ACS 207 – FMS

FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

(FMS)
Air Transport Systems
ACS 207
 ACS 207 – FMS

Outline of Course Material

• Introduction
• Components
• Operation Overview
• Terminology
• Pilot Selectable CDU Key Functions, IRS Review
• Fix and Data Entry Rules and Conventions
• Page by Page functions and flight examples
• Review and Summary.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Introduction
• Flight Management System (FMS) is comprised of
five components:
• Flight Management Computers
• Autopilot / Flight Director System
• Autothrottle
• Inertial Reference System
• GPS.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Introduction
• Each of these is an independent system, used
individually or in various combinations
• “FMS” refers to the concept of joining these
independent components together into one
integrated system.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Introduction
• FMS provides:
• Continuous automatic navigation
• Guidance
• Performance management
• FMS performs navigational and performance
computations in its computers; provides control and
guidance commands to the flight crew
• Uses two computers (Flight Management Computers,
or FMC’s) in synchronization with each other
• Receives inputs from numerous aircraft sensors &
 ACS 207 – FMS

Components of the FMS/FMC System

• FMS = FMC, in other words, the brains of the Flight
Management System are the Flight Management
Computers
• Boeing uses both terms interchangeably
• Dual FMC’s installed
• In normal operation, left FMC is primary, right
FMC operation is synchronized with the left.
• Primary FMC can be pilot selectable by switch to
the other (right) FMC.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Components
• CDU – Control Display Unit features
• Function keys and Execute key
• Alphanumeric and symbol keys
• CDU screen displaying FMS data pages
• 6 Line Select Keys on both sides of the CDU
screen
• Key functions explained in later slides.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Control Display Unit (CDU)

 ACS 207 – FMS

Operational Overview
• CDU’s allow the crew to enter desired flight path
routing and performance parameters into the FMC
• FMC navigational and performance computations
are then displayed on the CDU screen for reference
and monitoring
• Related FMC commands for lateral and vertical
navigation may be coupled to the Flight Director
system and autothrottle through the Mode Control
Panel (LNAV and VNAV).
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview
• Crew may select any level of automation desired
• This can mean simply using the CDU displays for:
• Reference during manual flight
• While using conventional autopilot features, or
• Selecting full FMS operation with automatic
flight path guidance and control from takeoff
through landing, flown at minimum cost / most
efficient operation.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• The FMC and CDU provide the pilots with a flight
management tool which performs navigational and
performance computations
• Computations related to lateral navigation (LNAV)
include such items as courses to be flown, ETA’s,
distances-to-go
• Vertical navigation (VNAV) computations include
fuel burn data, optimum speeds, thrust settings,
and optimum altitude recommendations.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• A navigation permanent database is stored in the
FMC, and is updated periodically by a data upload
performed by maintenance
• A temporary navigation database contains
waypoint information entered by the pilot, and is
retained for that flight only
• CDU’s are independent, crew may enter data into
FMC’s via either CDU (simultaneous entries are
discouraged, however)
• Computation results are displayed on both CDU’s.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• There is also a performance database in the FMC
which contains information on:
• Climb and cruise performance
• Thrust limits
• Minimum, optimal and maximum altitudes and
airspeeds for various configurations
• Engine and drag characteristics
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• During preflight, the CDU’s are used to manually
“INITialize” the IRS’s and FMC with such
information as:
• Present position
• Flight plan routing
• Zero fuel weight
• Planned cruise altitude
• Data entries form the starting point for FMC
computations.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• FMC then compares planning information entries
with actual data from other aircraft sources,
resulting in dynamic, real-time information on flight
progress
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• FMC provides continuous computations on:
• Airplane position
• Courses to fly
• Thrust (N1) targets and limits
• Optimum vertical profiles and predictions
• FMC data can be used for reference during manual
flight or commands to the autopilot and
autothrottle.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• The FMC and CDU are used for:
• Enroute and terminal area navigation
• RNAV approaches
• Supplements primary navigation when flying
instrument approaches.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• The dual FMC system is certified as a “sole
source” navigation system, certified to operate
outside radio navigation coverage
• Left FMC is designated primary
• Right FMC serves as a backup and can provide all
functions if the primary FMC fails.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• FMC inputs can also be used to calculate “what if”
previews to flight plan alterations, such as
• “What will be the effect of a speed or altitude
change on fuel burn?”
• LNAV, or Lateral NAVigation, is referenced to a
direct great circle route when a specific route or
heading has not been specified by the flight crew
• VNAV, or Vertical NAVigation, is referenced to the
best-economy profile for climb, cruise, descent and
holding, based upon the pilot-entered cost index.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• FMC position is determined by a mathematical
combination of position inputs from:
• GPS position (which is primary, but if lost,
backup positions are also maintained by…)
• IRS motion calculated position
• Radio (VOR/DME or DME/DME) auto tuning
position.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• If FMC electrical power is interrupted for LESS than
10 seconds:
• LNAV and VNAV disengage
• All entered data is retained by the FMC
• FMC resumes normal operation when power is
restored.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Overview, continued…
• If FMC electrical power is lost for MORE than 10
seconds:
• LNAV and VNAV disengage
• All entered data is retained in the FMC
• When power is restored, FMC displays
RTE/LEGS page with the message “SELECT
ACTIVE WPT/LEG”,
• or in other words the FMC needs to be told
what routing to resume navigating.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Terminology used by the FMC and CDU

• Active
• Flight plan information currently being used to
calculate LNAV or VNAV guidance commands
• Activate
• Designating an entered route as the active for
navigation. It is a two step process -- press the
Activate prompt displayed next to a Line Select
key, then push the “EXEC” or execute key
• Delete
• Use the Delete key to remove entered data and
revert to default values or blank entries.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Terminology, continued…
• Econ
• A speed schedule calculated to minimize
operation costs based on the pilot’s CDU-
entered cost index value (0-500)
• A lower cost index value represents high fuel
costs and lower speeds, and a higher cost index
results in minimum flight time and maximum
speed regardless of fuel burn.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Terminology, continued…
• Execute
• Pushing the “EXEC” key makes modified
information part of the active flight plan
• Initialize
• Entering starting point information into the FMC,
as in position and flight plan information to
make the system operational.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Terminology, continued…
• Modify
• Active data that is changed but not yet executed
• When a modification is made to the active route
or performance mode,
• “MOD” is displayed in the page title
• “ERASE” prompt is displayed at the lower left
(6L) line select key
• “EXEC” key’s light illuminates.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Terminology, continued…
• Prompts
• These are CDU displays that aid the pilot in
entering data into the FMC
• They can be displayed as dashes, brackets (< or
>) or open boxes to remind the crew to enter
information.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Terminology, continued…
• Speed and/or Altitude Restriction
• An airspeed or altitude limit or restriction
associated with a particular fix, as in
• “Cross XYZ intersection at 220 knots,” or
• “Cross XYZ intersection at 5000 feet.”
 ACS 207 – FMS

Terminology, continued…
• Scratchpad
• The bottom line of CDU screen where keystroke
symbols typed by the pilot will appear
• They can then be placed in a desired position on
the screen by pushing the Line Select key, next
to where the typed information is to be placed.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Terminology, continued…
• Waypoint
• A point on the route, or in the airspace:
• Latitude / longitude fix
• Intersection on an airway
• VOR or NDB station
• GPS fix defined on a chart (as long as it is in
the navigation database), or a
• Point created and designated by the pilot
• Can also be a conditional waypoint, defined as
when a condition is reached, as in “When passing
 ACS 207 – FMS

