Right way of climbing from zero to FL310

[sjergod]

What is the right way of climbing from zero to FL310?
Do you first go to 5000 f, level out go to 10000 f, level out and so on to 31000 f ?. When do you turn on the autopilot for speed, HDG and ALT?. I tend to lose alltitute three or four times in a climb.
Thanks.

[fturner]

This is more to my personal preference, both using automation and flying manually. I'll explain each from lifting off from the ground.

For both methods, once I have determined that I have a positive rate of climb then I command gear up. I usually let the aircraft build up to 180kts until about 1500' AGL (1500 feet above ground level) by using pitch around 12 to 14 degrees.

Automation mode using FMC:

-Kick in VNAV mode on the autopilot, at this point the aircraft will nose down slightly to build speed up to around 250kts. I usually aim to be totally clean by 210 kts, ie no flaps. The automation system will adjust your climb rate to maintain air speed as defined in the FMC.

- maintain rwy hdg until ATC tells you differently, then use hdg select to turn on assigned headings.

- Once ATC clears you to to proceed as filed, then you kick in LNAV mode.

The autopilot system pretty much takes care of itself from here on in, UNLESS ATC instructs you otherwise.

Manual Mode.

- At 1500' AGL, I'll lower to about 10 degrees pitch to allow the plane to accelerate to 240kts, and as mentioned above, I'll be totally clean by 210kts.

- I adjust the throttle to maintain 90%N1 then adjust my pitch to maintain 240kts until 10000' ASL (Above sea level, the radar alitmeter no longer works)

- At above 10000' I'll lower my pitch to accelerate to 310 kts then adjust my pitch to hold this speed, all this is done by using trim. (notice I have not used my throttles to hold my air speed, only pitch).

- The only adjustments I'll make on climb out to throttles is to maintain N1 at 90%. I'll use pitch to adjust my speed, and obviously the higher you get the less the pitch.

- If you haven't reached cruise level and your airspeed is close to M0.70, then I'll adjust my pitch by using trim to maintain M0.70. Once I'm at cruise then I'll use trim to level off and accelerate to M0.74 then throttle off to maintain that airspeed.

- If I reach cruise level before I reach M0.70, then I level off and throttle off when I reach cruise speed.

Thats my general way of flying the 737. I'm no pilot but the above works well for me :-). I don't trust automation much so I tend to manually fly alot unless its a long haul flight. I have yet to use autoland as I don't trust it at all.

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[TFF325]

>What is the right way of
>climbing from zero to FL310?
>
>Do you first go to 5000
>f, level out go to
>10000 f, level out and
>so on to 31000 f
>?. When do you turn
>on the autopilot for speed,
>HDG and ALT?. I tend
>to lose alltitute three or
>four times in a climb.
>

In real life, ATC would give you clearance to, say 4000 ft then, 7000 ft, then FL210 and so on.. Most of the times you will recieve clearance for a higher altitude (or level) before you reached the previous one. So, no need to level off.

If you are using AP to climb then be sure you have dialed the desired altitude and your FD on, and turn on your AP at or above 400 ft. Using Levelchange you will climb with the selected IAS.

rgds,

Ben
TFF325

[sjergod]

Thx for your answer.
To fturner.
1) What do I do to make VNAV work?
2) is anything on the autopilot set by now (alt set on 31000 f but not activated - speed set on 310 but not activated) ?
3) What do I do to make LNAV work?
Remember this is my first FS.
/Sjergod

[fturner]

No problem with being a first timer :), everyone was there at one point in time :-).

Your best bet is to at least read through the quick start manual as it gives you the basics of setting up the FMS.

Just for starters though, you need to have the FMS programmed with a route, your initial location etc in order for VNAV to work, as well as LNAV. Also if you plan to climb right up to cruise altitude then set the autopilot (MCP) to that altitude, say 31000. If you leave it at 10000, then VNAV will take you to 10000 and level off until you increase the altitude. As far as airspeed goes, the FMS handles this so you don't need to adjust that on the MCP.

If you don't use the FMS, then you can use the F/CHNG option on the autopilot to climb to the altitude you set, but in this case you will also need to set the airspeed you want as well..

The FMS is a complicated instrument, but actually very easy to use to do what you want, once your familiar with it. Just keep in mind with the FMS that it controls the airplane when active, not the MCP.

I hope I've given you an idea, but ultimately you will need to read the manuals, as I am not an FMS wizard ;-) as I enjoy the challenge of beating the FMS at its own game.

best regards

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