PMDG 737 and arrival runway

[EHM-1654 Kasper]

Hi all

I have had the PMDG 737 for quite some time, but i still dont get how to choose runway for arrival in the FMC.

I use the FS2004 ATC because I love having other aircraft in trafic, but I have to guess what runway I will be landing at when programming the FMC. This is bugging me and I wonder what other pilots do!

An other thing: Im having quite a hard time landing the plane in one piece. Any tips?

Maybe I missed something in the manual......

[EHM-1507 Manuel]

Hi Kasper

I´ve wondered about the same issue as you, as I wanted to know, what runway to set in FSNavigator.

I´m doing as follows:
At first I select my airplane, then I select the weather I want to use (most time real weather)
Then I´m  moving to my destination airport and notice down, what ATIS tells as runway for approaching aircraft.
Then I´m moving to my departure airport, and notice down the active runways for departure. (given by ATIS, too)

And with that info I´m creating my flightplan and I hope, the approaching runway is still the same as before.....

I would wonder if that is the best way to do it, but it worked all the time I did.....!


Greets!


Manu

[EHM-1654 Kasper]

Thanks for the quick reply!!

That is a good idea! I will try it next time I fly the 737...if I can manage to land the bird that is :>

[EHM-0948 Bruno]

Hi,

The way you choose the airport arrival runway is related to the wind direction.

If you are flying offline, you need to capture the ATIS frequency and look for the wind direction. Then you select the runway is in on opposite to the wind direction.
For instance if the ATIS tells you "Winds from 330 at 4 kn", you need to choose the runway for closer to his angle (in this case, the rwy 33 would be the best if exists).

Hope I got it cleared for you ...

[EHM-1328 Willem]

You can calculate the best RWY direction by :


Windspeed*Cos(Radians(Windirection - RWY direction))  

If result is positive  then you have a head wind, if negative – then you have a tailwind.


You can also calculate crosswind by

Windspeed*(Sin(radians(Winddirection – RWY direction)))

Result positive  right-crosswind,  result negative  left-crosswind.


Be carefulll with to much tailwind you will overshoot the ils, maybe you land on end off RWY :]
Look at these pages:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19900606-2
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001213X35079&key=1
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20040526X00670&key=1
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/air/2002/A02C0072/A02C0072.asp
http://avstop.com/AC/landing/landing1.htm
http://www.nafinet.org/publications/ementor.html

Regards Willem, EHM1328

[EHM-1507 Manuel]

Is the PMDG - FMC capable to change the approaching runway (and the related STAR) during approach, or do you have to know exactly when you do you preflight - programming?


Regards!


Manu

[EHM-1328 Willem]

Manuel,


In your preflight programming you can program Star,  and that is the endpoint off your route it says nothing about wich RWY.
 
You get the current landing-RWY by Atis / current ATC., If your online you can see this in the Atis of the selected ATC., (this info is also on Servinfo),
If the transitions are know by FMC you can program them ,  otherwise ask for vectors. (mostly you get vectors form ATC)

Example :  at EHAM  EELDE 1A  Arrival star  Looks like  EELDE-NOVEM-ARTIP

ARTIP is the end off your Star arrival (Holdingpoint(IAF), After this point you fly a Transition and RNAV  to the current RWY,
eg  ARTIP-2B transition  RWY 18R looks like

ARTIP-EH600-EH601-EH603-NIRSI-EH607-EH608.

Transition is a fixed route from holdingpoint(IAF) to startpoint of RNAV apprach, you don’t need radarvectors to intercept ILS.

In above example NIRSI is start point off RNAV approach.

And if your already on approach you can always select another ILS Freq by hand , but I think that's a little late,  

Regards , Willem EHM1328

[EHM-1570 Bruce]

Hi Kasper

Once you have received the runway in use from ATC, you go to the FMC and press Dep/Arr, select Arr and locate the desired runway by pressing the key next to it. When you get fairly close to the arrival airport if you press the Init Ref key on the FMC this will show the various flap/speed settings for the approach, also on the left hand side it will show the runway selected and its length, in addition it shows the Localiser frequency and the runway heading, you now enter the runway course into the auto pilot, and tune both the Nav radios to the localiser, you are now set up for an ILS or Auto landing.

Happy Landings

[EHM-1654 Kasper]

Hi all

Thanks for all the good advice! I have had no problems at all with landing since I followed your advice!!

Thanks :>