747 LR flights without being at the PC

[Konterhalbe 295]

Good morning folks!

 

As P3D 64bit seems to make good progress (https://fselite.net/news/prepar3d-v4-coming-soon-beta-new-lighting-engine-64-bit-releasing-soon/) and hopefully the 747 64bit version will do so as well it's time for me to think about investing again in flightsim since years.

 

How I want to use my 747 online at IVAO: Start her up in the morning, when she's at CRZ ALT I log off from IVAO, let her fly alone, go to work and after 8-9 hours I come back home, logging in again at IVAO and finish the last one or two hours to the destination.

 

PMDG does have a function "pause at TOD" which is great for days when it takes a little longer at work.

 

But can I leave the queen alone for that mentioned time frame?
Would there be any problems with overheating fuel pumps that don't pump fuel anymore or other ACFT systems?

 

Or is there any function that allows me to let her fly her FMC-programmed way without any issues while I am not present?

[Zaros 8]

Do it from time to time, all i do is enable

auto step climbs, auto eng/tank so it doesn't cause imbalance and the good old pause at TOD.

 

Never failed for me on 8 to 12 hour flights

 

Edit: the only option i seem to miss is pause when an service based failure occours, but that still has to happen

[Konterhalbe 295]

Do it from time to time, all i do is enable

auto step climbs, auto eng/tank so it doesn't cause imbalance and the good old pause at TOD.

 

Never failed for me on 8 to 12 hour flights

 

Edit: the only option i seem to miss is pause when an service based failure occours, but that still has to happen

 

I assume these settings can be enabled/disabled via the FMC like in the 737?

[Zaros 8]

Yeah, fs actions > auto cruise

[becas22 6]

What I would like to see was an adition to control the CTR fuel pumps and the abillity to do step-descends aswel

[scandinavian13 5,192]

What I would like to see was an adition to control the CTR fuel pumps and the abillity to do step-descends aswel

 

CTR pumps won't cause an imbalance so just leave them on and address them when you get back to the sim. TANK/ENG is handled by an auto function, since it will result in a tank imbalance.

 

The auto step climb function will handle step climbs. Not sure if it'll handle step descents. Those are exceedingly rare anyway.

[Kyprianos Biris 12]

I did try the AUTO STEP CLIMB setting in FMC but it did not work.

 

Auto step Climb and Auto Fuel Tank change was set in FMC Simulation options.

 

I started an 9hr flight, set 2000 ft. as step climb in PERFORMANCE and leveled off initially at the first step of FL330 and before leaving the PC I set the MCP altitude at FL370 (without pressing the rotary off course), the maximum it would reach later.

 

In first case I did not enter manually the step climb points in the ROUTE DATA i.e. I left it step climb where the change points were set by the FMC automatically.

 

In second case I entered them manually at the next points from where FMC had set them with /350S /and /370S and it did indicate these levels as cruise levels from the next points thereafter.

 

In both cases it never climbed, it just cruised all the way at FL330 for 9 hrs.

 

What do I do wrong ?

[Olympic260 415]

Kyp,

 

I beleive you do not need to set anything on MCP. leave the altitude at 330 and it will change all automatically when needed

[jgoggi 65]

I beleive you do not need to set anything on MCP. leave the altitude at 330 and it will change all automatically when needed

 

During a flight in the cockpit some years ago, I was talking with an Air France captain about step climb and he told me that the MCP altitude has the command over any FMS entries; based on this, I *suppose* that if you leave the MCP altitude at 33000, the airplane will not move from that altitude. Anyone else has tried the auto step climb and can chime in? 

[Kyprianos Biris 12]

During a flight in the cockpit some years ago, I was talking with an Air France captain about step climb and he told me that the MCP altitude has the command over any FMS entries; based on this, I *suppose* that if you leave the MCP altitude at 33000, the airplane will not move from that altitude. Anyone else has tried the auto step climb and can chime in? 

 

That is exactly what I theoretically know and hence did not leave it at 33000 but 37000 after it leveled off at FL330.

[SierraHotel 976]

Set your initial alt, say FL340, auto step will then take care of any and all step climbs to your final altitude. works perfectly for me everytime. I believe the FMC works out the optimal flight levels and steps you up accordingly.

[jgoggi 65]

So you leave the MCP altitude at 34000 and at the end you will find the airplane say at 38000?

 

 

EDIT:

 

Sorry, just read page 0.00.99 of PMDG_747_Introduction.pdf:

 

"PAGE 6/10 AUTO STEP CLIMBS: Automatically increase the MCP altitude at step climb points and climb to the new altitude. Useful if you are flying long haul while not at your computer."

[JRBarrett 3,049]

So you leave the MCP altitude at 34000 and at the end you will find the airplane say at 38000?

I used the auto step climb on an 11-hour flight from RJAA-KDTW. Initial altitude was FL310. I left the MCP altitude selector on 31000. At the first step climb point to FL330, the MCP automatically dialed itself up, and the aircraft began its climb.

 

If you set the MCP to a higher altitude than your initial, it might disable the auto feature.

[Kyprianos Biris 12]

I used the auto step climb on an 11-hour flight from RJAA-KDTW. Initial altitude was FL310. I left the MCP altitude selector on 31000. At the first step climb point to FL330, the MCP automatically dialed itself up, and the aircraft began its climb.

 

If you set the MCP to a higher altitude than your initial, it might disable the auto feature.

 

Yes thats what it looks like. Weird (considering real life priority of MCP over FMC) but it seems true. OK I'll keep it in mind for next flight.

[jgoggi 65]

Weird (considering real life priority of MCP over FMC) but it seems true. OK I'll keep it in mind for next flight.

 

If I understand well (as described in the manual), it's NOT a real feature, it's just a PMDG feature, an invisible hand that dials the MCP altitude for you while you are away from the computer...