| 6:
Descent & Positioning |
This is the state of play.
We are 17 miles from POL and this is the point I chose
to start the descent.
I am going to use the pitch wheels on the autopilot for
a nice controlled 1500ft/min rate of descent, keeping
about 280 kt and then 250 kt from 10,000ft down. |
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If you raised the cabin altitude,
make sure to select it at zero so that the cabin altitude
will also be descending during the aircraft's descent. |
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Keeping 'HDG'
mode engaged, take off 'ALT' hold and then click the
'DOWN' section of a white pitch wheel.
Each click will give about 1000 ft/min change in the
vertical speed. Click until we get 1500 ft/min on the
VSI.
We need to reduce the power to match our new attitude.
We want to adjust the throttles so that we are seeing
around 280 kt.
RPM has ended up at around 78-80%. |
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We are very nearly at the
POL VOR.
At POL we need to be changing course with a right
turn onto 021.
This is not a huge change in course, so with a few miles
to run set the heading bug to 021 so that the AP will
turn us.
Once on course 021 it's 80 miles (27+22+17+14) until EGNT
Newcastle. |
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At around 13,000 ft altitude
the throttles have to be pulled fully back to idle in
order to be at 250 kt by 10,000 ft.
If it proves impossible to keep below 250 kt at idle power,
then reduce the rate of descent slightly.
No need for me to do that at the moment, everything is
fine.
Set the pressure on the altimeter (I forgot), today the
QNH is 2951. Press 'B' to make FS set it automatically.
This gives us an accurate local altitude reading. |
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Let's tune the NAV2 radio
to the DME at Newcastle, that's frequency 114.25
Check the distance on the DME2 readout.
I'm just pasing through 6,700 ft so 36 miles is plenty. |
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I'm going to land on runway
69, so need to make sure of the frequencies I need to
set.
Get the Flight Simulator Map up if you need to check.
NDB (WZ) - 416
ILS (69) - 111.50
Put the NDB frequency 416.0 into the ADF1 radio.
Put the ILS frequency 111.50 into the NAV1 radio. |
Click the no.1 VOR/ADF selection switch on the RMI so
that it will display the ADF1 information (points to the
NDB beacon located at the start of the approach)
We want to level off at 2,500ft, so as we get near to
that level reduce the rate of descent using the AP pitch
wheel - 'UP'.
At 2,500 ft engage 'ALT' hold on the AP. Obviously
this will cause speed to reduce so increase the throttle
to keep the speed at around 210 kt. About 79% RPM will
do this.
Set the course on the compass to the runway heading of
069 for the ILS.
At 14 miles from EGNT (as shown on DME2), we will turn
left onto a heading of 249 (flying parallel to the runway).
We want to make sure that we leave enough distance for
a controlled ILS approach and will use the NDB beacon
to judge this. |
You need to build up a mental picture from the instruments.
We are 13 miles out from the airport.
The compass shows the aircraft is parallel to the runway,
but heading away from it.
The ADF needle is indicating that the NDB beacon is directly
right of our current position.
The map confirms the position, The red 'WZ' is the NDB
beacon and the green arrows are the ILS beams. |
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From this position we should be thinking
of heading up toward the NDB beacon, but leave it until
we are past the beacon, say when it is at 0 degrees and
then turn right onto a heading of 330.
This will leave us on the left of the NDB which will allow
us to judge the correct place to turn onto the runway
heading and give us plenty of time to get settled on the
ILS. |
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Get some flap down.
Select 8 degrees, add in a little more power.
Then select 18 degrees and add in some more power.
We want to be settled around 170-180 kt, so add in as
much power as needed. About 84% RPM will do it. |
Time for the
approach checks.
|
Cabin Pressurization - Check
If you raised the cabin altitude, make sure it is
down at 0. |
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APU - Start
To start APU:-
Switch 'APU CONTROL' to 'ON'
Check 'FUEL VALVE' reads 'OPEN'
Click 'PUSH TO START'
'START' gulls eye initially reads 'START'
After 35%RPM 'START' goes blank, then displays 'RUN'
when at full RPM. |
| APU Generator Control - Normal |
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No smoking signs - On |
| Seatbelt
signs - On |
| Emergency Lights - Armed |
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Windshield Heat - High |
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Fuel transfer pumps/valves
- Off & Closed
Don't pump fuel into the wing tanks during landing. |
| Booster pumps - All On |
| Crossfeed valve - closed |
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Flaps - Checked
up to 18 deg max IAS is 240 kt, 26+ deg max IAS
is 180 kt |
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Speed brakes - zero
Handle fully forward. |
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Threshold speed (Vat) - Checked &
set
Click the Speed Reference Chinagraph for speeds
The bugs on the ASI move automatically on the model
to mark the Vat of 123 kt (threshold speed) and
also the max speed for 26+ degrees of flap 180 kt. |
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