Cartoon of a floating island with a large tree showing its roots growing down under out of the floating earth.

This article is an incomplete 1st draft, it contains evolving study notes that will evolve into a complete course.

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.

Shared Cockpit with Your Controls

While this article is focussed on solo flying of the FBW A32N, a shared cockpit learning tool (which will become another module in the course) is being created in tandem with this one. Check out the Shared Cockpit with Your Controls Learning Tool.

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 DCT ANG DCT LORN DCT POMP DCT LCR DCT APPLE DCT 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

or

YMAV/18 N0410F310 DCT LPD DCT LORN DCT 385441S1433509E DCT OKISI DCT LCR DCT BEKKA 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

Takeoff briefing at 5:05
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. This freezes the attitude of the aircraft and sees a direct Sidestick-to-Elevator control (which means no more autotrim)
At 30'AGL a Nose Down attitude is activated over 8 seconds - this is likely to make you want to correct it by pulling up the nose, but don't flare too soon

When & how much to flare

Exactly when to flare depends on a few factors.

A head-wind will tend to help lift the nose so you hardly need to flare at all with a substantial head-wind
A substantial tail-wind will require more back pressure and maybe earlier (around the 30-40' callout)
A Flaps 3 landing will have the nose pitched up higher to 5 degrees, and will require less back pressure on the side-stick to achieve a gentler flare

Perspective

Perspective can influence how you percieve your altitude in relation to the runway.

A really wide runway will make you think that you are lower than you actually are
A narrower runaway tends to make you think that you are higher than you actually are

The Black-hole Effect

The Black-hole Effect is a visual effect that occurs at night when there is not much else to see other than the lit runway.

It can make you think that you are higher than you actually are
Be careful not to fly too low in order to compensate -watch the papi lights

Here is a safety article from the Airbus website A Focus on the Landing Flare

Fuel Pumps APU Bleed

drafted up to 20.06 on video

Navigating by Instruments

VOR

You will understand VORs after watching this...

GSX & Scenery

Start Coutl

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

General Notes for a new Home

Fenix Instalation Notes

After installing or re-installing the Fenix mod, reinstall the Navigraph AIRAC Cycle.

Commercial Aviation for Serious Funsters