Terminology, continued…
• RNP or Required Navigation Performance:
• The number of miles that the FMC must remain
within 95% of the time in flight, or 95% accuracy
• Different RNP requirements in different
airspace:
• Oceanic=12.0, Enroute=2.0, Terminal 1.0,
Approach=0.5 or 0.3 miles
• The above are default settings, but can be
modified by the crew if necessary (i.e. in
Australian oceanic airspace, RNP is 4.0).
 ACS 207 – FMS

Terminology, continued…
• ANP value (Actual Navigation Performance) – Value
calculated by the FMC of the quality of it’s position
determination, with a 95% confidence factor
• Value is displayed on one of FMC position pages,
• Lower the ANP value, more confident the FMC is
of its position
• ANP should not exceed RNP
• If it does, message generated in the scratchpad
“UNABLE REQD NAV PERF – RNP”, and
• FMC alert lights illuminate on the Capt. and F/O’s
forward panels.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief

• Line Select keys – 6 keys on each side of the CDU
screen, associated with its adjacent data line, and
when pushed:
• Moves data typed in the scratchpad to the line
next to the Line Select key
• Moves data from the line selected to the
scratchpad (if scratchpad was blank)
• Selects page, procedure or performance mode
as applicable when there is a prompt next to the
key (usually accompanied by a < or >).
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief, continued…

• Line Select keys, continued:
• Deletes entry next to pushed Line Select key
when “DELETE” is displayed in the scratchpad
• Word “DELETE” is placed in the scratchpad by
pushing the “DEL” key (if nothing already in the
scratchpad)
• With information already in the scratchpad,
pushing DEL key will erase characters one at a
time,
• Holding DEL for two seconds will delete the
entire scratchpad.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief, continued…

• Alpha-Numeric Keys:
• Alpha keys A through Z
• Numeric keys 0 through 9
• “SP” Space key
• Used to place a space between characters
• “DEL” Delete key
• Places word “DELETE” in the scratchpad,
which may be then used to remove an entry
with the Line Select keys.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief, continued…

• “/” Slash key
• Places / in the scratchpad
• Used to separate data entries
• “CLR” Clear key
• Clears last character typed in scratchpad, or
clears scratchpad message to crew generated
by the FMC
• Pushed and held will clear all characters typed
into entire scratchpad
• “.” key places a decimal point in the scratchpad.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief, continued…

• “+/-” key places a plus sign or minus sign in the
scratchpad
• First push places a “-” in the scratchpad
• Subsequent pushes alternate between “+” and “-”.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief, continued…

• INIT/REF key – Displays page for INITialization
data, or REFerence data if initialization is complete
• RTE key – Displays page to view, enter or change
origin and destination airports and route
information
• CLB key – Displays page to view, enter or change
climb data
• CRZ key – Displays page to view, enter or change
data for the cruise portion of the flight.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief, continued…

• DES key – Displays page to view, enter or change
data pertaining to the descent portion of the flight
• MENU key – Displays page to choose subsystems
controlled by CDU, such as ACARS, etc.
• LEGS key – Displays page to view or modify lateral
and vertical data of the flight plan
• DEP ARR key – Displays page to input departure
and arrival runways and procedures.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief, continued…

• HOLD key – Displays page to create holding
patterns and display holding pattern data
• PROG key – Displays page to view dynamic flight
PROGress and PROGnostications of navigation
data, such as ETA’s for waypoints and destination,
fuel remaining and fuel at destination estimates
• N1 LIMIT key – Displays page to view or change
thrust limits.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief, continued…

• FIX key – Displays page used to create pilot
designated points into the map display or flight
plan
• PREV PAGE – Displays PREVious PAGE of related
pages within current function key selected
• NEXT PAGE – Displays NEXT PAGE of related
pages within current function key selected.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief, continued…

• EXEC key and light – Pushing the EXECute key
makes the data modification entered by the pilot
active in the FMC
• The execute light (immediately above the EXEC
key/button) will illuminate when active data has
been modified but not executed
• Light will extinguish when the EXEC key is pushed,
thereby activating the data.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Key Functions in Brief, continued…

• You may or may not see these CDU Options (as
installed by aircraft operator):
• DIR INTC key – Displays page used to go direct
from present position to any pilot-selected
waypoint in the flight plan, or
• to intercept a course to a waypoint in the
flight plan
• FMC COMM – Displays FMC Communication
status page (aircraft with Airline Operational
Control data link system only)
• ATC key – This function key is inoperative.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Colours Used In Various Display Modes

• Green – Active state, or data currently actively
being used by the FMC
• Shaded White – Flight plan modification not yet
executed, “MOD” precedes page titles of modified
pages
• White – Color of most data.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Colours, continued…
• Magenta – Data being used by FMC for lateral or
vertical flight commands, such as active waypoint,
altitude, airspeed or holding pattern parameters
currently in use
• Cyan (blue/green) – Color of inactive RTE, RTE
LEGS, and RTE HOLD page titles.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Miscellaneous CDU Controls And Components:

• Brightness Adjustment Knob – Rotating knob
changes the brightness of the CDU screen
• Light Sensor – Located on CDU face, automatically
dims and brightens CDU with changing light
conditions in the cockpit
• MSG Light – Illuminates when a message has been
generated in the scratchpad by the FMC
• OFST light – Illuminated when a route offset has
been selected and activated.
 ACS 207 – FMS

More Miscellaneous Items…

• CALL light – Illuminated when another subsystem
is requesting control of the FMC
• Option installed when CDU is actually an MCDU
(Multi-function Control and Display Unit)
• Example of when call light illuminates;
• When there is a message from ACARS or AOC
uplinked to the aircraft, and requires use of the
MENU key to change to another subsystem, to
view the message.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Page Components Example -- Route page

 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Route Page Components Example

• This page is an example of what is seen when
pushing the RTE key before initialization, more
information needs to be entered…
• RTE – Title of page displayed
• origin KBFI – Origin airport has been entered and
is KBFI
• CO ROUTE – Data line title of what is to be entered
on that line, dashes represent no data entered
• 13R – Example of data entered, 13R is the runway.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Page Components Example, continued…

• KMWH – Location of scratchpad, this is an example
of an entry typed into the scratchpad.
• KMWH is Moses Lake, Washington, and at this
point if we pushed the 1R (top right) Line Select
key, KMWH would fill in the four empty boxes
under DEST
• Boxed prompts indicate mandatory input required
• 1/XX – Page number 1 of XX related pages available
under RTE key
• Flt no. and dashes – Line where flight number can be
entered (i.e. ET23 for Ethiopian flight 23).
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Page Components Example, continued…

• ACTIVATE> -- Arrow indicates a prompt for crew
action, in this case activating the route after all
necessary data is entered
• In fields with dashes (Company Route and Flight
No.) data entry is optional, but the boxed prompt
“DEST” must be filled in before activation will
work
• When all necessary data is entered, pushing line
select key 6 Right (or the key next to Activate)
will cause the EXECute key to illuminate, and
pushing the EXECute key will activate the route
page entries.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CDU Page Components Example, continued…

