bill_3810

Orest Hey buddy, I've been good. Quite a bit has gone on since I was with UVA. I moved twice, got married and now i'm half way across the world flying 190's. I actually had the chance to keep up flying for UVA but I didn't get that pirep filed in time and I got booted. I really enjoyed flying over there. Hope all is well with you. I have the same email addy if you want to keep in touch. Was great to hear from you. I've downloaded a couple of the PDF's that you made for flows and checklists on the NGX. Very Nice! Keep in touch. Bill Bumgardner

Hey I have a question about the FMS concerning procedure turns in the 737NGX. Upon shooting a full approach with the procedure turn (HOLD) the airplane should be entering the procedure turn (hold) in a teardrop, but it's actually flying it backwards. The entry is right turns and since i'm coming from the opposite direction it should be doing a teardrop then established inbound it exits the hold and shoots the approach. You actually can shoot either a parallel or Teardrop but the teardrop makes more sense. The airplane is literally flying the hold backwards and never establishing itself on the approach. NOW, i'm sure i'm doing something wrong here, the FMS I use at work is simple...load the full approach, go to the IAF and the AFCS flys it to a T. Gotta be something i'm doing wrong or a setting somewhere. Any ideas? Bill Bumgardner

I actually find this to be a maneuver that I not only enjoy practicing but needs to be practiced. In the real world go arounds do happen, but more often than not, they do not occur at decision height. I've had real world go arounds at 1000' in vmc conditions, i've had them at 30 feet over the runway, and even before the final approach fix although not an official go around, but it still requires a bit of thinking before you go and press a toga button. Obviously company procedures dictate the procedure but good piloting skills and common sense will allow you to make the best call. A go around at 30 ft (balked landing) may not require the same technique as one that is initiated at say 1500' if your missed approach altitude is 2000'. I actually like to fly to an out of the way airport that has various approaches ( in the sim ) and using FS2CREW ( voice ) I perform 1 approach with a go around then vector to another approach with a missed approach and hold, then I like to shoot a full approach with procedure turn after leaving the hold come in and go missed then kill an engine on the go around run the procedures come back around and land with a single engine ILS. Sometimes I do a flap failure to a non precision approach. It's great practice and it takes away the boredom of doing the same old same old. Besides we are trying to do this like the big boys right? I like to do this once a month if I can. FAA requires every 6 months PC/LOFT, but either way it's a maneuver that doesn't get used very much in the real world so it's something that should not only be practiced but as a professional pilot it is your obligation to go around if it's not stable or safe. Practice like you play and play like you practice. Bill Bumgardner

Spot on my friend! Thanks Bill Bumgardner

Also on top of this, the FO DOES NOT do any of the flows at 10000 feet Transition level on the descent is not done either. Transition level has been set to 18000 on the descent page (forecast) Any ideas on all of these things. I don't see these problems with others so i'm just wondering if there is something i'm missing. Anyone?

Just a couple that are probably on my end but aren't addressed in the manual so hoping to get some help here. 1.) Sometimes I get the transition altitude coming down and sometimes I don't. 2.) I'm getting a 500' call when i'm at 8000 ' sometimes and no where near a runway. 3.) We're not stabilized when vectoring in the terminal area...not even on an approach nor even flaps 1 Any suggestions? Bill Bumgardner