One_Shot2011

I'm bored at work doing 737 loading instructions and loadsheets which is why I'm posting on this. It would be great if PMDG opened the acars area and at least printed out the info the pilots puts into the fuel/payload area, to get a load sheet. This would especially be great for when I get my pedestal build with a printer and can actually get an LS for departure.

Before I get to my issue, I'd like to say that I work as an Operations/Ramp Agent in Berlin, Germany at TXL/EDDT. I get to walk around and go in the cockpits of 737-700/800 all day with Air Berlin. The way the aircraft is setup is with 4 loading compartments. 1 & 2 are in front, with CPT1 typically for crew bags at 15kg per piece. This is also not including in the DOW. If we have a dog or other animal, they might be placed in CPT 1 or 2. CPT 3 & 4 are in the back. CPT3 is typically where all bags will be loaded. We take an average of the total weight by the number of bags to get our "per bag weight". If there is a full house, for trimming purposes, we will load 20-30 bags in CPT2. CPT2 can also be used for cargo. The loadsheet has the individual compartment weight on it. The NGX however only has "forward" and "aft" loading in the CDU. Does anyone know if it's possible to get all 4 stations in the CDU, or would that be too complicated? I've been flying actual routes with actual used PAX loads and CPT loading to see if my ZFW and TOW match... Which is close... But my DOW and DOI are off which results in a CG error for trim. Any Ideas?

I'll add in here saying that typically cargo will go in the front, luggage in the back. Don't forget to add your crew luggage in the front! (airline specific. IE: Air Berlin has the bags in CPT 1 as extra weight. Lufthansa 737 has it in CPT 3 as part of the DOW). I add 15kg per crew bag. Typical flight crew is 2/3 (2 in the cockpit, 3 in the back). Depending on where you fly, and which airline, you can calculate baggage weight by taking approximately 75-80% total PAX number, then multiplying by 14-16kg. This will give you the weight for CPT3. As a ramp agent, we usually do it the other way, taking the total weight, dividing by the number of bags, and getting the average per bag weight. It would be great if PMDG could change the loading from front/back to CPT 1,2,3,4. It would making load distributions better and calculating the loadsheet easier. As for taking 10,000lbs cargo, that's a lot more than I've ever seen loaded. The most I've ever put into a 738 was 2000lbs cargo and 4500lbs luggage. (I work at TXL/EDDT as a Ramp Agent with Globe Ground. I work around these aircraft daily having to calculate these figures, and creating the loadsheets... Although most of the time the loadsheet comes over the ACARS system which unfortunately theres no way to implement that into the sim.)

Hey guys, I'm also curious as to how this will pan out. I've sort of convinced the wife I need a CDU for the 737, and with my bday coming up next month (also with the price of OC's newest CDU), I just might be able to get it. A few questions though, what software do I need (Project Magenta...etc), and any idea if the CDU keypad/screen can be used for other software outside FSX? I'm more in the process of building an A-10C cockpit for the DCS Simulator. The CDU is roughly the same size, and it would be great if the key presses could be read (ie: When pressing buttons, are they read as any other tactile switch signal, or are they quiet without fsuipc and the like)? The software question is the bigger one so I know what else I need to buy besides just the CDU. Thanks!