Commercial Aviation for Serious Funsters
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This is the MOMA World.
Work very much in progress
Developing a self-learning Module for the FBW A32N. Rose is getting back into their favourite jet after a long break and documenting their refresher learning here for you to enjoy and help develop if you wish.
SIM Operating Procedures
(not Standard Operating Procedures)
We're going to set up a flight as per the plan below, and base our Sim procedures on the information provided in the various video included in the content below.
ROUTE:
YMAV/18 N0389F280 DCT TAITE DCT ANG DCT PYK DCT APPLE JAYBI5 YMAV/18
Watch a Video
Returning to the FlyByWire Airbus A320 in Microsoft Flight Simulator By Jonathan Beckett
Spawn in at Avalon
In the FBW A32NX:
- spawn in at YMAV - Gate 4
- Multiplayer ...... OFF
- Air Traffic ...... OFF
- Weather & Time ... PRESET (clear skies & daylight)
Create a SimBrief Flight Plan
YMAV/18 N0350F190 DCT TAITE DCT LCR DCT PYK DCT YMAV/18
Set Up the Sim
- Ctrl + 0 (the Tablet/Electronic Flight Bag view)
do another screenhsot with adjusted setting especially steering
- Click on screen (Tablet turns on)
- Tablet: Settings / Realism / ADIRS align time ....... Instant (good for sim efficiency - not real world)
- Tablet: Settings / Realism / DMC Self Test Time ....... Instant
- Tablet: Settings / Realism / Boarding Time ....... Instant (good for sim efficiency - not real world)
- Tablet: Settings / Realism / Separate Tiller from Rudder Inputs ....... Instant (see https://docs.flybywiresim.com/fbw-a32nx/feature-guides/nw-tiller/?h=tiller)
Configure the Cockpit
- The cockpit will be cold and dark when you spawn in at a parking bay
Button Lights
- There is a technical convention in the Airbus fly by wire system that "Dark is good", meaning that no lights within a switch means it is "on".
Overhead Panel (OHP)
- Ctrl + 8 (the Overhead Panel view)
- Battery 1 & 2 ....................... On (Audio chimes for change in power source)
- Ext Pwr ............................. On (Button lights green)
- Strobes ............................. Auto (Switch)
- Nav & Logo .......................... 2 (Lights)
- APU Master .......................... On
- APU Start ........................... On
- Crew Air Supply ..................... On
- Emergency Lights .................... Arm
- No Smoking .......................... Auto
- ADIRS ............................... Nav (all three switches)
- Dome ................................ Bright
- OVHD INTEG LT ....................... Adjust
Cockpit Lighting
- OHP: Ctrl + 1 (the PFD Pilot's view)
- OHP: PFD ................................... Adjust (turn knob to adjust brightness of screen)
- OHP: ND .................................... Adjust (turn knob to adjust brightness of screen)
- OHP: Console/Floor ......................... As required (flick switch to adjust lighting)
- Ctrl + 2 (the Autopilot Control Panel view)
- Autopilot Control Panel: Left Instrument Backlight Knob ........ Adjust (background density)
- Autopilot Control Panel: Right Instrument Backlight Knob ....... Adjust (lettering brightness)
- Ctrl + 4 (the Lower ECAM/Switching view)
- ECAM ................................. Adjust (turn knob to adjust brightness of Upper ECAM screen)
- Lower Display ....................... Adjust (turn knob to adjust brightness of Lower ECAM screen)
- MCDU Brit/Dim ....................... Adjust (rocker switch on upper right corner of keypad)
Load Flight Plan
- Ctrl + 0 (the Tablet/Electronic Flight Bag view)
- Your Flight / Import SimBrief Data .... Click (Imports the last FPL you generated at SimBrief website - if you have previously entered your credentials into the FBW Tablet)
MCDU Setup
- Ctrl + 5 (the MCDU view)
- MCDU: MCDU menu ................ FMGC (press the soft key to the left of the screen)
