| Flying the PMDG 737NG |
| Friday, 30 December 2005 | |
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Page 3 of 3 Tired of cruising? The time to prepare the descent has finally come and we're now ready to get very busy again. Let's now review the STAR and approach and make sure the aircraft is properly configured before the descent.
Go to the LEGS page and set the speed and altitude restrictions for every waypoint that requires it. If there are no restrictions set for a waypoint, the FMC automatically calculates altitude and speed. The restrictions I want you to set are: LUNAT - /260 (only speed restriction); NOAL - 13000/230 (speed and altitude restriction); TIEL - 9000/ (only altitude restriction); XARA - 6000/190 (speed and altitude restriction); ERNA - 5000/ (only altitude restriction); EUJE - 3000/ (only altitude restriction); LOBO - 2100/ (only altitude restriction). The FMC should set the empty fields automatically, but feel free to override them if you don't agree to a FMC setting. This is what your approach should like like...
It's now time to configure the approach speed, flap configuration, tune the ILS frequency and do some minor system configuration. The descent will start soon and we need to be fully configured.
-- RUN DESCENT AND APPROACH CHECKLIST -- At an FMC-calculated point, known as "top of descent" (marked with a green spot), the autopilot will initiate the descent and a pink bar on the left side of your display should appear - that is known as the VNAV path and serves to indicate your position relative to the programmed vertical path. If the pink diamond is above the middle, you're too low. If it is below the middle, you're too high. The number that appears above the bar is the indication of how much you are off the VNAV path. Don't let the diamond get too low or too high - use the spoilers as necessary, but remember to retract them when the desired path is reached again. Don't let the aircraft get too fast or too slow, make use of the LVL CHG mode (commands idle thrust and uses pitch to adjust altitude - excellent for "too fast, too high" situations) or any other autopilot mode you want.
In this screenshot, the aircraft is 760ft above the vertical path - autopilot will pitch the airplane down to reach the descent path regardless of the speed restrictions... if the speed gets too high, VNAV will disconnect and LVL CHG mode becomes active to restore the planned speed. Use the speedbrakes as required, you can also enter a holding pattern if necessary (HOLD page of the FMC). Turn on the fasten belts sign, landing and taxi lights when appropriate. Keep descending... now it's time to start extending the flaps and gear and prepare for the approach.
At this point you should have slowed down to about 180 knots. Remember to extend flaps on schedule, always extending the flap one position more when passing though the speed bugs: above the UP marking, extend flaps to 1; above the 1 marking, extend flaps to 5; above the 5 marking, extend flaps to 15 and extend the landing gear; above the white bug, extend flaps to the landing flaps (30 or 40). The aircraft will now turn to final approach and continue the descent.
With the flaps and landing gear deployed, the APP mode of the autopilot should be activated to track the localizer and glideslope. Turn the speed selector manually to VREF + 5 knots (safety margin). Finally arm the spoilers (so that they extend automatically at touchdown), turn the engine start switches to CONT, and turn the heading selector to the runway heading. Make sure you have a Go Around (G/A) power setting announced above the engine indicators. You will want to disengage the autopilot/autothrottle and fly manually at this point... the autopilot is not configured to autoland and flying manually is much more fun! -- RUN LANDING CHECKLIST --
Now, set the ND display mode knob to APP for easy visualization of the localizer/glideslope bars and keep them always centered. Maintain the speed VREF + 5 knots during the entire approach. I also want you to look outside... don't rely completely on the instruments!
Keep the approach speed until 30ft AGL. At this height, you should smoothy put the throttles back to idle and start flaring. Rise the aircraft's nose to about 4 degrees of pitch up attitude - that should reduce the descent rate but not cause the aircraft to float excessively. Adjust the attitude as required to increase or decrease the rate of descent. While flaring, control the throttles so that you reach idle thrust exactly at touchdown. Everything happens very fast at this point, you must be paying a lot of attention and react quickly.
Right after touch down, ensure that the brakes are being applied by the autobrake system and that the spoliers have been deployed. Also deply reverse thrust by pressing and holding the F2 key. At 80 knots, start reducing the reversers power so that you reach reverse idle exactly at taxi speed. At 60 knots, disable the autobrake system and start braking the plane manually. At taxi speed, press F1 to set thrust to forward idle, release the brakes and turn into the next taxiway. You have just landed the aircraft! When exiting the runway ... You have now performed a complete landing, slowed down to taxi speed and cleared the runway. It's time to star configuring the systems for engine shutdown.
When arriving at the gate and ready to shutdown ... Now that you have taxied to the gate, it's time to shutdown the engines and prepare to leave the aircraft. Let's proceed with the final configurations.
1. Set the parking brakes. They will keep you parked at the gate. [throttle quadrant] -- RUN SHUTDOWN CHECKLIST -- 9. Turn PACKS off and close the isolation valve. The aircraft will not be climatized nor pressurized now. -- RUN SECURE CHECKLIST -- You are now ready to leave the aircraft. Congratulations, you have just completed this flight tutorial! |













