Robert Amster

I have been doing more testing and have found the following: If I arm HDG SEL before takeoff, the way-points (Vectors and LAX) disappear after takeoff when I reach the INTC point. (By the way, I am using the AIRAC that came with the 737ngx).Through experimentation, I finally found out a procedure that works all the time and doesn't delete the Vectors and LAX way-points. However, I don't know if this goes against SOP. Anyway, this is what I do now: Arm LNAV before takeoff and set the heading to 250 degrees (but I do not arm HDG SEL). Perform takeoff. At 400 feet, I engage the autopilot. Aircraft keeps on the 250 degree heading and the airspeed stays at approx. 167 knots. Select VNAV. The airspeed restriction disappears and the aircraft accelerates and then I can retract the flaps on schedule. ATC tells me to turn left at 200 degrees--I dial in 200 degrees and press HDG SEL and the aircraft turns smoothly to 200 degrees. (LNAV disengages) Later, ATC clears me direct to LAX. In the FMC, I select LAX, place it in the scratchpad, and then overwrite "vectors." I press EXEC on the FMC, then press LNAV. The aircraft proceeds to LAX and on to the rest of the SID. I have done the above procedures five times in a row and it works very smoothly. However, I don't know if this mimics what pilots would do in the real world. So, any input would be appreciated. At least, the way-points are not longer deleted.Comments anyone?Regards,Robert Amster

Thanks to all for your comments and input.Noah-- I'm glad you were able to verify what I had seen.PMDG support - thanks for looking into this situation.What I left out was that I was taking off from 24R, and the sid calls for a heading of 250 degrees until you receive directions from ATC for vectors. Yes, I have used the FIX page in the FMC and have made it draw the SMO 160 radial and have displayed the 15 mile radius from the LAX vortac.Baring the abnomilies of the "canned" LOOP SIX departure, can you please tell me the proper way to perform just a single heading from the airport. So, if I want to takeoff and maintain a 250 degree heading (not manually flying all the way), what do you do?Do you arm HDG SEL, and then when the aircraft reaches 400 feet, turn on the autopilot? (and/or).......Do you arm LNAV, and then when the aircraft reaches 400 feet, turn on the autopilot?Thanks again to all for the help.Regards,Robert Amster

Thanks Fabo, Noah, and Spin737 for your comments!Fabo--yes, the heading of 250 degrees is already set in the heading as part of standard procedures before takeoff.Spin737 -- what I meant was that I tried LNAV armed before takeoff, then VNAV before takeoff, then HDG SEL before takeoff, then LNAV and VNAV armed before takeoff (these were four separate takeoffs) with the same problem of the disappearing way-points.Noah -- please let me know how your takeoff went with the LOOP SIX departure. Yes, I have added LAX back to the legs page but when you are the only one flying the aircraft keeping track of heading, speed, etc., it is a chore to get that entered in quickly. I'm sure real pilots would complain if after takeoff their way-points were missing too!!!! This is either a bug or I am not performing the procedures correctly. Regards,Robert Amster

Hello Captains:I have been having a devil of a time performing the loop 6 departure out of LAX. A bit of background first. I have had no issues with the departure using the PMDG 747X. I am finding out that the 737 is quite a different animal in the way the autopilot works--due to my lack of training on the 737. (I am so immersed with the 747 procedures that I find myself having to undo what I learned). I have completed tutorials one and two without trouble, but those SIDs are not complicated and there is no "vectoring" involved.For example, in the 747, I perform a manual takeoff. When I reach 400 feet, I click on HDG SEL and HOLD, which keeps the aircraft flying on the runway heading. (But, there is no HOLD function on the 737--unless I missed it). At 1,000 feet, I select VNAV and then "C" CMD. Now, if ATC assigns vectors, I simply dial the heading and press HDG SEL, and the aircraft will follow the new heading. When ATC then clears me direct to LAX, on the legs page of the FMC, I click on LAX to place it in the scratchpad, then I click over "Vectors." I press EXEC and then on the MCP, I press LNAV and the aircraft now goes directly to LAX. I have tried to do the same procedures on the 737 without luck.On the 737NGX, this is what happens....I perform a manual takeoff without LNAV, VNAV, and HDG SEL armed. After passing the INTC (this is where the SMO radial 160 intersects the runway heading of 250 degrees, you are supposed to be below 3,000 feet. After I pass this intersection, the FMC deletes the "VECTORS" and "LAX" entries, and you end up with the waypoints of KEGGS, COOP, and DAG. (This never happened in the PMDG 747X.) I have tried all different combinations of LNAV, VNAV, etc., and cannot prevent VECTORS and LAX from disappearing. Obviously, I am doing something wrong, but I don't know what concept I have missed. So....Does anyone know the real-world way to perform this departure with the 737NGX? (By the way, I do remember someone posting a video on YouTube years ago with the PMDG 737 that was made for FS 2004, but I can't find it.)Any input would be much appreciated. If possible, I would love to see a tutorial on the proper way to perform a SID that uses vectoring and then, eventually, connects to a way-point.Thanks in advance.Robert Amster

Hello Marcus:Thanks so much for your research and solution! I'm glad to know that I was performing the proper steps and that it was a problem with FSX. I will download the bgl file and let you know how it works.Regards,Robert Amster

Hello fellow members:I am having a repeatable problem when performing an ILS approach to Burbank airport (KBUR) to ILS RWY 8. I use the same autoland procedures as found in tutorial #1 (the NGX performs flawlessly when performing the autoland to Schiphol). The localizer and glide slope are captured, and the aircraft makes a perfect decsent like in tutorial #1 to Amsterdam. However, when the aircraft is about 200' on the approach, the aicraft vears to the left and the autopilot cuts off automatically. Both NAV radios are tuned properly (109.5) and the course selector is set at 76 degrees as per the current chart. Both CMD A and CMD B autopilots are active(again, just like the procedure in tutorial #1). However, what I don't see is LAND 3 annunciated. I don't know what I am doing wrong. Maybe the ILS approach to RWY 8 doesn not support autoland? I'm sure I am doing something wrong or have missed a setting somewhere. I know how to perform manual landings, but I wanted to test out the autoland feature of this aircraft.Here are the specs of my system:Intel Core i7-2600 @ 3.4GHz8GB RAMNvidia GeForce GTX 560 TiWindows 7 Professional 64-bitAll drivers, chipset drivers, etc., are up to dateAll service packs up to dateAdd ons:No yoke or ruddersNot using FSUIPCUsing Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick onlyNo add-on aircraft except PMDG 737 NGX (800, 900 series only)SP1cWorld of AI (free ware)Blue Sky Scenery (free ware)Any guidance would be appreciated. Also, since installing SP1c, I have noticed too much "air" noise from the air conditioning system. It is absolutely ear deafining, even when performing the cold and dark procedure at the gate before the engines are started. As soon as ground power is applied, the noise level is very annoying. This was not the case using SP1b. Any clues or work arounds?Other than that, the product is absoultely amazing!!!!Thanking everyone in advance for help.Robert