• ACT – If ACT is in front of RTE, or “ACT RTE”, this
indicates that the route is currently active
• MOD – If MOD is in front of RTE, or “MOD RTE”,
this indicates the route has had a modification
entered, but is not yet activated with the Execute
key.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Source Select Switch (Forward Overhead Panel)

 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Source Select Switch Functions

• NORMAL (center) position:
• Left FMC controls CDU’s and allocates navaid
tuning and update functions between FMC’s,
provides input to autopilot and autothrottle,
insures synchronization with right FMC
• Right FMC operates in synch with left FMC
• Maps on Navigation Displays display composite
information from both FMC’s.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Source Select Switch Functions, con’t…

• BOTH ON L position – Selects left FMC for all
operations, right map displays “FMC L”
• BOTH ON R position – Selects right FMC for all
operations, left map displays “FMC R”
• Note: Moving FMC Source Select switch will
disengage LNAV and VNAV if selected.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Alert Light (on Left & Right Forward Panel)

• When illuminated (amber):
• A “FAIL” light on a CDU is illuminated
• An alert message exists for both CDU’s
• Test switch is in position one or two
• Pushing either light capsule extinguishes BOTH
pilots’ lights.
 ACS 207 – FMS

GPS Fail Light (On Aft Overhead IRS Panel, Amber)

• Indicates failure of both GPS sensor units, OR

• Indicates failure of a single GPS sensor unit if light
illuminates only after pushing system annunciator
panel for recall.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Instrument Landing System Fail Light (amber)

• Illuminated – Both ILS sensor units have failed
• Illuminated after System Annunciator panel has
been pushed for recall:
• A single ILS sensor unit has failed
• Light will extinguish when System Annunciator
panel is reset
• Will re-illuminate if still failed with subsequent
recall push.
 ACS 207 – FMS

GPS Landing System Fail Light (amber)

• Illuminated – Both GLS sensor units have failed
• Illuminated after System Annunciator panel has
been pushed for recall
• One GLS sensor unit has failed,
• Will extinguish when recall is reset
• Will reappear if still inop on subsequent recalls.
 ACS 207 – FMS

IRS System Quick Review – Switches & Lights

• IRS Mode Selector:
• OFF – Alignment is lost, and all power is
removed after a 30 second shutdown cycle
• ALIGN – Rotating from OFF to ALIGN starts the
alignment process (10 minutes, no movement
allowed)
• Rotating from NAV to ALIGN automatically
updates the alignment and zeroes the ground
speed error.
• a.k.a. Quick-Alignment process (takes about 30
seconds).
 ACS 207 – FMS

IRS System Review – Mode Selector con’t

• NAV (detented position)
• System enters the NAV mode after completion of
alignment and entry of present position
• All IRS information is available to aircraft’s
systems for normal operations – Normal
position for flight.
 ACS 207 – FMS

IRS System Review – Mode Selector con’t

• ATT
• Provides only heading and attitude information,
but only after align light is extinguished and
magnetic heading is manually entered
• Position and groundspeed not available
• Selector must be cycled to off before NAV or
ATT is selected.
 ACS 207 – FMS

IRS System Review – Annunciator Lights

• ALIGN light (white)
• Steady, related IRS is in Align mode, ATT mode
or Shutdown mode
• Flashing – Alignment suspended due to no
position entry, motion, or bad position entry
(more than 2° from last position known to IRS)
• Extinguished – Not in Align mode, with NAV
selected alignment is complete, with ATT
selected attitude and heading info available.
 ACS 207 – FMS

IRS System Review – Annunciator Lights

• FAULT light (amber) – A fault has been detected in
the mode selected
• ON DC (amber) – System is operating on DC power
from the switched hot battery bus (AC is not
normal), if on ground horn in nose wheel well
sounds, momentary flash is normal during power
up self-test
• DC FAIL (amber) – DC power for the related IRS is
not normal
• If other lights are extinguished, IRS is operation
normally on AC power.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Data Entry Rules

• Airspeed – Always entered as a 3 digit number, as
in 220 knots would be entered as “220”
• Bearing – Always entered as a 3 digit number, as in
a 90° bearing would be entered as “090”
• Plus/Minus – FMC assumes positive entries, for a
negative entry toggle the “-” sign into the
scratchpad.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Data Entry Rules, continued…

• Data Pairs
• Airspeed / Altitude or Wind Direction / Speed are
always separated by a “/”
• When entering the inboard value, the “/” must
always be included,
• When entering only the outboard data, the “/” is
optional
• If the slash is required by the FMC and you do not
enter it, reminds with scratchpad message
“INVALID ENTRY”.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Data Entry Rules, continued…

• Altitude Entries –
• Can be three, four or five digits
• FMC will correctly add or delete “FL” for Flight
Level to the appropriate data entries when
necessary as it knows the transition altitude in
the area of operation
• Leading zeroes are required when necessary
• Examples on following slides.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Data Entry Rules, continued…

• Three-digit Altitude entry examples (assuming a
transition altitude of 10,000 feet):
• 800 feet is entered as 008 or FL008 and is
displayed as 800
• 1500 feet is entered as 015 or FL015 and is
displayed as 1500
• 11,500 feet is entered as 115 or FL115 and is
displayed as FL115
• 25,000 feet is entered as 250 or FL250 and is
displayed as FL250.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Data Entry Rules, continued…

• Four digit Altitude entry examples, these are
rounded to the nearest 10 foot increments:
• 50’ is entered as 0050 and displays as 50
• 835’ is entered as 0835 and displays as 840
• 1,500’ is entered as 1500 and displays as 1500
• 9,994’ is entered as 9994 and displays as 9990.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Data Entry Rules, continued…

• Five digit Altitude entry examples, used when
altitude exceed 9,994 feet, (in these examples we
will assume a 4,000 foot transition altitude), and
are rounded to the nearest 10 foot increment:
• 1,504’ is entered as 01504 and displays as 1500
• 8,500’ is entered as 08500 and displays as 8500
• 11,500’ is entered as 11500 and displays as
FL115
• 25,000’ is entered as 25000 or FL250 and
displays as FL250.
 ACS 207 – FMS

LNAV – Fix Naming Conventions

• Navaid Waypoints – One to five characters max for
VOR’s, NDB’s and ILS facilities
• Fix waypoints – Five characters max, if name is
longer it is shortened to five (by certain rules
known to database engineers)
• Unnamed Point Waypoints – Such as radial /
distance points, are listed by fix and distance
• Example: CYN89 = CYN VOR 89 DME fix on a
radial known to the FMC.
 ACS 207 – FMS

LNAV – Fix Naming Conventions, continued…

• Unnamed Latitude / Longitude Oceanic
coordinates:
• Positions in the northern hemisphere use the
letters N and E
• Positions in the southern hemisphere use the
letter S and W
• Latitude always precedes Longitude
• For Longitude, only the last two digits of a three
digit number are used.
 ACS 207 – FMS

LNAV – Fix Naming Conventions, continued…

• Uses a 5 character set, example “5040N”
• Placement of the letter designates whether the first
longitude digit is a 0 or 1
• The letter is the last character if the longitude is
less than 100°, and is the third character if the
longitude is 100° or greater
• “N” = North Latitude and West Longitude
• “E” = North Latitude and East Longitude
…continued…
 ACS 207 – FMS

