, as Rendi said above.

 

If your prior to T/D (so you haven't reached the white hockey stick yet), it will start a -1000fpm early descent until intercepting the calculated descent path.

Yes that's the thing, I was in managed mode for the whole flight as far as I was aware.

I reached cruise alt and levelled off and then prior to TOD I set the FCU alt to 5,000 so that it would (I thought) follow the descent down to G/S and LOC capture.

Did I miss a step out or something do you think? Is there something else I have to do to 'initiate' a descent?

Just to be clear, at TOD you either push the alt knob for a managed descent or pull for an open descent using idle thrust.

 

You have to initiate the descent, it is not auto automated.

Thanks to all of you guys. So simple!

 

I had naively assumed that at TOD it would initiate the descent provided I had reset the FCU altitude accordingly. Old NGX habits die hard, clearly.

 

Thanks all for your help.

Are you doing des or op des?

Are you doing des or op des?

 

Not sure what you mean, sorry. I'm still not up on the Airbus lingo!

 

I was attempting to do a "managed" descent, in that I wanted the aircraft to be guided down the vertical path until reaching the correct altitude for G/S capture.

 

I gather that my mistake was to not initiate the descent by pushing the ALT knob on the FCU prior to or at TOD, or perhaps I did do that but too late, once I realised it wasn't descending automatically.

 

I am currently in flight as we speak, and only 50nm from TOD. Everything has gone smoothly so far - I will see what happens and report back!

OP DES (Open descent) is just FLCH, descends at IDLE thrust & uses pitch to maintain speed. same with Open climb, gives you max climb thrust.

 

Just for you info, if you start descent before TOD using 'managed' the aircraft will slowly descend at 1000fpm until it picks up the profile, then you will start descending at the correct rate. If you miss TOD you could use OPEN descent until you pick up the profile and then switch back to managed yourself.

 

Regards

Thanks Rob and everyone else that helped me  :biggrin:

 

I'm pleased to report a trouble free descent into Arlanda has just been completed.

 

I initiated the descent about 5nm before TOD and as you say, descended at 1,000fpm until it had picked up the profile. From there on in, plain sailing all the way to LOC and G/S capture.

 

Out of interest, is there any way to change the callouts? I only get callouts from 400ft downwards and no "RETARD" calls, I'm no expert but thought that the callouts started at 2,000 in the real a/c?

 

Thanks

Altitude callouts are company specific... Actually I'll leave someone else to answer since you may have an option to configure the callouts in the MCDU options.

 

Regarding the 'Retard' call out, if modelled correctly it should be connected to your thrust lever angle, so for example if you close the thrust levers quickly you may only hear it once, if you leave it above idle it will keep shouting 'Retard' at you until put the levers to IDLE

Out of interest, is there any way to change the callouts? I only get callouts from 400ft downwards and no "RETARD" calls, I'm no expert but thought that the callouts started at 2,000 in the real a/c?

 

Turn on 'Enhanced GPWS' under [sOUND] in the MCDU2.

 

Ah ok, thanks! I definitely didn't set the thrust to idle as I expected to be prompted to do so via the RETARD callout, but it didn't happen!

Turn on 'Enhanced GPWS' under [sOUND] in the MCDU2.
 

 

Super, thanks.

Updated version 1.15 is coming out very soon.  It has a slew of fixes and improvements, comes with AIRAC Cycle 1309 and includes a fully licensed version of Multi Crew Experience for dedicated use with the Aerosoft Airbus X.

 

Read more here:

http://forum.aerosoft.com/index.php?/topic/72997-new-release-115-pending/

Wow, cool, cheers Chris, didn't know all that was incoming! :cool:

Great news, can't wait for this patch!

Yes.  Thanks Chris.

 

I was unaware that this was coming as well.

 

Great news.