- MCDU: FMGC menu ................ CLR (press the hard bottom right of the keypad - this clears the "GPS Primary" notification)
- MCDU: INIT menu ................ INIT REQUEST* (Screen populates with data from SimBrief FPL)
- MCDU: INIT menu ................ WIND/TEMP
- MCDU: CLIMB WIND menu ................ CLR (Clear AOC Uplink notification)
- MCDU CLIMB WIND menu ................ RETURN (Goes back to INIT menu)
- MCDU: INIT menu ................ Select --> (The right facing arrow on the keypad takes you to the INIT B menu - titled INIT FUEL PREDICTION)
- MCDU: INIT menu / FUEL PRED ................ ZFW/ZFWCG (Data from the FPL populates the field at the bottom of the MCDU screen)
- MCDU: INIT menu / FUEL PRED ............. ZFW/ZFWCG (Pressing the button a second time enters the data into the ZFW/ZFWCG field)
Fuel the Aircraft
- Ctrl + 0 (the Tablet/Electronic Flight Bag view)
- EFB: / GROUND menu / FUEL tab ............. Load from SimBrief (Pressing the button fetches the BLOCK FUEL data from FPL)
- EFB: / GROUND menu / FUEL tab ............. Play Arrow (Loads that amount of fuel into the tanks)
Note the amount of fuel loaded and enter it into the MCDU
- Ctrl + 5 (the MCDU view)
- MCDU: INIT menu / FUEL PRED ............. ZFW/ZFWCG (Pressing the button a second time enters the data into the ZFW/ZFWCG field)
- MCDU: Keypad ..................... Enter - Value In this example it should be around 4500
- MCDU: INIT menu / FUEL PRED ............. BLOCK The loaded fuel value is entered
Load the Aircraft
- Ctrl + 0 (the Tablet/Electronic Flight Bag view)
- EFB: / GROUND menu / PAYLOAD tab ............. Load from SimBrief button (Tall blue button - loads passengers, cargo and luggage according to F-PLN)
- EFB: / GROUND menu / PAYLOAD tab ............. Begin Boarding button (Looks like Left & Right arrows)
Finalize the Flight Plan
If you check on the SimBrief website you'll see that we are departing and arriving back at Avalon Airport (YMAV) on runway 18.
- Ctrl + 5 (the MCDU view)
- MCDU: / F-PLN menu ................ YMAV (press the soft key to the left of the Departure airport at top of screen)
- MCDU: / F-PLN menu ................ DEPARTURE
- MCDU: / F-PLN / DEPARTURE from YMAV menu .... <- 18
- MCDU: / F-PLN / DEPARTURE from YMAV menu .... INSERT
- MCDU: / F-PLN menu ................ YMAV (press the soft key to the left of the Destination airport at bottom of screen)
- MCDU: / F-PLN menu / LAT REV from YMAV .... ARRIVAL
- MCDU: / F-PLN menu / ARRIVAL to YMAV .... ILS18-Z
- MCDU: / F-PLN menu / ARRIVAL to YMAV .... INSERT*
- MCDU: / F-PLN menu / ARRIVAL to YMAV .... RETURN
- MCDU: / F-PLN menu / FLIGHT PLAN DISCONTINUITY .... CLR
- Ctrl + 2 (the Auto-pilot Control Panel view)
- Auto-pilot Control Panel: ND Selector knob ................ PLAN
- Auto-pilot Control Panel: ND Range knob ................ 80
Configure the Take-off PERFORMANCE Data
- Ctrl + 5 (the MCDU view)
- MCDU: Keypad ..................... 1/ We will use Flaps 1 for this Take-off. (NOTE: the THC trim value is redundant in this situation- leave empty)
- MCDU: PERF menu / FLAPS/THS softkey.... Press The Keypad values will be entered into the data field
- MCDU: Keypad ..................... 1OOOO The value for our Transition Altitude at YMAV
- MCDU: / PERF menu / FLAPS/TRANS ALT softkey.... Press
Based on the data we have just entered the aircraft can calculate the necessary Take-off Performance speeds for this departure based on its weight, wind data (from SimBrief data import) and what flaps we will use.
- MCDU: / PERF menu / V1 softkey.... Press (Twice) The first press will fetch the take-off Decision Speed data to the Keypad Data Entry Field, and the second press will enter the value into the Softkey slot. (The speed beyond which takeoff should no longer be aborted.)