LNAV – Fix Naming Conventions, continued…

• “S” = South Latitude and East Longitude
• “W” = South Latitude and West Longitude
• Examples:
• 5040N = N50° W040°
• 06E10 = N06° E110°
N E
• 5275W = S52° W075°
• 07W20 = S07° W120°. W S
 ACS 207 – FMS

Procedure Arc Fix Waypoint Names – “D252T”

• On a DME arc procedure, points identified along
the arc are preceded by a “D”
• The next three numbers are the radial off the fix
• The last letter is the DME distance from the fix,
where A=1mile, B=2miles, etc.
• In the above example, on the DME arc procedure
from ABC VOR, the “D252T” fix on the arc is on the
ABC 252 degree radial, 20 mile DME distance.
 ACS 207 – FMS

More Procedure Fix Waypoint Names

• Examples below are used with a runway number:
• RX = Runway Extension Fix OM = Outer Marker
• RW = Runway Threshold IM = Inner Marker
• CF = Final Approach Course Fix
• MA = Missed Approach Point when not the runway
• IF = Initial Approach Fix
• Examples: “RW04” “CF18R” “MA33”.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Manually Entered Waypoint Names – Two Types

• Lat / Long coordinates
• Example: N33° W097° would be entered as
N33W097 and would be displayed as WPT01 meaning
Waypoint #1
• Place-Bearing / Distance or Place-Bearing / Place-
Bearing
• Example: ABC234 radial 20 DME fix, entered as
ABC234/20, displayed as ABC01
• ABC234radial/XYZ 105 radial, entered as
ABC234/XYZ105, displayed as ABC02.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Manually Entered Along Track Waypoint Names

• To designate a fix either before or after a fix already
in the route,
• As in “Cross 10 miles this side of ABC VOR at
10,000 feet”,
• Place a “/” after the name,
• “-” and the number 10, or
• “ABC/-10” and line select it to the line where
ABC VOR is displayed, resulting in another fix
“ABC01” place before ABC.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Manually Entered Along Track Waypoint Names

• Another example:
• “Be level at 10,000 25 miles past XYZ VOR”,
• Enter “XYZ/25” and line select it to the next
position after XYZ,
• Will display “XYZ02” at that line position, as it is
the second waypoint you designated in the flight
plan.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Conditional Waypoints
• Waypoints not associated with a geographically-
fixed position, but exist when a specified event or
condition occurs
• Automatically entered into the FMC by its database
as part of a pilot-selected procedure (i.e. SID or
STAR)
• Cannot be manually entered by the pilot
• Examples: “When climbing through 3000 feet, turn
left to 230 degrees,” or “Fly heading 300 until
15DME, then fly direct XYZ VOR”.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV – Vertical Navigation Naming Conventions

• Waypoint restrictions: speed, altitude or both
• Speed and altitude constraints can be entered into
the FMC on the LEGS page on the right side of the
screen opposite the fix where the restriction is
desired, speed first / then altitude, i.e.”250 / 10000”
• VNAV manages the vertical profile to achieve
restrictions entered along the route
• Restriction is magenta colored when active, and
does NOT have to be on line one to be actively
monitored by the FMC in VNAV.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Naming Conventions, continued…

• An “A” entered after a speed or altitude means “At or
Above”
• A “B” entered after a speed or altitude restriction
means “At or Below”
• Mandatory restrictions have neither
• Examples:
• Cross ABC at or below Flight Level 220 = “…/220B”
• Cross ABC at or above 220 knots = “220A/”
• Remember, the speed is displayed first, followed by
a slash, followed by the altitude.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Naming Conventions, continued…

• During Climbout:
• VNAV uses VNAV SPEED mode,
• In which aircraft pitch maintains FMC target
speed (default or pilot selected airspeed) while
thrust is maintained at Climb Thrust Limit.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Naming Conventions, continued…

• During Climbout:
• VNAV enters VNAV PATH mode to meet
departure or waypoint restrictions
• If the resulting climb profile will not meet
upcoming altitude or speed restrictions during
the climbout, FMC will generate a “UNABLE
NEXT ALTITUDE” message in the scratchpad.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Naming Conventions, continued…

• T/C or Top of Climb, where Climb profile ends and
Cruise profile begins:
• FMC changes from Climb mode to CRZ or
Cruise mode
• Speed is controlled to Long Range Cruise speed
ECON speed, or pilot entered speed
• This phase continues until FMC calculated T/D,
or Top of Descent
• Next, after T/D, the modes used in the descent.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Naming Conventions, continued…

• At T/D, FMC enters VNAV Path (starting descent):
• The FMC now follows a profile vertical PATH
during descent
• Pitch is adjusted to maintain the calculated idle-
power descent path which will meet the speed
or altitude restrictions in the flight plan
• If the descent speed set in the FMC goes under
speed by 10 knots, the autothrottle will add
power;
• If it goes over speed by 10 knots, an FMC
message is generated “DRAG REQUIRED”.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Naming Conventions, continued…

• VNAV PATH continued…
• IF the speedbrakes do not provide enough drag
to reduce to the target speed, or
• the pilot elects not to use them, the FMC will
revert to VNAV SPEED to keep from exceeding a
limit airspeed
• When this occurs, an FMC message “DES PATH
UNACHIEVEABLE” is generated, and the aircraft
will no longer follow the Path required for
airspeed or altitude restriction compliance
• VNAV Path is only available while in LNAV.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Naming Conventions, continued…

• VNAV Speed (during descent):
• VNAV Speed is an idle descent at a given FMC
target speed, where pitch is varied to maintain
FMC target speed regardless of path
• The FMC can also revert from VNAV Path to
VNAV Speed if the path results in an overspeed
which is not corrected (as discussed on the
previous slide), or
• If another roll mode such as heading is selected
after LNAV and VNAV are engaged.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Naming Conventions, continued…

• E/D or End of Descent
• Calculated endpoint of descent at the runway
elevation and at approach speed, end of flight
plan
• Entering an instrument approach to a runway
into the FMC route places an E/D into the flight
plan
• VNAV PATH is not available if there is no E/D.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Naming Conventions, continued…

• Below 2000 feet AGL,
• TO/GA or Go-Around function is enabled,
• Activated anytime the TOGA button is pushed
• FMC will fly VNAV SPEED until level off on the
missed approach procedure, where it then
reverts to VNAV PATH.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Thrust Terminology
• FMC calculates a reference thrust for the following
modes:
• Takeoff, Derated takeoff, Assumed Temperature
takeoff
• MCT or Maximum Continuous Thrust
• Climb, Reduced climb
• Cruise thrust
• Go-Around thrust.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Thrust Terminology, continued…

• Derated thrust:
• Two fixed derates from max thrust are selectable
by the pilot during preflight on the N1 LIMIT
page of the FMC, TO-1 and TO-2 (approx. 5% or
10% thrust reduction)
• There are also two derated climb thrust settings
available, CLB-1 and CLB-2
 ACS 207 – FMS

Thrust Terminology, continued…

• Derated thrust:
• CLB-1 reduces the climb power by 3%N1 (or
approx. 10% less thrust), and CLB-2 reduces by
6%N1 (or approx. 20% less thrust)
• When using CLB-1 or -2, thrust gradually
increases during climb to reach full climb thrust
by 15,000 feet.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Thrust Terminology, continued…

