Aerowinx
Precision Simulator 744

The
Operations
Manual

There is a trend in the software market towards “electronic user manuals” in order to save additional costs of manufacture for paper and printers. Not so in Precision Simulator PS1: Both the “Full Pack” and the “Update Pack” come with a solid “hands-on” Operations Manual, 350 pages thick with polished quality paper and sturdy wire binding. The PS1 user doesn’t need to turn on a computer or exit the simulator to read the manual. Tutorials, references, emergency checklists -- the PS1 manual is, as it should be in a “cockpit”, handy at any time.

What’s NOT included in the manual?
The manual does NOT explain what a VOR is or how a wing produces lift. In other words: it’s no “basic” introduction on how to pilot an airplane. The manual is NOT a training course that guides the user all the way from “Zero” to an “Air Transport Pilot License”. This would require, for obvious reasons, at least 5000 pages for the “theory” alone.

What IS included in the manual?
The major part of the manual resembles a real 744 “Airplane Operations Manual”, with technical details about every button and light and symbol in the cockpit. For more details please have a look at the descriptions below. Further, the final third of the book provides performance charts for flight planning purposes, followed by an extra chapter about 744 specific flight techniques and procedures. Included is also a detailed guide for a complete flight from A to B, “switch by switch”, “action by action” from entering the “dark” cockpit to “leaving” the cockpit. Then there is a separate section with “normal” and “non-normal” checklists. Another highlight is the last chapter of the manual: A reproduction of an “inaugural” historical 744 flight from Tokyo to New York, written (and actually flown) by Captain Mel J. Ott, also known as “Cap’n Tarmack”. He guides the new user step by step through the cockpit preparation and gives various tips during the “flight”. More details at the bottom of this web page...

And there’s another invaluable (and free!) source of information available: Should a question remain unanswered in the manual, feel free to ask the experts in our Aerowinx Support Forum !


Please note: Due to file compressions the image quality on this web page may not represent the actual high print quality of the book.

What do the various chapters include?

Chapter 1  - Simulator Handling / Simulator Programming

This chapter describes how to install and start the simulator, how to use the mouse and the keyboard etc. (either can be used for the same functions). Advanced users may also have a look at special tutorials on how to modify the internal sim data bases, or how to create ATC Vectors scenarios, how to add own sounds to a video, or even how to get access to the internal sim structure.

Chapter 2  - Airplane General

Here starts the actual “744” Operations Manual. This chapter discusses the exterior lighting, the doors system, the passenger signs, oxygen bottles etc.

Note that everything in Precision Simulator is fully functioning. There are no inoperative “dummies” in the simulated cockpit. Therefore, without the manual, or without real-life 744 experience, the user can NOT NEARLY use the sim to its full extent.

Chapter 3  - Automatic Flight

This chapter is about the Autopilot / Flight Director System (AFDS) and the Autothrottle system. These systems offer dozens of tools to the pilot for operating and navigating the 744. Each mode is explained. The chapter provides also illustrated examples concerning AFDS take-off operations, FMC VNAV interactions during climb, cruise and descent as well as Autoland operations. A list of auto-flight related EICAS Alert and Status messages can be found at the end of this chapter.

Chapter 4  - Auxiliary Power

This is about the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit), and the respective controls and indications including some basic operational notes.

Chapter 5  - Communications

The Radio Tuning Panel (RTP), the ATC Transponder and the ACARS (Airplane Communication And Reporting System) are discussed in this chapter.

Chapter 6  - Electrical

This chapter covers the electrical panel, the associated EICAS synoptics as well as a comprehensive diagram of the various electrical AC and DC busses and relays. Included are also some pages showing the entire bus equipment list of the 744, explaining which device is powered by which bus. The entire bus system is implemented in the simulator as well! This affects hundreds of devices: everything, from the APU Fire Detectors down to the Radio Altimeters. EICAS Alert and Status messages are described on the last pages of the chapter.

