PMDG 738

[EHM-1570 Bruce]

I had a similar problem where when I input certain Airports, I would get the error message "Error in line XXX", it was not cured by installing the latest AIRAC, I had to delete the existing NAV data and install the latest, it was apparently due to a corrupt file which was not overwritten. Hope this helps.

[EHM-1539 Pierre]

I'm not sure it's the sid/star that's broken, maybe the wpNavFIX.txt file in navdata directory that is screwed up.

Anyway, Bruno, do the following, if it doesn't work, we'll be sure it's the PMDG that has a problem and not the navigation data, so we can search for a cause in your PMDG files :

In your FS folder, go to FMCWP folder, NAVDATA folder, and delete everything in it.
Still in your FS folder, go to PMDG folder, SIDSTARS folder, ant delete everything in it.

Then reinstall PIC-PMDG_0505 from navdata, and PMDG_Procedures_0505 from Terry Yingling.

If it's a navigation file problem it'll be fixed.

[EHM-0948 Bruno]

Will do it now ...


Wait for more news ... Thank you.

[EHM-1570 Bruce]

Cyriel.  The legs page must be showing, so to delete a waypoint in the PMDG FMC you first press the DEL button, Delete should now appear in the scratchpad area of the FMC, then you press the key next to the waypoint you want to delete, this will delete the waypoint, but you will now have A Route Discontinuity Showing in the flight plan, again press the delete button so that Delete appears in the scratchpad, then press the key next to the Route Discontinuity, this will remove the Route Discontinuity, the Execute light should now be illuminated, press Exec to enter the changes, job done. Also if you want to fly to a waypoint in your flight plan that is not the next waypoint in the plan, press the key next to the waypoint that you want to fly direct to, this waypoint will now appear in the scratchpad, now press the LK1 key at the top of your plan, this will put the waypoint from the scratch pad into this first location, again the EXEC button will illuminate, press the EXEC button, the aircraft will now fly direct to the new waypoint. Hope this sorts out your problems.

[EHM-0948 Bruno]

Hi,

I uninstalled everything back and installed everything again. It runs fine now.

Bruce, I had that doubts too. Thank you for your explanation.

Thank you all for your help !!!

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Cheers Bruce. I'd noticed this myself. I figure there must be a way to remove a waypoint without the DISCO being added, but I'll check this for myself when my FMC book arrives...

[EHM-1570 Bruce]

Murray
    You can download documentation on the FMC and flight tutorials from the PMDG site, under downloads then documentation, this is where I learnt how to use the FMC, they are very good.

[EHM-0654 Murray]

As did I Bruce, but as part of the library I want to build up to go along with my cockpit project (very long term...) I have bought Bill Bulfer's FMC User Guide (as used by many real pilots to learn how to work the 737NG FMC) which with any luck will arrive before my FDS Elite CDU (USB 737 FMC hardware, works beautifully with Project Magenta...)

I'll also be buying Bill's 737NG Cockpit Guide at some point in the future.

[EHM-0948 Bruno]

I am having another problem now .. Not as bad as the last one ...

When i am on CRZ mode, and when I am already near the TOD (Top of Descent) to start the DES mode, the FMC says "PTH DESCENT NOV AVAILABLE" ... something like that.

What does it mean ?

Thank you in advance.

[EHM-0654 Murray]

Bruno,

Can't be 100% sure on this (as I can't find my paper copies of the PMDG documentation ATM) but I think this means you hadn't reset the altitude hold for descent.

Prior to TOD, you need to dial in the final altitude you want to hit during descent. If you have a STAR altitude hold, that's what you need to dial in.

Can I recommend Fred Clausen's PMDG Flight Tutorial (search for "pmdg_flight_tutorial_v2.zip" on AvSim), as it's the best of the PMDG flight tutorials I have read so far. He deals with all the procedural stuff really well.

[EHM-1570 Bruce]

Bruno I think what is happening is that on the DES phase of the flight the FMC will descend at the most economical descent rate, this is correct, as you approach the TOD the FMC will ask you to alter your altitude setting, if you look at the legs page it shows the speed and altitude for any particular waypoint, you alter your altitude setting to that showing in the legs page, and when the aircraft reaches TOD it will automatically descend to your new altitude keeping the descent rate within the descent profile, if your speed exceeds that in the FMC you will get an instruction that drag is required, so you deploy the speed brakes to slow slightly. You get the "Descent path not available" when you try to descend outside of the profile, this is not a problem it is telling you that it cannot descend as you require and stay within the descent profile, just press the CLR key to remove the message, this is more likely to happen when ATC tell you to descend at a fairly high rate of descent. Hope this helps