• Assumed Temperature method:
• Setting a higher than actual temperature into the
FMC results in a lower N1 setting for takeoff,
therefore reducing thrust from the maximum
limit
 ACS 207 – FMS

Thrust Terminology, continued…

• Derate and Assumed Temperature method can be
used together (called Assumed off Derate),
• But in no case will the FMC allow a reduced thrust
less than 25% from max allowable thrust available
for the ambient conditions
• Using reduced thrust methods require crew to
recalculate takeoff reference speeds.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Failures
• If certain inputs the FMC uses fail, certain data
fields may blank, while other functions continue to
be displayed (i.e. fuel totalizer fails, all fuel
computations may be blank, but navigation
continues normally)
• If input loss will result in erroneous data, FMC
screen will blank to prevent misleading information
being presented.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Failures, continued…

• Single FMC failure, Right FMC:
• Screen blanks on right, “SINGLE FMC
OPERATION” displayed in both scratchpads
• VTK displayed on right Navigation Display
• If B autopilot in use, LNAV and VNAV disengage
• Failure information displayed in 25-30 seconds
• Placing FMC Source Selector in “BOTH ON L”
will restore right CDU operation with left FMC
(after referencing the appropriate checklist).
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Failures, continued…

• Single FMC failure, Left FMC:
• Both FMC’s display Menu page
• VTK displayed on left Navigation Display
• If on A autopilot, LNAV and VNAV disengage
• Failure information appears in 25-30 seconds
• Placing FMC Source Selector in “BOTH ON R”
will restore left CDU operation with right FMC
(after referencing the appropriate checklist).
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Failures, continued…

• Dual FMC failure:
• FMC alert lights illuminate
• Both screens display MENU page
• VTK displays on both Navigation Displays
• LNAV and VNAV disengage
• Failure information displays in 25-30 seconds
• Resume navigation by conventional means.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC System Operation for Flight …Let’s Go Flying!

• When aircraft electrical system is first powered up,

FMC will self-test and start up in Preflight phase
• Initializing and loading FMC data is in a logical
order, from initialization and preflight, takeoff,
climb, cruise, descent, approach and post flight
• Each phase of flight will have numerous associated
pages that can be accessed from the primary page
• We will cover the pages of the function keys and
many of their related pages….
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC System Operation for Flight, continued…

• Preflight page order is as follows (when data entry
is complete on each page, the FMC will put a
prompt at 6R for the next page to be filled in):
• Identification page “IDENT”
• Position initialization “POS INIT”
• Route entry “RTE”, when complete and
executed, changes to “ACT RTE”
• Performance “PERF” … continued …
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC System Operation for Flight, continued…

• … then Thrust settings “N1 LIMIT”
• And finally, Takeoff information “TAKEOFF REF”.
 ACS 207 – FMS

INIT/REF Function Key Displays:

• Pushing line select key 1L for the <IDENT prompt
will start the preflight sequence
• You must first identify the FMC has the correct
database, aircraft and engine data installed in its
memory…
IDENT Page:
• Starting from top left, reading across, CONFIRM the
entries are correct for your aircraft:
• Line 1L, 737 model (i.e. 737-800);
• 1R, Engine thrust rating (i.e. 26K);
• 2R, today’s date is within the date range
• Now push 6R for the next screen in loading order...
POS INIT or POSition INITializaiton page:
• Tells the FMC the exact location of where it is
• You can enter an airport identifier, gate position (if
in the database) or a lat/long position
• Confirm correct date and time
• IRS HDG is used in the ATT mode only.
RTE or Route page:
• Position 1L -- Origin will auto-fill if airport was
entered on POS INIT page, DEST (1R) is required
entry (boxed prompt); if a stored company route is
in the FMC, typing it in scratchpad then pushing 2L
will load the entire route; enter flight number at 2R.
• Enter departure runway at 3L
• If uplink installed,
push 3R to request.
 ACS 207 – FMS

RTE pages after entries completed…

…look like this for a flight from

KBFI to KMWH, loaded via a
stored route and departing on
Runway 13 Right
When we push the 6R prompt to
ACTIVATE, “RTE” will be
replaced with “ACT RTE”.
 ACS 207 – FMS

DEP ARR Key Pushed, Displays:

• Pushing the 1L “DEP” prompt will display (on the
next page) available SIDs on the left side of the
screen and runway choices on the right
• Pushing the 1R “ARR” prompt will display (on the
next page) available STAR’s on the left and runway
choices on the right.
 ACS 207 – FMS

(XXXX) DEPARTURES page from the “<DEP” prompt:

• KBFI DEPARTURES is displayed as that is the

departure airport. Pushing 1L will select the
LACRE3 SID, pushing 4L will select the VAMPS
transition of the SID selected, and 1R will select
runway 13 Right
• Until activated and
executed, “ERASE” is
available, and “ROUTE”
returns to RTE page.
 ACS 207 – FMS

DEP ARR page ARRival selection:

• Assume arrival airport in
RTE page is KATL
• Pushing “ARR>” line
select key displays this
“KATL ARRIVALS PAGE,
displaying STAR’s on the
left side of the screen,
and approaches and
runways (page down) on
the right side of the
screen.
 ACS 207 – FMS

KATL ARRIVALS page:

• The MACEY1 STAR has
been selected (“<SEL>”)
by pushing 1L
• After selecting a STAR,
the applicable
transitions are displayed
for pilot selection.
 ACS 207 – FMS

KATL ARRIVAL page, continued:

• This page shows that the MACEY1 STAR, the PSK
transition for the MACEY1 STAR, and the ILS
approach to runway 26 have been selected, BUT
NOT YET ACTIVATED (by pushing the EXEC key)
• At 2R and 3R, the
approach transitions
display for the ILS26
after its selection at 1R.
KATL ARRIVALS page, continued:
• After making all selections, which are the MACEY1
Standard Terminal Arrival Route with the PSK
transition to that arrival, then the PURPS transition
to the ILS 26 approach. All selections had “<SEL>”
next to each, and after pushing the illuminated
EXECute key, these selections are now an ACTive
part of the flight plan route.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Runway Options on the ARRIVALS page:

• Use NEXT PAGE to
scroll down list of
arrivals
• After last approach,
runway only selections
are displayed
• Selecting a runway only
allows adding
extension and FPA (as
installed).
PERF INIT or PERFormance INITialization page:
• Enter data required for VNAV calculations –
• 1R, enter cruise altitude
• 2R enter cruise wind
• 4R enter top of climb temperature
• 5L enter desired cost index
• 4L enter reserve
fuel available
• 3L enter Zero Fuel
Weight (Lbs.X1000)
• Other entries required
will fill in based on
above data entered.
 ACS 207 – FMS

PERF INIT page 2, titled PERF LIMITS page:

• RTA or Required Time of Arrival – After entering a
time constraint at a fix, the FMC will compute the
climb, cruise and descent speeds required to meet
that constraint.
• The RTA is placed on
the page brought up
with the RTA prompt
at 6R.
N1 LIMIT Page Display, While On The Ground:
• 1L – Enter Assumed Temperature (either C or F)
for reduced thrust takeoff
• Sensed OAT is displayed right of the “/”, manual
entry of OAT is permitted, displays in LARGE
numerals
• 2L, 3L, 4L used to
select max power,
derate 1 or derate
2 takeoff power.
 ACS 207 – FMS

