G'Day All,

 

I'm working my way through the manuals again for the MD-11, but there are two things I'm not finding or understanding, so I'm hoping someone can clue me in.

 

1.  First is, what do the initials FPA stand for (it's on the FCP and you toggle between V/S [that one I know] and FPA. I can't find anywhere in the manuals exactly what the FPA is.

 

2.  Again going through the FCOM, etc. manuals, I can't find any charts that list estimated runway for takeoffs (I found the landing charts ok, but not any for takeoff). Is there something I'm missing here, or was that not included?

 

Thanks a bunch,

 

Glenn

1.) Flight Path Angle

 

2.) Proprietary information, I believe. Which PMDG was not allowed to release to the general public.

 

 

DISCLAIMER: I may be wrong.

Ahh, wonderful. That clears up a couple of mysteries. Not sure about the takeoff distance charts though, as they would be no more proprietary than the landing distance charts (which are included), but you never know I guess . Thanks much Dave!

 

Glenn

FPA stands for Flight Path Angle, and describes the true angle of ascent or descent relative to 0 degrees (straight & level flight). Most ILS glideslopes have an equivalent FPA of -3 degrees, so you could theoretically engage a constant descent using FPA and TRK to follow the localiser without actually engaging the Approach mode. I think FPA is used mainly for Selected non-precision approaches, where NAV and PROF is used for managed NPA's.

 

The takeoff charts aren't included in the FCOM for legal reasons, but a utility such as TOPCAT (which I can't recommend highly enough) will provide Flex temps, recommended dial-a-flap settings and all other pertinent take off data.

 

I love the MD11, such a fascinating aircraft!

 

Cheers,

 

Tom

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Not sure about the takeoff distance charts though, as they would be no more proprietary than the landing distance charts (which are included)

 

If you spend any amount of time around the airlines the word proprietary takes on a whole host of meanings, very few of which stand up to the Federal definition of the word.  Some of it is pretty laughable, but I digress.

 

Boeing said they wouldn't release the data (or something to that effect) and PMDG followed.

 

I'm with the rest who recommend TOPCAT.

Thanks guys, appreciate the help. Kyle - yup, I know all about aviation and "proprietary". I'm an Avionics Tech and we see that taken to ridiculous levels.

 

I do have TopCat actually, so it's time to start learning/using that from what I'm hearing (I used it for the NGX but haven't moved over to the MD-11 with it yet). Now that said, I did a search here using new terms and came up with this website here:

 

http://www.md-11.org/history.html

 

That also gives you a host of data on the aircraft for both engine types which is very useful. Unfortunately I forgot to note the person that first posted it here (it's on this forum) so my apologies, but thanks to them for locating that site.

 

@Tom - many thanks for the explanation on FPA. After reading about it in the Non-Precision Approach section in the Advanced Tutorial, it now makes perfect sense ("poor-man's WAAS" <LOL>). Appreciate the help on that.

 

Thanks again people!

 

Glenn

 

Kyle - yup, I know all about aviation and "proprietary". I'm an Avionics Tech and we see that taken to ridiculous levels.

 

It's awesome, isn't it?  Most of the time I just shake my head.

Boy, I don't know how airlines stay in business. I do components out of Dash 8's and we have one supplier/manufacturer that decided to stick their own part number on an IC and took off the generic part number. That means we could no longer buy that IC through generic sources, but could only get the part from the manufacturer. When we could get it generically, it was $20 to buy. Now that we have to get it only from the supplier, that same part (identical) is (wait for it...) $1800 and change! That is but one of many, many examples.

If you cruise on over to the Boeing public website, you'll find a complete set of FAR takeoff and landing runway requirements charts for the MD-11. Look under commercial aircraft-->out-of-production models-->MD-11-->detailed technical characteristics.

If you cruise on over to the Boeing public website, you'll find a complete set of FAR takeoff and landing runway requirements charts for the MD-11. Look under commercial aircraft-->out-of-production models-->MD-11-->detailed technical characteristics.

 

True, but it does say 'not to be used for flight planning purposes'. It's ok for a rough guide I suppose, but to really simulate true operations (otherwise what's the point?? :lol: ) you need to use TOPCAT as McDD decided that their 'proprietary' (there's that grey area again) data was not to be freely released into the public domain post merger with BCA.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

True, but it does say 'not to be used for flight planning purposes'. It's ok for a rough guide I suppose, but to really simulate true operations (otherwise what's the point?? :lol: ) you need to use TOPCAT as McDD decided that their 'proprietary' (there's that grey area again) data was not to be freely released into the public domain post merger with BCA.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Year it has to be written there. Here in germany (I believe it's the same in any other country) technical papers (even manuals on how to change a wheel!) are only valid for a amount of time (i.e. on how to change a wheel at air berlin it was about 6hours back in my time). If you wanted to give these papers to job trainees or take it home for your own learnings you have had to stamp a "only for educational purposes" or something like that to the paper. So I think these are real world papers to be used for real flight planning within your sim.