I have problems choosing a cruise altitude, so if anyone can tell me a good way of doing it, I would be grateful

 

I know about the optimum cruise alt in the FMC. The problem is that I need to know it before I come to this stage of my pre flight.

 

Thanks

 

 

Eyeball it. Level equal to flight distance works well for short hops.

Other than that, you have to go by weight. 410 works most of the time for short-ish flights, especialy for the 700.

 

Or use SimBrief.

What Fabo said is his post is correct. You just need to guess based upon expirence always keeping in mind the odd and even altitudes based upon direction of the flight.

 

For something a little more definitive look at FCOMv2, page 11.40.31 trip/cruise altitude.

 

Please sign your name per this http://forum.avsim.net/topic/361815-pmdg-forum-rules-please-read-before-posting/.

 

Michael Cubine

I'd suggest having a look at simbrief - it will work this out based on distance, direction and wind.

 

B.

It depends on the distance, basically, and your type of airplane. Which I assume 737NGX as this is it's support thread.

 

It all depends on your weights, distance. Usually you step climb on long hauls when you've burned off fuel.

 

330 is the usual for short flights, for even shorter hops, 220-270.

 

medium range flights 350, 370 for flights which are considered long with the 737.

 

I disagree with the guessing part, there is sections in the FCOM on which flight levels you should choose depending on your route lenght. I do not have the 737 but Tu-154 has similar specifications and has this information in it's manual.

 

Russian standards might differ from western, but to choose to best flight altitude, and the most efficient. You always calculate it from graphs from the FCOM.

Ok, I tried SimBrief, but it sometimes gave me an altitude that was to high, and I was unable to reach it before I had to descent. I use Pro Atc X, and in the same way as SimBrief, it is also to high sometimes.

 

I will try to get a hold on the most up to date FCOM, and take a look at the diagram to see if I can learn something.

 

One thing I didn't say is that I only fly domestic flights in Norway, so the longest flight is about 1300 NM. usually I only fly short hops like 150 NM up to 300 NM.

Any chance someone can link me the FCOM with the correct graph? I didn't find it in any of the documents that came with the NGX.

This graphs are in FPPM.

Without it you can always enter some approximate data into FMC and it will show optimum altitude in TRIP ALT line on PERF INIT page.

This graphs are in FPPM.

 

What is this document and where is it found? Is this for a Russian plane or the NGX?

 

Michael Cubine

What is this document and where is it found? Is this for a Russian plane or the NGX?

 

Michael Cubine

 

Don't worry, it's not for the Russian plane (Tu-154 in fact have different names for manual than 737 NGX, and very different graphs).

 

FPPM is short for "Flight Planning and Performance Manual".

 

I do not own the PMDG 737, but I do have a certain knowledge about Boeing airplanes as I used to fly the 767. And you're supposed to find this Flight Planning and Performance Manual somewhere where your manuals are located.

 

Also keep in mind that there is odd and even flight altitudes (east and west), but it can differ from country to country so I cannot provide the data. There should be maps from vatsim, but if you fly mainly offline as I do, you can skip this part of the planning.

This graphs are in FPPM.

Without it you can always enter some approximate data into FMC and it will show optimum altitude in TRIP ALT line on PERF INIT page.

 

As I said, I need this data before I come to this stage. I need it to file my flight plan in Pro Atc X

I use a program called PFPX to plan all of my flights. It gives you the optimum cruise altitude for your aircraft based on the fuel and payload weight. Aside from that, it gives you very accurate fuel predictions, as well as step climbs. If you are into accurately simulating airline ops, PFPX is well worth the investment.

 

Regards.

I found a FPPM dated November 2006 that had the graphs. Looks like they might work. Will have to try them on my next flight.

 

Randi2Delta:

 

I know about PFPX, but I have both Pro Atc X, TOPCAT, Aivlasoft EFB and SimBrief, so I don't need PFPX for now. And also now that I have these graphs, I hope I can plan a realistic FL to

 

Thank you everyone for all the help, but please don't stop posting. There might be more to learn

And you're supposed to find this Flight Planning and Performance Manual somewhere where your manuals are located.

 

I found the manual by a Google search and it was one that was not included with the manuals provided by PMDG unless it is incorporated in one the manuals provide by PMDG. We received QRH, FCTM, FCOMv1 and FCOMv2 by Boeing and an Intruduction, Tutorial 1 and 2 by PMDG. This is the one I found http://hildalarrondo.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/737_800_Flight_Planning_Performance_Manual.pdf.

 

Michael Cubine