N1 LIMIT page (on the ground), continued:

• 2R, 3R and 4R are used to select between Climb
power, Climb-1 or Climb-2 reduced thrust
• 1R is the computed max thrust N1 limit.
 ACS 207 – FMS

TAKEOFF REFerence page:

• At 1L, manually enter flap setting for takeoff
• At 1R, 2R, and 3R enter computed V1, Vr and V2
speeds from weight and balance data
• At 3L, enter the CG
• Trim setting will
automatically be
calculated by FMC.
 ACS 207 – FMS

TAKEOFF REFerence page, options:

• Takeoff Data REQUEST – If data uplink capability
installed, will upload data from W&B information
• After runway selection is entered on RTE page, an
intersection takeoff modification is available if
stored in the FMC.
 ACS 207 – FMS

TAKEOFF REFerence page, options continued:

• QRH option allows FMC to compute V-speeds
• Pilot-entered V-speeds option still available
• GW is current weight, TOW is pilot-entered if
lengthy taxi is expected
• QRH can be selected
ON or OFF as desired.
 ACS 207 – FMS

TAKEOFF REFerence page, options continued:

• Runway position update – provides accurate
position update for FMC
• Pushing 5R will cause
“CANCEL UPD” to pop
up at 6R, pushing EXEC
key will update position
or 6R will cancel.
 ACS 207 – FMS

TAKEOFF REFerence page, options continued:

• Page 2/2, enter actual wind or slope data at the
runway departure end if different than stored data
• With FMC computed V-speeds, adjustments for dry
or wet conditions.
 ACS 207 – FMS

TAKEOFF REFerence page, options continued:

• Takeoff altitude reference based on QFE or QNH
• Desired Cutback N1 thrust setting
• Assumed temperature reduction display
• Thrust reduction altitude
• Thrust restore altitude.
 ACS 207 – FMS

TAKEOFF REFerence page, options continued:

• 4L -- Without Cutback option installed, data field
displays ACCEL HeighT, altitude where aircraft will
pitch over to accelerate to flap retract speeds
• 4R – Option displays Engine Out ACCEL HeighT, or
altitude at which aircraft
accelerates when flying
engine-out procedure
(airline-entered data).
 ACS 207 – FMS

INDEX Prompt From Any Page Displays:

• Menu selections to access various pages
• Page selections can also be accessed from
prompts on other pages when displayed (logic)
• Offset discussed later in
this program MAINT is
maintenance function
• NAV DATA is discussed in
next slide.
 ACS 207 – FMS

NAV DATA Prompt Displays:

• This page is used to identify which stored
waypoint, navigation aid or airport in the database
that you want more information about
• Line selecting to the data
field desired will display
the information on a
subsequent screen.
 ACS 207 – FMS

NAV DATA Waypoint Information Screen:

• Line selecting a waypoint into the previous screen
displays this slide, the waypoint repeated at 1L
• Lat/Long coordinates displayed at 3L and 3R
• Magnetic variation for the location at 4L
• 5L and 5R is Navaid,
radial and distance the
waypoint is based on.
 ACS 207 – FMS

NAV DATA Navaid Ident screen:

• Line selecting a navaid identification into 1R on the
first REF NAV DATA screen displays this page, with
the identifier repeated at 1R
• 2R is the class of navaid
• 3L and 3R is Lat/Long
• 4L is frequency
• 4R is station elevation
• 5L is magnetic variation.
 ACS 207 – FMS

NAV DATA Airport Ident screen:

• Line selecting an airport identifier into 2L on the
first REF NAV DATA screen will display this page,
with the identifier repeated at 2L
• 3L and 3R display Latitude and Longitude of the
center of the airport
• 4R is airport elevation
• 5L is magnetic variation
• Putting a runway in 1L
brings up next screen.
 ACS 207 – FMS

NAV DATA Runway Screen:

• Entering a runway at 1L on the previous screen
displays this screen
• 3L and 3R is Lat/Long for the runway approach end
• 4R is the elevation of the highest point on the
runway
• 5L is magnetic variation
• 5R is runway length in
both feet and meters.
REF NAV DATA Summary prompt displays:
• Selecting the 6R “SUMMARY>” prompt will display
the Temporary Nav database summary and page 2
displays the Supplemental Nav database summary
• Temporary database stores pilot-created waypoints
and are deleted at the
end of the flight
automatically.
 ACS 207 – FMS

NAV OPTIONS page:

• Accessed from the NAV OPTIONS prompt on the
REF NAV DATA page
• Used to select VOR or DME stations that must NOT
be used for updating by the FMC
• Turn ON or OFF the GPS,
VOR or DME updating
functions.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Verify the Data Entered As Per Your Procedures:

• Either pilot can make CDU entries, but ALL entries

MUST be verified by the other pilot to trap errors
• Perform a “P” pattern CDU check of page entries
by using the following function keys on the CDU in
this order (traces a “P” shape on the CDU face):
• RTE, CLB, CRZ, DES, PROG, LEGS, FIX
• For takeoff, the Pilot Flying’s (PF) FMC should be
on the TAKEOFF REF page, and the Pilot
Monitoring’s (PM) FMC should be on LEGS page.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Pages Used In Flight, In Order, Starting With:

• TAKEOFF REF page to make last minute runway

changes and display the N1 target value,
automatically switches to CLB page when climb
power is selected
• DEPARTURES page to make last minute changes
to departure procedure
• CLB page to monitor climb performance and
predictions, and adjust climb speeds if necessary;
automatically switches to CRZ page at top of climb.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CLB or Climb Page:

• Displays selected CRZ altitude climbing to at 1L,
target speed at 2L, speed restriction at 3L, climb
N1 at 4R
• 3L, 4L and 5L have
prompts to select a climb
mode
• 5R brings up engine-out
performance page
• 6R brings up RTA page
for data entry.
 ACS 207 – FMS

CRZ or Cruise Page:

• 1L displays cruise, optimum and maximum altitude
• 2L displays target speed
• 3L displays turbulence N1 power setting
• 4L displays arrival fuel
• 1R used to enter a step
climb later in the flight
plan. More next slide…
 ACS 207 – FMS

More CRZ page:

• 2R normally shows time to and distance from the
top of descent point. If a step climb altitude is
entered at 1R, data field 2R will display the time
and distance to the start of the step climb
• 3R displays actual wind at current altitude
• 4L displays fuel at
destination prediction.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Cruise Climb:
• Enroute at cruise altitude, enter new cruise altitude
on the CRZ page, causing the “MOD CRZ CLB”
page to display
• Speed or climb mode selections can be made at 2L,
4L, 5L or 6L
• Erase prompt at 6R
• 2R displays time and
distance to new altitude.
Cruise Descent:
• Similar to CRZ CLB page, selecting a lower altitude
after level cruise flight will bring up:
• The “MOD CRZ DES” page
• Prediction to new altitude at 2R
• Fuel penalty for lower altitude at 4R
• Planned descent information at 5R
• Erase selection at 6R
• 6L Forecast page is
covered later in this
presentation.
 ACS 207 – FMS

ENGine OUT page for either CLB or CRZ:

• 1R displays maximum altitude aircraft is capable of
with engine inoperative at current gross weight
• 2L displays recommended speed
• 2R (CLB) or 3L (CRZ) displays N1 for good engine.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Engine-Out Cruise (above max altitude):