Chapter 7  - Fire Protection

All switches and warning systems related with the fire protection are discussed in this chapter. It contains also some schematics on the various fire and overheat detectors and fire extinguishing systems as well as some notes on the fire alert logic and take-off phase inhibits. Fire related EICAS messages are attached at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 8  - Flight Controls

This is about all the inboard/outboard leading edge and trailing edgde flaps, about the rudders, the elevators, spoilers, ailerons etc. It discusses the various trim controls and indications as well as the flap control system (primary mode, secondary mode, alternate mode) followed by some notes about speed limits, the automatic aileron lockout system and the flap load relief safety logic. A list of related EICAS messages is attached at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 9  - Flight Instruments

This comprehensive chapter describes each and every indication and control of the navigational instruments, i.e. the Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS). This consists of a great number of map symbols, failure flags, scales, pointers, lay-out options and specific colors. The two basic EFIS screens are the PFD (Primary Flight Display) and the ND (Navigation Display). For a better understanding there are examples of typical PFD “looks” shown for the various stages of a flight.

All symbols that may appear on the ND are listed in detail over several pages. The “Flight Instruments” chapter discusses also the MAG/TRU heading reference logic, the clock/chronograph, the Paravisual Display (PVD), the alternate EFIS/EICAS controls via the FMC-CDU and, of course, the highly complex Inertial Reference System (IRS). EICAS messages are described at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 10 -  FMC

The Flight Management Computer (FMC) incorporates dozens of different “main screens”, with hundreds of different key functions, and twice as many different info displays in the various lines. Since Precision Simulator models the entire 744 FMC, this became obviously the longest chapter in the book. Every single feature is described, including clear overviews regarding the respective “valid entry” formats in the associated line if an entry is possible.

The “FMC” chapter includes also a graphical schematic for the preflight initialization procedure, and provides also a “Menu Tree” overview for the various “Init Ref” pages which also explains the automatic switching of these pages during a flight.
The FMC stores a specific library of “informal messages” in its memory that may appear in the so-called “scratchpad” at the bottom of the FMC screen. These “scratchpad” messages and their meanings are described in a compact, separate list.

Chapter 11 -  Fuel System

Due to the requirements of a “two-man” cockpit, lots of automation has been introduced on the 744. This affected also the Fuel System. This chapter includes a clear, step-by-step guide on all required crew actions on the Fuel Panel during a flight and describes what the automation is doing with the various valves and pumps. The chapter, of course, also explains every switch and light of the fuel system controls on the overhead panel as well as the EICAS indications, some general features and the meaning of each fuel system related EICAS message.

Chapter 12 -  Hydraulics

This chapter discusses the hydraulic systems and the respective controls and warning lights on the overhead panel and the respective symbology on the EICAS hydraulic synoptic. Included is also a schematic showing which device is powered by which hydraulic system. Hydraulic malfunctions and the associated EICAS messages are described at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 13 -  Ice Protection

This is about the Nacelle Anti-Ice and Wing Anti-Ice systems and their controls and warning lights on the overhead panel (which may vary from airline to airline: some have auto ice detection and auto activation). As always at the end of each chapter: System related EICAS Warning, Caution, Advisory, Memo and Status messages and their exact meaning (see picture on right). The black “A” flags in the book identify airline specific options.

Chapter 14 -  Landing Gear

These pages provide information relating to the landing gear system: Control and (de)pressurization of the gear, alternate gear extension, normal and abnormal EICAS gear indications, nose wheel steering, autobrake logic, parking brake system, the EICAS gear synoptic and all EICAS messages associated with the landing gear system.

Chapter 15 -  Pneumatics

Everything that has something to do with bleed air in the simulator is discussed in this chapter (“bleed air” is air from the engines, or the APU, or a ground source, to pressurize the cabin via the air conditioning “packs”, and to power many other things like the leading edge flap mechanism, Anti-Ice etc.). Included are descriptions about the controls and lights on the overhead panel, the respective EICAS symbols and indications, followed by a graphical bleed air system schematic, and a chart explaining the cabin pressurization profile during a flight from take-off to roll-out. EICAS messages are listed at the end.

