Can anybody breakdown the parameters required for a successful pushback using the FMS function in the excellent MD11? I have tried it a few times but can't ever get it quite right. Where you select 'straight distance' is that measured from the nose wheel, the main gear, or somewhere else? The angles don't seem to work properly, is there a trick to making those accurate?

 

Any help much appreciated

 

Tom Beckett

 

 

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Define successful...

 

No matter where you measure it, the distance will be the same. I believe it's talking about /\ Distance, so the change in distance from reference from A to B using a common reference point. If you take the measurement on the tail, or the nose, the /\ Distance will be the same.

 

As a rule of thumb, I just use the aircraft's length. The MD-11 is 200' long, so how many plane lengths do I need to move back? The angle is simply the difference in your current position to the final position. If my nose is pointed north, and I need to be pointed due east, I need to select 90* tail left (the tail will be left of its current position, or in other words, the tail will move to the left from the pilots point of view).