I've been starting from Cold and Dark state using the FCOM Checklists.  I like using the FCOM lists because I'm new and learning and I don't want to cut corners.

 

If I set the Long Turn State I would like to know what the difference is in the panel states so that I could modify the FCOM checklists.   I can't find a description of the difference between the Cold Dark and Long Turn states, or for that matter between the Cold Dark and Short Turn states.

 

I've seen various Checklists posted by the community but few seem consistent with the lists specified in the FCOM.  I'm hoping to put together Short Turn and Long Turn startup Checklists by working with the material given in the FCOM.  I might also be making a big deal of nothing but being a noob I can't be sure.

 

Cheers!

 

 

I might also be making a big deal of nothing but being a noob I can't be sure.

 

haha - kind of.

 

Checklists should not be used as a mark of "here are the steps I must accomplish to get me in the air." They should be used to verify items are complete. If you look at many modified checklists (those you'd find from the airlines), you'll see that they usually have some sort of marker on the checklist for through flights. Before that marker, there are various security checks and actions to get the aircraft out of its cold/dark overnight state. It's mostly all security, paperwork, and test stuff, though.

 

If you have our Jetstream 41, that has a good example. The FS2Crew manuals (on their website) also follow this principle.

 

The only real difference is that in one the aircraft is on the GPU and powered, and in the other is not powered at all. The short state has the APU on, and is slightly closer to being ready for departure. If you're unsure, run your flows and configure items as necessary.

Cold and dark is as you know everything is ...well Dark.

 

Given the use of the NG in real life in my opinion the  PMDG Long Turn State is the best, it has GPU connected and the cockpit is alive but in a low state. It reflex's what I see at my local airport 90% of the time. Short with APU on to me is odd. I always see the NG getting connected to a GPU asap so I personally don't like the short turn option. 

 

The only time a NG with be cold and dark is if left over night and even then...

 

 

Short with APU on to me is odd.

 

Some of the low cost carriers would do this, simply because of how quickly they wanted to turn the aircraft around. Additionally, some airports don't have readily available ground equipment. The majority of the gates will have GPUs on the jetbridges, but it's not as common to find a GPU cart (at least at major airports here in the States, in my experience).

 

 

 

I always see the NG getting connected to a GPU asap so I personally don't like the short turn option. 

 

Contrary to the above point, when I worked for Independence Air (also a low cost carrier), our aim was to have the GPU in and on within two minutes of arrival, so our RJs went into what would be considered a "long turn" state as far as the panel states are concerned. I forget what they used for the 'busses (though I know I have a 319 SOP somewhere in my collection of stuff from that airline).

 

It would almost be better to call them "normal turn" and "quick turn." but I think that's getting a little too picky for even my tastes.

 

 

 

The only time a NG with be cold and dark is if left over night and even then...

 

Essentially, yeah. The only other time I could think of is a maintenance hangar pick up by a crew member (rare, but I know some airlines do this to keep maintenance personnel on other tasks - heck, I did it a few times at Independence Air as a lowly rampie, with training, of course).

Slightly off topic but I love the JS4100 - great aircraft and adding FS2Crew to it is icing on the cake.

 

I prefer cold and dark even though it may be unusual because I like the planning and setup part of this hobby.

 

Once you get to cruise - the workload drops and it can get boring.

 

Franklin Duncan

It would almost be better to call them "normal turn" and "quick turn."

Well I think they would be perfect terms Kyle for the NG, state's.

 

The fastest turn I've see was a flight I was on to Murcia (Spain), we were late and the airport had a 11pm deadline, so Ryanair needed to get out before then, The captain said/told us he needed a 20 min turn round, "20 mins turn round ......crazy!!!!!!"

We landed and it was like doing an emergency stop in a car, It must have been on MAX breaking everyone head butting the seat in front(sort of)....well you get the picture, stopped in a crazy short amount of space, throw everyone of the plan and the people boarding all waiting to jump on already on the tarmac, they still put it on GPU. lol was fun really. They made it out ...not sure it was 20mins but it was crazy.

The only time a NG with be cold and dark is if left over night and even then...

 

It is actually quite a bit more common, typically when left unattended for any extended period of time they should be mostly powered down so that loss of ground power won't cause any horrible things to happen.... GPUs are notoriously unreliable and plugs can be loose too. Can be an issue with 737 which doesn't allow for strain relief strap to be attached - at least officially!

 

--

Arto Karhu