 ACS 207 – FMS

N1 LIMIT Function Key Brings Up This Page (in flight):

• 1L selects automatic computation of N1 limits for

all phases of flight
• GA, CON, CLB and CRZ are pilot selectable, and
N1 limits are displayed for each condition
• 6L and 6R can be used
to select between
reduced climb settings.
 ACS 207 – FMS

DES Function Key Displays DEScent page:

• Four descent modes available: ECON PATH,
manual Speed PATH, ECON SPeeD, manual SPeeD,
• 1L displays E/D or End of
Descent final altitude
• 1R displays active restriction
• 5L and 5R display descent
monitoring parameters.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Descent FORECAST page:

• Used to insert factors affecting descent rate:
• Forecast winds at different altitudes
• Use of Anti-Ice systems (increased idle N1)
• ISA deviations
• Transition Level.
 ACS 207 – FMS

PROG Function Key Displays the Progress Page

• Title page includes FLT number from RTE page
• Displays last waypoint altitude, ATA and fuel;
active waypoint, next waypoint and destinations’
Distance-To-Go, ETA’s and fuel predictions
• Distance to T/C or T/D
• Current fuel onboard
• Actual wind component
at current altitude.
 ACS 207 – FMS

PROG Page 2/4, or 2 of 4:

• 1L – Head / Tailwind, 1R Crosswind components
• 2L – Another actual wind component display
• 2R – Current SAT and ISA deviation display
• 3L – Crosstrack error
• 3R – Vertical Deviation
• 4L – GPS track
• 4R – True Air Speed.
 ACS 207 – FMS

PROG page 3 of 4, Required Time of Arrival:

• Enter fix needing RTA at 1L, ETA will appear at 1R
• Overwrite 1R with with RTA time
• All other fields will be calculated and displayed.
 ACS 207 – FMS

PROGress page 4 of 4, RNP:

• RNP = Required Navigation Performance, and ANP
or Actual Navigation Performance information
• For reference during flight
• Any parameters that are
exceeded will also be
accompanied by an
alert and scratchpad
message.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VERIFY POSITION Message In The Scratchpad:

• FMC checks RNP against ANP continually, but also
when RNP’s change (when going into approach
mode, for example)
• If “VERIFY POSITION” message is displayed, DO
NOT CLEAR THE MESSAGE – determine the
reason for the message, message will clear when
condition is corrected
• Do NOT attempt an approach using FMS guidance
with the VERIFY POSITION message displayed.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FIX Function Key Displays This Page:

• Used to define a pilot-entered fix whether or not it
is in the flight plan routing
• 1L – Enter the name of the fix (must be stored in
FMC database memory)
• 1R displays radial from
and distance from fix
• Can select points in
space base on this fix.
 ACS 207 – FMS

HOLDing Fix Function Key Displays:

• While on ACTive RTE LEGS page, pushing the
HOLD function key will display at 6L and 6R:

• Line select or type the fix at which a holding

pattern is desired, or
• Push 6R and FMC will enter a holding pattern at the
present position.
 ACS 207 – FMS

After entering fix, HOLD page displays:

• Page title is MODify RTE HOLD
• Fix is auto-loaded from previous LEGS selection
• Define holding pattern parameters at 2-5 L keys
• Fix ETA at 2R
• Enter EFC at 3R
• Hold time available
displays at 4R
• Best speed at 5R.
 ACS 207 – FMS

After EXECution, ACTive RouTE HOLD page 1:

• 2R displays next ETA over fix while in hold
• 4R and 5R Holding time Available and Best Speed
predictions will change as hold progresses
• Use 6L to enter another
holding pattern
• Use 6R to prepare the
FMC to exit the hold.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Now, the all important RTE LEGS page:

• One of three most used pages, besides PROGress
and CRZ pages
• Routing is entered on RTE page, individual leg
segments, courses and distances on RTE LEG
pages
• On this page you can add / delete / re-sequence
waypoints, link discontinuities, intercept a course
to a leg or fix
• These options are covered in the next slides….
 ACS 207 – FMS

RTE LEGS page: Add, delete, modify waypoints

• Page title is MOD if modifications are being made,
and ACT if executed and ACTive
• Waypoints listed on left side with course between
• Distance to fix is shown across from course
• Speed and altitude
predictions or
restrictions shown on
the right side of screen.
 ACS 207 – FMS

RTE LEGS page:

• To delete a waypoint, push the DELete function
key, which places “DELETE” in the scratchpad
• Line select the waypoint on the left which is to be
deleted
• Route discontinuity
appears after the
deleted waypoint.
 ACS 207 – FMS

RTE LEGS page, Resequencing Waypoints:

• Another way to move
or remove waypoints
without deleting them
• Line select the next
point to the scratchpad
• Then line select to the
new line desired.
 ACS 207 – FMS

DIR INTC (Direct Intercept) feature on the RTE LEGS page:

• Two ways to accomplish this, depending on the

CDU keyboard / option as installed on your aircraft
• Line select the desired waypoint you want to fly
direct to into 1L position
• MOD appears in page title, ERASE prompt at 6L,
and INTC CRS prompt at 6R, or…
• If installed, push the DIR INTC key, boxed prompts
appear at 6L “DIRECT TO” and 6R “INTC LEG TO”
• Example screens on next slide…..
 ACS 207 – FMS

DIR INTC Function Screens, as Installed…

 ACS 207 – FMS

A Direct To “XXX” example:

• Old active route was to CYN then ENO then OTT
• New clearance is “cleared direct to OTT”
• Line select OTT to the scratchpad, then to 1L
• After confirming the new changes are correct…
• Push EXEC key
• Direct OTT is now
the active route.
 ACS 207 – FMS

ABEAM PTS or Abeam Points option:

• In the previous example,
cleared direct OTT, but ATC
also says “Our radar is out,
report abeam CYN and ENO”
• When the route mod bypasses
existing fixes, the ABEAM PTS
option appears at 5R, pushing
that will place waypoints
abeam the old fixes into the
route
• Push EXEC key to activate
the changes.
 ACS 207 – FMS

RouTE DATA page:

• Available for any RTE
LEGS page, displays
wind component at that
waypoint
• FMC data in small font
• Pilot-entered data in
LARGE font, manually
entered from the flight
plan or uplinked if
available
• More accurate ETA’s.
 ACS 207 – FMS

MAP <CTR> Step Display option:

• When EFIS control panel mode selector is placed
in the PLAN position, ND is oriented to North up
• Pushing the 6R key “STEP>” causes the “<CTR>”
label to move down to the next waypoint
• The waypoint next to
<CTR> is in the center
of the ND display.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Lateral OFFSET function on RTE page:

• After takeoff, “OFFSET” is displayed in flight at the
6R line select key
• Pushing 6R will display a boxed prompt at 6L, in
which you can enter L or R and miles
• Used to offset X number of miles Left or Right from
the route centerline
• Since modern navigation systems are so accurate,
a method to prevent midair collisions.
 ACS 207 – FMS

DEP ARR function key inflight: Air Turnback

• Pushing the DEP ARR key
will display this top page 
• 1L or 1R – Select departure
or arrival procedures,
approaches and runways for
KBFI
• Pushing 1R will display this
 page.
 ACS 207 – FMS

INIT REF Function Key Use In Flight:

