simon-flight

Hi WarDog, As 3-2-1-Now said earlier, just enter the alternate manually. Bring up the ALTN page on the FMC, type in your preferred alternate in the scratchpad and then click on one of the LSK's on the left. It should add your alternate in Bold typeface into the list. To remove click on DEL and then the corresponding LSK next to the added alternate. As an aside I just tried this at EGSS in the UK. Added EGKK as a manual alternate and uploaded the weather for it. Added EHAM in the Netherlands and it would not load the weather. I'm guessing (without studying the manuals) that there is some criteria that has to be met, maybe distance, that decides which lucky alternates get the weather forecast. Hope this helps Regards Simon Grant

Hi all, Yesterday I had randomly scanned the panels flicking switches so that I would have to use the checklists correctly at start (please PMDG can we have a random switch start up/failure mode ?) and noticed i had managed to get the undercarriage doors down while still at the gate. Does anyone know the sequence of events that could create this in real aircraft, if any ? I originally thought it was to do with the hydraulics but i havent managed to re create it yet. Regards Simon Grant

Hi Guys, Count me in too. I have had this a couple of times. It looks to me like the spray you see on the runway when taxiing on a wet surface. Regards Simon

Yeah I could have worded it better I guess and literally 2 minutes ago the T/D came back. So thanks for taking the time to answer. Regards Simon

Hi Guys, On a couple of flights now I have noticed that on the PROG page of the FMC the right hand side line 4 entry is referring to step climb - none as opposed to top of descent and then the distance. FCOM 2 page 11.42.46 mentions this and the conditions that create it but not how to revert it back to T/D. Has anyone else come across this and got it to show T/D ? The situation I have is that the cruise altitude is FL390, STEP TO is FL410 but not available, OPT FL390 and MAX FL399. I've tried changing and deleting the STEP TO FL410 but nothing alters. Thanks and Regards Simon

Thanks for the replies guys. I confess it wasnt a properly thought out take off it was more of a "i've just read this in the manual let see what it does" kind of thing. But it did make me wonder when a pilot would choose this method over setting an altitude. More studying for me and thanks Simon

When setting up the CDU/FMC you have the option to have reduced thrust kick in at an altitude AGL or when the aircraft is configured for a particular flap setting. Last night I had the thrust reduction occur when the aircraft was at a flaps 1 which then reduced the thrust to below the flaps 1 speed. Obviously not the option I should have chosen for that particular take off. So it just got me wondering what circumstances would be needed to use this. Regards Simon

Hi All, I'm getting to grips with the engine derates, acceleration heights and reduced thrust combinations that can be entered into the CDU for noise abatement and such. But can't quite work out when the reduced thrust at a particular flap setting would be used over an altitude. Does anyone know or have experience of this ? Regards Simon Grant

Thanks for the reply rgamurot. I kind off suspected it was going to be like that, I just needed to hear it from someone who new. I might see if i can set up a failure or a fire on the APU to coincide with a start and see what happens. Regards Simon

Hi Guys, I realise you can turn on the battery and start the APU but this is done without the ability to monitor the start sequence or run the fire suppression tests. Is it ever done like this in the real world ? Am i missing something ? Regards Simon

Hi, I have the same effect and established its to do with whether the aircraft you are flying has the autopilot set up in the pmdg options in the fmc for 'wings level' or 'heading select' after takeoff. If its wings level the lnav light extinguishes the same as the vnav. If its heading select the lnav light stays iluminataed and hdg sel appears in green in the pfd (probably the wrong name ?) with lnav in white below. So in a way its livery dependent but can be altered Hope this helps, Simon

Hi all, This may seem an odd question but I often see on the forums that people only load up certain liveries. Is this purely personal taste or is there anything wrong with having as many as you can get installed ? At the moment I tend to grab as many as i can. Regards Simon

