andypanda

Hi guys, Thank you for all your inputs. I finally figured out how to change ready-made company routes in the CDU that include departure runway, SID, STAR and arrival runway. In the CDU just need to go to the LEGS pages, go to the last page and erase the last entry (point) of the active route. Then go to DEP / ARR in the CDU, arrivals, select a new runway and arrival. It might give you the choice of transitions, check on the STAR chart to see if they are OK. Changed STAR'S and runways several times during a flight, worked great. Thank's again for your inputs.

Hi guys, Thank you for all your inputs. I finally figured out how to change ready-made company routes in the CDU that include departure runway, SID, STAR and arrival runway. In the CDU just need to go to the LEGS pages, go to the last page and erase the last entry (point) of the active route. Then go to DEP / ARR in the CDU, arrivals, select a new runway and arrival. It might give you the choice of transitions, check on the STAR chart to see if they are OK. Changed STAR'S and runways several times during a flight, worked great. Thank's again for your inputs.

As I wrote in my question I am aware that in real life nobody inputs all the info into the CDU before take-off. On some flights I also just input departure runway, SID, route and destination airport. The route then ends at a waypoint from where I can choose any STAR and approach to match traffic and weather at the destination. For some reason I can not change anything on the CDU once a ready made plan is in it and active (the plan I generated with vroute), that is my worry and question. I will try to do it again and will make some print screens of it.

Hi Graham, Thank you for your answer. I'll try and let you know. Best regards. Andy

I have looked through several forums where some guys have the same question, but have not found an answer yet. Let’s assume the following scenario: I am at a X airportand have programed my flight. I used a saved company route that already includes SID, route, STAR and approach runway at my destination. (I use vroute to generate my flight plans, and of course I’ll have SID, route, STAR and approach already pre-programmed since it saves a lot of time during preflight of the B737 NGX). I have taken of, climbed and I am en route to my destination. Everything is fine. Before descent or during descent I either get instructions from ATC (for example on VATSIM) to change my STAR and approach runway, or if not on-line I decide based on ATIS at the arrival airport to change my STAR and approach runway. Now comes my question / worry: - How can I change the STAR and the approach in the CDU, if I have another, active one in it? - I have tried lots of things, but the active STAR and approach cannot be erased, and a new STAR and approach put into the CDU. I know that in real world flying pilots will not input the approach runway (maybe even the STAR) into the CDU at the departure airport due to unknown circumstances at the destination airport (traffic, wind changes and so on). But we FS pilots might do it as per point 1. above. I am a SE / ME – IFR rated pilot, but I don’t fly anything bigger than a SENECA V, which of course does not have a FMC. I would appreciate if anyone could let me know how to do the task in question 4. Thank you and have a great weekend. Andy Andreas Ziegler Niederuzwil, Switzerland

Dear Tom, First of all I would like to thank you for your fantastic „from cold and dark to shutdown checklist” tutorial. I tried to contact you via E-Mail, but the one you wrote in your tutorial does not work. I’ve flown the tutorial as described, and everything really worked fine. I have a question on programing the CDU. I have looked through several forums where some guys have the same question, but have not found an answer yet. Let’s assume the following scenario: 1. I am at a X airport, have programed my flight as per your tutorial, except I used a saved company route that already includes SID, route, STAR and approach runway at my destination. (I use vroute to generate my flight plans, and of course I’ll have SID, route, STAR and approach already pre-programmed since it saves a lot of time during preflight of the B737 NGX). 2. I have taken of, climbed and I am en route to my destination. Everything is fine. 3. Before descent or during descent I either get instructions from ATC (for example on VATSIM) to change my STAR and approach runway, or if not on-line I decide based on ATIS at the arrival airport to change my STAR and approach runway. 4. Now comes my question / worry: - How can I change the STAR and the approach in the CDU, if I have another, active one in it? - I have tried lots of things, but the active STAR and approach cannot be erased, and a new STAR and approach put into the CDU. 5. I know that in real world flying pilots will not input the approach runway (maybe even the STAR) into the CDU at the departure airport due to unknown circumstances at the destination airport (traffic, wind changes and so on). But we FS pilots might do it as per point 1. above. I am a SE / ME – IFR rated pilot, but I don’t fly anything bigger than a SENECA V, which of course does not have a FMC. I would appreciate if you could let me know how to do the task in question 4. Thank you and have a great weekend. Andy Andreas Ziegler Niederuzwil, Switzerland