A week ago I purchased this MD11X for something to puzzle over while waiting for the T7 SP-1.  It is somewhat of a change from Boeing aircraft.  I've pretty well figured out everything except for one area which is still a little fuzzy.  I always fly IFR cross country with Radar Contact.  I've got the TO, Clb and Enroute procedures down, but after just finishing my third flight, I am still having confusion with the speed settings during the Approach phase.  From Cruise ALT, I set my decent to white with the VS.  From the last way point to the ILS LOC I switch to white and use HDG to set up the LOC intercept.  I normally take over A/T setting of the Air Speed around FL240.   I had pressed the TO/APPR key, and as I approached the IAF, the speed dot on the PDF changed from white to magenta and my air speed was increased by the A/T although Thrust stayed white.  I could not roll back the speed as I wanted.  Throttles were at idle.  I finally disengaged the A/T, and played with the throttles the rest of the approach.  I would like to be able to control air speed all the way - disengaging the A/T between a 1000 and 500 AGL. Any advise would be appreciated.  Mike Nicholson

Controlling your  speed yourself with the autothrottle (as opposed to the FMS SPD being in control) entails dialing in the spped you want and pulling the speed dial.

Exactly what I did.  Please take another read at my topic.  I was doing that, but as I approached the IAF, the speed dot changed to magenta (THRUST stayed white) but I had no throttle control).  I My speed increased to 202 and I had to disengage the A/T to complete the ILS.  Mike Nicholson

 

 

I had pressed the TO/APPR key, and as I approached the IAF, the speed dot on the PDF changed from white to magenta and my air speed was increased by the A/T although Thrust stayed white.

 

What was the purpose of pressing the TO/APPR key? Was this key the one on the CDU?

I pressed the TO/APPR key to intercept and lock onto the LOC & later GS.  Are you saying I don't need to do this?  I had entered the approach and transition into the FMS.  Mike

It was the key on the Auto Pilot Control Panel.  I don't have the sim open now, so I think that is what they call it.  Mike

Michael,  I just reviewed the Tutorial flight again, and disregard I pressed the TO/APPR ley on the CDU.  I pressed the APPR/LAND key on the FCP to arm the LOC capture.  I see no reason why my air speed bug should change from white to magenta and the auto throttle take back FMS speed.  As soon as I have breakfast I'll fire this puppy up and file another flight plan.  Mike

 

 

I pressed the APPR/LAND key on the FCP to arm the LOC capture.

 

That is also the button for the AUTOLAND/DUAL LAND in the MD-11. Many times I have pressed that button with it never changing the speed from a white bug to a magenta bug with the FMS taking over. On some occasions you will see both a white and magenta bug on the PFD. Do you recall if the speed window still showed your selected speed or was it filled with - - - -..? If the still shows your speed the FMS has not taken control. The dashes indicate that the FMS is controlling the speed.

The colour of the speed and thrust modes doesn't tell the whole story. What modes did the PFD display? A screenshot of the PFD would help.

 

Were weights correctly initialised in the FMS during preflight? There might be a conflict between the approach speed you selected and the minimum speed the autopilot will allow for the configuration.

 Kevin,

 

I had just figured out what I was doing wrong - you were right in suggesting there might be a conflict between the approach speed and the minimum speed the autopilot would allow the configuration.  I flew a local and took off with no FMS contol set up.  Departed KBOI with everything in the white, flew to the outer marker,  did a procedure turn, intercepted the LOC inbound.  Everything was fine until I couldn't reduce the airspeed on the auto throttle anymore (Since the FMS was inop,it didn't try to take over the controls, and I had time to figure out what was wrong.  As soon as I went to the next lower flap setting, I was able to go to Vapp and Vref.  Problem solved.  Thanks, Mike.

 

pcubine  Are you saying above that the APPR/LAND controls the auto land.  I just flew a cross county and the descent, approach and landing were normal and as I expected.  Do you mean that if you are controlling the aircraft thru the FMS and press APPR/Land to intercept the LOC that you have selected the auto land approach and landing.  I could see it was doing that, and I wanted white vs magenta indicators to get out of the auto land.  I'm good to go now.  Mike  PS:  For someone who is used to Boing aircraft, this is a big change.

I am about 2 hours from completing a EHAM-KSEA flight. I will pay attention to what I am doing and report back to you.

 

You are right about Boeing aircraft and the MD-11. Between the NGX, 777, 744 and MD-11 there is quite a change. You need to think of FMS and PROF as VNAV and NAV as LNAV then a lot of the difference/change disappears.

 

 

Michael, I just reviewed the Tutorial flight again

 

Tutorial 1 is for an Autoland where essentially the FMS is controlling everything except the flaps, gear, altimeter, lights, reverse thrust etc. I don't think I have ever seen anything about an ILS approach like would be done in the NGX. If you wanted to do that type of ILS, I would do an Autoland and disconnect the AP at whatever altitude you want to. Keep in mind that disconnecting the AP still leaves the auto-thrust in command of the speed. You have no control over the speed. You can take control by dialing a speed in the window and right clicking on the knob. What speed I don't know. Maybe Vref, Vref +5. Anyway, then you can control it by the throttles referring to the speed tape in the PFD. Either way is acceptable.

No problems now.  I revised my checklist for the sixth time and have it where I want it.  This has been great to keep my busy while waiting for SP-1 for the T7.  Looks like we're almost near getting it.   I usually hand flew from TOD  to the landing anyway.  Even the thought of Auto Landings scares the dickens out of me.  Mike