Many thanks for the input everyone. I'll take stock and get back to flying the real air legacy :-) I'll also fire up PlanG and have a look at your plans Jim. Simon

ok, I got the picture and the correct size limit this time Simon

Thanks for the interest guys. I have added (I hope) the screen shot this time What it shows is the flight plan from the default fsx flightplanner showing a 90 degree heading to the COA VOR. The magenta line in the gps also dispalys the 90 degree course to follow. If I have the navigation mode set to GPS then the plane follows the line perfectly showing a 90 degree course and heading (no wind). As soon as I switch to NAV mode (because I just wanted to use the GPS as a moving map) and fly to the VOR using VOR1 (set to 90 degrees) the plane veers of to the right and adjusts its course to fly to the VOR at about 86/87 degrees instead. The misallignment is also visible in the FSX map display. As I said earlier I have been flying the heavies for a while and only just got back into GA flying but dont ever recall it doing this. So I guess the question is, is this the correct behaviour or is my installation at fault. I appreciate the help Regards Simon

Hi Captains, Noticed today when flying to a VOR in nav mode that the aircraft was off to the right of the route showing on the GPS. VOR 1 was set correctly to the course defined in the flight plan so i'm assuming the route displayed on the GPS should be exactly the same. I understand the plane may fly a corrected heading doe to winds but I'm assuming it should still stay on the route shown The strange thing is I have been sim flying for many years but only just noticed this !!!! It maybe because I have been flying the heavies for a ling while and only just got backm into GA flying. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated The screen shot shows a route from EGMH to the COA VOR on the 90 degree radial in nav mode, default cessna and no wind. You can clearly see the plane off to the right. If I flip the switch to GPS navigation the plane flys to the left to pick up the route. Best reagrds Simon

Thanks for the reply Fabo I've only really just started fuel planning proper and up until now been flying pretty light so I've not really busted any MLW's yet. What you say makes sense so next flight I'll fly heavy and see how it all works out. Thanks Simon

Hi, I've started regularly flying the Alaska airlines anchorage, juneau, sitka, ketchican, seattle route and was wondering about fuel planning in general for multiple destinations. If you fly to a single destination you include the ground time, holding, go arounds, extra and alternate but would you do the same for 'each' of the destinations on a multiple route ? I'm guessing that all the alternates would'nt be catered for but the rest would. Any experience on this ? Simon

Does anyone know or could hazard a guess as to how many hours an airframe may fly in a given week ? I fly the NGX about 4-6 hours a week so it would be nice to have the serviced based failures taking the 'other' pilots hours into consideration aswell.

Good call KriVa, I waited 4 minutes and voila it works. Where did that nugget come from ? I have looked through the manuals and could'nt see any reference to the 4 minutes Many Thanks Simon

Hi all, Does anyone have any idea why I cant get the warning sounds when running the stall warning tests from a flight that originated from the cld and dark cockpit. No failures set and the aircraft readied for flight as per tutorials (all the way to brakes off). All other sounds are present. I do get the warning sounds if I start with the default flight loaded. This is for the 600/700 and 800/900. To be honest I'm not sure if this is a new development for my installation or if its been like this from the start when I first got the NGX when released. Thanks Simon

Ok, that figures. Thanks for the replies Simon Grant

Hi All, I know the answer is probably staring me in the face from the manuals but does anyone know what the 3 click wheels on the control column are used for ? Best wishes Simon Grant

Thanks for the replies Yes I wouldn’t advocate the idea of forcing it on users who don’t want it. Maybe an option in the failure system for cold and dark startups. And I agree the chance of one or more switches being out of place would force more diligence when running through a checklist that would otherwise complete as perfect every time. In the other extreme I occasionally like the challenge of getting the NGX from cold and dark with high random failures set to 30,000ft within the shortest time possible. Having the switches set as if a kids party had just finished in the cockpit would add to the excitement :-) Best Wishes Simon Grant

Hi all, Just curious to know if anyone eles would like this feature ? I kinda like the idea of preparing the cockpit from cold and dark with the chance of switches, guards or trim wheels being out of place. I think it would make the pre flight checklists feel more meaningful and real. Any takers ? Best Wishes Simon Grant