FMC Basic questions

[hprass]

New to FMC! Appreciate responses to any of the following
1. Tutorial only has entry of one point on RTE. Does the computer find all the other points? Where do I find them or it? When I use the flight planner from KJFK to KPIT I get different
waypoints
2. Why do I have to set altitudes and speeds on the A/P? I thought the FMC took care of it. Does the A/P overide the FMC?
3. Does the FMC if properly programmed make approches to runways that are at ie 90degrees to the heading to the airport?

thanks in advance
HP

[jam6971]

Hello there HP, I will make this brief.

1, The FMC does not find the other waypoint you either a)have to input these waypoints or VOR's in manually or b) use the default FS flight planner then import the route to the FMC.

2,The FMC does take care of it depending on what you have programmed into it. However departure procedures may require speed restrictions and altitude retrictions depending on your route from the airport. These procedures are called SID's or (standard instrument departures)

3,I'm not exactly sure what you mean here but yes it is capable of doing it all by itself and it bears a relavance to the departure procedures. You need to input an arrival STAR into the FMC and when you have done that you will find that there is not much you need to do to get her to land.

The SID's and stars are listed in the FMC. When you have input a route press the DEP/ARR btn and then in the section that says "terminal procedure charts" select either dep or arr and the charts are displayed. note not all airports have this data but all the major airports do.

You will also need to download the lates AIRAC data to ensure that you have all the correct info in the fmc.

Hope that helps you pal if you have any trouble leave an e mail address and I will try to help you out.

best regards

James.:-wave

[hprass]

James,
Thanks! That gives me something to work with. I'm sure I'll call on you again!!

HP