- MCDU: / PERF menu / VR softkey.... Press (Twice) (Rotation speed. The speed at which the pilot begins to apply control inputs to cause the aircraft nose to pitch up, after which it will leave the ground)
- MCDU: / PERF menu / V2 softkey.... Press (Twice) (Takeoff safety speed. The speed at which the aircraft may safely climb with one engine inoperative.)
Set the BAROMETER
Find current QNH on EFB
(The keyboard shortcut = B does NOT work in this aircraft)
- Ctrl + 2 (the Auto-pilot Control Panel view)
- Auto-pilot Control Panel: Altimeter knob ............. Adjust
Airbus MANAGED and SELECT auto-pilot modes
In the simulated aircraft:
- clicking on the top half of an FCU knob is the same as pushing it
- clicking on the bottom half of an FCU knob is the same as pulling it
In regards to the FCU knobs for SPEED, HEADING and ALTITUDE:
- pushing in an FCU knob, places it in the Managed mode
- pulling out an FCU knob, places it in the Select mode
MANAGED mode
MANAGED mode means the MCDU will manage the flight parameters according to programing of the flight computers and information that has been loaded into the MCDU
An orange dot next to a display read-out indicates that the parameter is in MANAGE mode.
SELECT mode
SELECT means the aircraft will adjust to specific flight parameter that the pilot has selected with that particular knob
No orange dot next to a display read-out indicates that the parameter is in SELECT mode.
- Ctrl + 2 (the Auto-pilot Control Panel view)
- Auto-pilot Control Panel: Altitude knob ............. Adjust Set initial climb altitude
Pushback & Start
Taxi
Take-off
Actual Take off at 8:07
15 degrees attitude
At green speed
- Flaps ....................... Retract
AP at 250 knots and on course
Taxi & Rnwy Turnoff Lights
At FL10
- Landing lights ............. OFF
- Seatbelt Signs ............. OFF
Descent and Approach
Landing
Flare Law
- Activation of Flare Mode automatically occurs at 50'AGL (a direct Sidestick to Elevator
- Nose Down attitude is activated at 30'AGL (don't flare too soon)
Fuel Pumps APU Bleed
Research Notes
A320XLR
The Airbus A321XLR (Extra Long Range) is a single-aisle, narrowbody aircraft that can carry between 180 and 200 passengers
- The A321XLR has a maximum range of 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 kilometers), which is the highest of any narrowbody aircraft ever built
- The A321XLR’s range extension is made possible by the addition of a rear center fuel tank with a capacity of 12,900 liters. This tank, along with an optional additional center tank, allows the A321XLR to fly for up to 11 hours
- The Xtra Long Range capability of the A321XLR starts with the engine and aerodynamic improvements introduced on the A321neo. A higher Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) combined with additional fuel capacity offers the A321XLR the unique capability to fly up to 4,700nm
- Airbus A320 requires a runway of at least 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) in length for aircraft weights below approximately 200,000 lb (91,000 kg). Larger aircraft including widebodies will usually require at least 8,000 ft (2,400 m) at sea level 1. Please note that this information is not specific to the A320LR model, but rather to the A320 family of aircraft in general.
A320NX
The A320NX is a variant of the Airbus A320 family, which is a series of narrow-body airliners developed and produced by Airbus. The A320 Annex has a maximum range of 5,740–6,940 kilometres; 3,570–4,320 miles (3,100–3,750 nmi), depending on the maximum take-off weight and the engine option12. The range can be extended to up to 4,000nm (7400km) with additional fuel tanks3. The A320 Annex is powered by either CFM56 or IAE V2500 turbofan engines, except the CFM56/ PW6000 powered A3181. The A320 Annex also features digital fly-by-wire and side-stick flight controls, as well as a versatile cabin that can accommodate 140 to 180 passengers12. The A320 Annex is one of the most successful aircraft families ever, with more than 17,900 orders and 11,100 deliveries as of October 20231.
Editing Notes
- Remove old image for triangle route
- Create new screenshot of ND showing new rectangular route