Help with some 737-400 FMC Stuff

[adlion944]

I've had it for about 3 years and I'm getting back into the jet and really enjoying it. Such a great add-on!

Granted I'm a bit rusty with the FMC, but I've tried the tutorials and can't figure this one out. BTW, I have the "last" patch to make it fully FS2002 compatable.

I've had issues with installation bugs before, like one time I couldn't dial any new setting into the course knob. A reinstall fixed the problem. So it may be that this complex bird installed funny. But I've reinstalled recently to "freshen" things up and it's still doing these things...

Problem 1: The "brakes" message stays lit while airborne. Only plane in FS2002 that does this and it doesn't do it on the ground. Is this an aircraft config fix?

Problem 2: I'm having trouble autolanding. It won't let me activate the approach button. I have the whole flight plan laid out in the FMC, the destination runway set, ILS freq set, performance initialization with speed and flaps setting. I'm straight down the pipe, 7 miles out and it won't let me engage autoland. I make the final turn using LNAV, adjust altitude to intercept and it just won't light the button. I fly right over the airport.

Problem 3: In the FMC, the last few legs of the flight (runway final approach waypoint and runway) won't let me set a speed other than 210. Why is that? Am I supposed to be coming off of VNAV as I get close to the airport and take over my descent and speed manually on the MCP?

Thanks for the help!
Dave

[cactuscap]

Dave,

Can’t answer your first, but some thoughts on the other two:

>>Problem 2: I'm having trouble autolanding. It won't let me activate the approach button. I have the whole flight plan laid out in the FMC, the destination runway set, ILS freq set, performance initialization with speed and flaps setting. I'm straight down the pipe, 7 miles out and it won't let me engage autoland. I make the final turn using LNAV, adjust altitude to intercept and it just won't light the button. I fly right over the airport.<<

Make sure you :-wave as you go by! :-lol

It sounds like the navigation radios are still in “auto”-tune. Make sure that *both* frequencies are tuned to the same and proper ILS and *manually* tuned; *both* autopilot’s are engaged in "cmd" and the “app” button should then arm. This also needs to be done prior to 1500’ agl.

Once the airplane is in the approach mode – observed on the FMA (flight mode annunciator) on the forward panel, the “app” light extinguishes.

With glideslope and localizer captured, a series of tests and annunciations will take place at specific altitudes (this is one of many areas where this program is accurately modeled!).

>>Problem 3: In the FMC, the last few legs of the flight (runway final approach waypoint and runway) won't let me set a speed other than 210. Why is that? Am I supposed to be coming off of VNAV as I get close to the airport and take over my descent and speed manually on the MCP?<<

Ran into this one myself. I had one of the other members mention to select the “init ref” page, select page 2 (“next”) and input the new minimum speeds. Haven’t tried it yet … let me know. :-)

C’ya!

[bsweeney]

To fix #1 check that during your climb out you have moved the auto-brake to the off position. If the brake still stays lit, then tap the left and right brakes. That normally takes care of it for me.

Good luck