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GBW

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  1. GBW

    Navaids

    That was really helpful as before. I appreciate it is difficult not to talk down to enquirers but doing so ensures that the picture painted is complete. Better to assume nothing! I have been a lifelong yachtsman so am pretty happy with two dimensional navigation. I grew up in a world of Decca, Loran, Omega, DF radio fixing, DR, buoyage, compass bearing fixing, visual range finding, sextant, and eventually, GPS. Three dimensional navigation is very similar except that there is a strong incentive to get the third one right! Up to a point, when sailing, you can stop (or at least slow down or hold safe position). I understand that is generally frowned upon in flight. I wonder how the move towards GPS is viewed in the professional pilots' world. The various yachting forums I subscribe to, carry not infrequent reports of local GPS outages. Not disastrous in sailing (with forewarning and contingencies) but if air radio navaids are discontinued, that could be concerning. Flying tuition is burdened with a huge list of abbreviations which are, initially, a block on assimilation of new skills. As an old git, that is a bit of a struggle! The audio warnings are presumably a Boeing thing. Our holiday flights have nearly always been in 737 NGs and the local (static) simulator is based on that (approved for commercial training). That is why my "flying" is with this aircraft. I am fascinated much more by the technology than actually flying. I believe it was Smiths Industries (my previous employer) who introduced auto land in association with BLEU (WIKI last line refers to SI although the link doesn't work!). The technology was frightening by modern standards. The autopilot used electro-mechanical switches (whose cute name I can't remember) and the "clicking" was both worrying and reassuring!
  2. GBW

    Navaids

    The "PULL UP" is presumably flying too low and is a height warning. I thought there would be an awareness in the system that I was approaching a landing. The fact that there is also a "GLIDE SLOPE" warning suggests some confusion. One of the runways I use starts very close to the water's edge and is significantly higher than the water. In that situation, the radio height is misleading.
  3. GBW

    Navaids

    I find the PAPI really great although the gentleman with the voice keeps shouting "Pull up, PULL UP,PULL UP" even when I have two reds and two whites! The same one who wants to ban candles.
  4. GBW

    Navaids

    Thanks for the response. I know how to use the GS and the LOC. What intrigued me is that there are two frequencies involved, one for each. Taken from Wiki; "Two signals are transmitted on one of 40 ILS channels. One is modulated at 90 Hz, the other at 150 Hz. These are transmitted from co-located antennas. Each antenna transmits a narrow beam. Localizer (LOC) and glide slope (G/S) carrier frequencies are paired so that the navigation radio automatically tunes the G/S frequency which corresponds to the selected LOC frequency. The LOC signal is in the 110 MHz range while the G/S signal is in the 330 MHz range.[2] LOC carrier frequencies range between 108.10 MHz and 111.95 MHz (with the 100 kHz first decimal digit always odd, so 108.10, 108.15, 108.30, etc., are LOC frequencies and are not used for any other purpose)." I set the LOC frequency (either manually on the centre console or in the FMC) but I didn't understand how to set the GS frequency. If there was a direct mathematical relationship between the two, I could understand how the GS signal could be set from the LOC frequency but there isn't. It would be interesting to know where the second frequency is derived from. (I know it doesn't matter but I like to understand.:confused:) I am still trying to land completely manually using the PAPI and am improving (Honestly - to self).
  5. GBW

    Navaids

    I am steadily working my way through the learning curve and can occasionally land on or near the runway and sometimes the right way up - however. 737 NG. I am trying to understand tuning the localiser, glide slope and beacons. I am flying short hops between EGGD and EGFF generally at half light and it is possible to see each airport from the other following take-off. When I set the nav radios, I understand the ILS frequency but how do I set the localiser frequency? I have discovered there is not a set relationship between the two frequencies. The glide slope frequency offered in the FMC works effectively and the localiser also (not that I can land using them solely!). Then there are the beacons. Where do or can I set the VOR frequencies?
  6. I thought I understood! Routes between (e.g.) Brecon and Bristol are listed as BCN1X AND BCN1Z. Same origin, same destination.
  7. Thanks for the response. I guess that the suffixes are just different routes to the same waypoints?
  8. I'm learning! I have programmed a route from Bristol international (UK) to Manchester. EGGD - EGCC I chose a departure from Bristol on runway 27. I am presented with BADI1X BCN1X EXMO1X Before choosing the runway, I have the following options;- BADI1X BCN1X BCN1Z EXMO1X EXMO1Z and WOTA1Z I believe BCN is Brecon but what is the significance of the suffix - 1X. All help gratefully received.
  9. GBW

    EFIS details

    Another good source was
  10. GBW

    EFIS details

    Thanks for the steer. I had already scoured that but it is not complete. What I seek is exhaustive information at the Noddy level with pointers to all the features and appended details. It is embarrassing to reveal that I once worked for a company (Smith's Industries, now GE) who produced these and the FMC. My excuse is that my involvement was on naval equipment and at the time, I had no interest in aeroplanes. Having had a dabble in a 737 simulator, I fancy another and wishing to be more prepared, I have bought X-Plane. By accident, I have just come across a U-tube video by "Subsonic Flight Training". It looks promising.
  11. Can anyone point me to a complete description of all the symbols and their meaning on the Boeing 737 NG flight deck please. Thanks in advance.
  12. That is brilliant - thanks. The reference to airways is a huge step forwards. I was beginning to suspect something like that. I did find a SID for Birmingham but by accident! I have looked at Skyvector but didn't find a SID. I've just tried again and discovered (it wasn't exactly hidden!) the link to the IFR chart. Once again, thank you very much - huge step forward. There is a local (fixed) Boeing 737-800 NG simulator at Gloucester (ex Staverton) airport. I have had one "flight" in the past but I was ill prepared. I intend next visit will be more rewarding.
  13. As I said, I did that. It took me a while to discover the meaning of SIDS AND STARS, but what I asked for was the significance of the route constituents. I was further confused, when the FMS suggested route did not bear much resemblance to the Simbrief route. However, the next reply looks very helpful. It is more embarrassing recalling that I worked for Smiths Industries who produce the FMC (under a different trading name) for the B737. )However, my involvement was with naval projects!).
  14. Please don't laugh! Boeing 737-800 NG. I understand most of the X-Plane cockpit, and can get airborne (but not land!). However, I am struggling with the FMC. Simbrief gives me a series of entries on a route but I don't understand them. If I fly from Birmingham UK, EGBB to Bristol UK EGGD which is a short hop, one of the suggested routes is CPT2Y CPT BRI1C Another is DTY2Y DTYM605 SILVA M183 CPT BRI1C. A more ambitious flight is from Bristol UK EGGD to Perpignan France LFMP. EXMO1Z EXMOR N864 BHD N862 SKESO UN90 BASIK UN26 KORER UM616 USODA UM184 CNA UN863 SECHE UT24 GAI G36 ORBIL ORBIL2 I assumed that these designations referred to waypoints and I can find one or two on waypoint charts but other entries have me baffled. Anyone help please? Google could not.
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