• After takeoff, INIT REF key will display APPROACH
REFerence information, such as:
• Vref speeds for various flap settings at the
current gross weight (which is displayed at 1L)
• Approach details
• Runway length
• Vref wind correction.
 ACS 207 – FMS

ALTN DEST Prompt Page:

• Page 1 of 6 can list up to five alternate destinations
• Pages 2 through 6 display data related only to each
of the specific airports listed on page 1
• Also displays:
• Routing via
• Distance to go
• ETA
• Arrival fuel.
 ACS 207 – FMS

LNAV Usage With The FMC:

• Once a complete route has been activated in the
FMC, the LNAV function uses the FMC’s
information to navigate the entire route
• LNAV can be engaged before takeoff, commands
wings level to 50 feet AGL, thereafter provides roll
commands to fly the active route
• When LNAV is engaged, VNAV can use the lateral
route information to compute a vertical profile.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV Profile, Takeoff To Cruise Altitude:

 ACS 207 – FMS

Unexpected Level Off While in VNAV:

• During unrestricted climb, ATC calls “Ethiopian
123, stop climb and maintain Flight Level 190”
• LNAV stops at FL190 as limited by altitude selector
on the Mode Control Panel (MCP)
• When cleared higher, push AIS or VNAV.
 ACS 207 – FMS

At cruise, MCP Speed Intervention Switch (SIS):

• With VNAV engaged, pushing the SIS allows pilot
selection of speed with the IAS / MACH window on
the MCP
• FMC will use the selected speed in computing
vertical profile.
 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV PATH Descent profile:

 ACS 207 – FMS

VNAV SPEED Descent profile:

 ACS 207 – FMS

DEScend NOW, Path Versus Speed:

• Used when ATC requires starting descent BEFORE
the FMC-calculated T/D (Top of Descent point), as
in “Ethiopian 123, begin your descent now”
• Use the 6R “DES NOW” prompt that is present on
the DES page anytime in cruise before descent
mode is active
• PATH = 1000 fpm down, SPD = Idle thrust descent.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Approach mode:

• Transitions to “On Approach” mode when:
• Aircraft is within 2 miles of first approach
waypoint, OR…
• Aircraft is below 2000 feet AGL, whichever
occurs FIRST
• Approach features available:
• MCP can be set to missed approach alt
• If >200 feet below path, commands level off.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Integrated Approach Navigation (IAN, if installed):

• Provides capability to fly most FMC non-precision
instrument approaches similar to ILS procedures
• Line select an IAN-compatible approach into FMC
• Provides lateral and vertical (3°path) guidance for
VOR, VOR/DME, NDB, GPS and RNAV approaches
• Provides vertical deviation information for
backcourse (BCS), LOCalizer and ILS with G/S off
or inoperative approaches
• Flown to CAT I minimums with or without autopilot.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Go-Around function initiated by:

• Below 2000’ AGL on approach descent, initiated by:
• Pushing TOGA in approach mode
• Passing the runway end point and FMC cycles
to first point in the missed approach procedure
• Selecting direct-to any fix in the missed
approach procedure displayed in the flight plan
after the runway end point.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Go-Around, continued … Once G/A is initiated:

• FMC transitions from active descent to active climb
• N1 thrust limit changes to Go-Around thrust
• All descent altitude constraints below the current
aircraft altitude are deleted and replaced with
predicted altitudes
• The destination airport now becomes the origin
airport allowing selection of SID’s for a diversion to
another airport
• LNAV should be engaged at 400 feet AGL, VNAV
should be engaged only after flaps are retracted.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Alerting Messages notes:

• Relate to operationally significant conditions
affecting FMC operation
• Use the CLR clear key to clear message after both
pilots are aware of it.
• Message displayed in the CDU scratchpad
• Illuminates amber FMC alert lights
• Illuminates MSG message light on both CDU’s
• Reference aircraft manual for corrective actions
• Use the CLR clear key to remove message display.
 ACS 207 – FMS

FMC Advisory Message notes:

• Related to FMC conditions for pilot awareness
• Message displayed in the CDU scratchpad
• Illuminates the MSG message light on both CDU’s
• Reference the aircraft manual for more information.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Summary
 ACS 207 – FMS

Review…
• The Flight Management System (FMS) is comprised
of five components: Flight Management
Computers, Autopilot/Flight Director System,
Autothrottle, Inertial Reference System, and GPS
• Each is an independent system, used individually
or in various combinations
• FMS performs navigational and performance
computations in its computers, and provides
control and guidance commands to the flight crew.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Review…
• It uses two computers (Flight Management
Computers, or FMC’s) in synchronization with each
other. It receives inputs from numerous aircraft
sensors, and inputs from the pilot
• The left FMC is primary, but can be pilot-selected to
make the right FMC primary
• CDU’s allow the crew to enter the desired flight
path routing and performance parameters into the
FMC.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Review…
• The FMC and CDU provide the pilots with flight
management tool which performs navigational and
performance computations, and calculates
commands for lateral (LNAV) and vertical (VNAV)
navigation from takeoff to touchdown, and controls
thrust limits and inputs via the N1 LIMIT page
• The FMC contains a navigation database and a
performance database
• FMC uses a mathematical combination of GPS, IRS
and radio navigation to determine position.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Review…
• Cost index entered determines the efficiencies
calculated by the FMC – Zero is minimum fuel burn
regardless of time, up to 500 for maximum
speed/minimum time enroute regardless of fuel
burn
• Preflight screen logical progression is helped by
using the prompt at 6R when screen entries
complete – message generated “PREFLT
COMPLETE”
• Two derate selections and assumed temperature
method may be used to reduce takeoff thrust used.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Review…
• Two derate settings can be selected to reduce
climb power, full climb power restored at 15,000’
• Various colors are used to denote different data
purposes – Green = active; Shaded White =
Modification pending; Magenta = Active LNAV or
VNAV data; Cyan = Inactive
• Anytime data is modified, BOTH pilots MUST verify
the data change before it is EXECuted, which is the
last step in making it ACTive.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Review…
• FMC pages used in order of flight are TAKEOFF
REF, CLB, CRZ, DES, HOLD (if needed)
• The total mileage displayed on the PROG page
after preflight entries are complete is an excellent
way to verify the correctness of the route
• PROGress page is used throughout flight to
monitor flight progress
• ECON in the page title means the FMC is
computing the most economic speeds and profiles
based on the cost index entered.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Review…
• ACT in the page title means it is an Active page or
function
• MOD in the page title means a Modification of data
is in progress
• VNAV PATH uses pitch to follow the computed
vertical path with idle thrust
• VNAV SPD uses pitch to maintain selected
airspeed regardless of any path.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Review…
• Small font indicates and FMC-calculated predictive
entry,
• LARGE FONT indicates a restriction entered as
part of a stored procedure, or manually entered by
the pilot
• RNP = Required Navigation Performance, accuracy
95% of the time within required distance
• ANP = Actual Navigation Performance, what
accuracy level at which the FMC is actually
performing.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Review …
• Dual FMC failure is not the end of the world, simply
return to conventional means of navigation
• Always confirm, double-check and verify entries
into the FMC before activating and executing to
trap errors – garbage in, garbage out
• NEVER clear a “VERIFY POSITION” message – find
its cause and it will clear itself when the condition
is corrected.
 ACS 207 – FMS

Review