Chapter 16 -  Power Plant

The “Power Plant” chapter is about the engines, about the engine type* specific Electronic Engine Control (EEC), their ignition and autostart control etc., and all the engine indications on the upper and lower EICAS screens (Engine Indication & Crew Alerting System). As usual: System related Alert and Status messages are described at the end of the chapter.


*) modeled in the sim are the Rolls Royce RB211, Pratt&Whitney PW4056 and General Electric CF6.

Chapter 17 -  Warning Systems

This chapter describes all the sophisticated warning systems on the 744: The various warning/caution lights and the associated reset and inhibit logics, the EICAS message categories and the recall/cancel logic, the meaning of different synthetic aural alerts, the logic of the aircraft configuration warnings for take-off and landing, as well as some notes about speed buffet warnings. Further: Several pages explaining all 7 modes of the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) with clear graphical flow diagrams of the various warning phases (this explains the logic better than the usual “text-only” descriptions). Details about the Traffic Collision & Avoidance System (TCAS) is, of course, included as well. Warning system failures and the respective EICAS messages are listed at the end of this chapter.

Chapter 18 -  Performance

Here starts the flight planning section. This chapter includes the following charts: “Simplified Flight Planning .86 Mach Cruise”, “Simplified Alternate Flight Planning”, “Flaps 20 Takeoff Data /Elevation 400 ft”,

“Enroute Climb 340/.84”, “Thrust Settings & Fuel Flow /Mach .86 Cruise”, “Long Range Cruise Mach Schedule All Engines / 1 Engine Inoperative / 2 Engines Inoperative”, “Wind-Altitude Trade Charts”, “Altitude / Maneuver Capability Charts”, “Enroute Holdings Flaps Up / Flaps 1”, “Descent Planning (4 different speeds)”, “Landing Planning Flaps 25 / Flaps 30”, “Vref Speeds Flap 25 / Flap 30”, “Pitch & Power For Flight With Unreliable Airspeed/Mach Indication”.

Chapter 19 -  Procedures

This long chapter discusses basic flight techniques and procedures for the 744. It includes also illustrated diagrams on various normal and non-normal approaches (precision, non-precision, noise abatement etc.), including manual take-off, circling-approach and touch-and-go training pattern.

The major part of the “Procedures” chapter is a step-by-step guide through a complete flight. Devided in sections, it describes action by action and switch by switch the “Flight & Cockpit Preparation”, the “Engine Starting”, “Taxiing Out & Take-off”, “Climb & Cruise”, “Descent & Landing” and “After Landing & Parking”.

Chapter 20 -  Normal Checklists & Abnormal Lists

The manual includes some typical “Normal Checklists” (may vary from airline to airline). Included are also a great number of “abnormal” (or “non-normal”) lists for the various malfunctions and emergencies. They are sorted in multiple sections: “Air Systems”, “APU”, “Electrical”, “Engines”, “Flight Controls”, “Fuel”, “Hydraulics”, “Landing Gear” and “Miscellaneous”.

Chapter 21 -  ”The Inaugural Flight”

This comprehensive and easy to read chapter is another option to help familiarize the “new pilot” with the basics. Captain Mel J. Ott, also known as “Cap’n Tarmack”, describes in his typical, unrivaled writing style the first Tokyo - New York flight on a 744. This “Inaugural Flight” was flown by Mel with Northwest Airlines in 1989. He uses this example in combination with Precision Simulator to guide the new user step by step through the cockpit preparation etc., and gives various tips during the “flight”.

Chapter 22 -  Airport List

Not to forget that all airports included in Precision Simulator and their associated ICAO identifiers are listed in an extra chapter, sorted by name and ARINC coverage area.

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© 1995-2001 Hardy Heinlin. All rights reserved.