Cockpit Preparation

This guide will help you with preparing and powering up the Airbus A380.
It includes images to help you understand the locations of all buttons and switches.

Disclaimer

This is for simulation purposes only.

The level of detail in this guide is meant to teach an Airbus A380 beginner to start the aircraft correctly.

A beginner is defined as someone familiar with flying a GA aircraft or different types of airliners. Aviation terminology and know-how is a requirement to fly any airliner, even in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

This guide simplifies the process of starting the aircraft to accomodate beginners and the fact that this is a simulation. More advanced sim pilots can use the A380X SOP directly.

When this guide refers to ATC it is referring to any Online ATC network but NOT the built-in ATC in the simulator as this is very unrealistic and unreliable.

Prerequisites

This guide assumes that your aircraft is in a cold and dark state at a gate.

Download FlyByWire Checklist

Pre-checks

What and Why

Before starting the aircraft, we need to ensure that all switches are in the correct position. This is to prevent any damage to the aircraft systems and to ensure that the aircraft is ready for flight.

(Of course, this is not an issue in the sim, but in real life it is crucial to check this!)

ENGINE MASTER SWITCHES (1, 2, 3, 4) .................................. OFF
ENGINE START SELECTOR................................................ NORM
LANDING GEAR LEVER .................................................. DOWN
BOTH WIPER SELECTOR .................................................. OFF

How and Where

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

TODO: images or link to flight-deck

After these pre-checks, we can start the aircraft starting with the initial power up.

Batteries Check.External Power

What and Why?

The initial power up is the first step in starting the aircraft. This is where we turn on the batteries and external power to provide power to the aircraft systems.

The batteries are the first source of power for the aircraft. The external power is used to provide power to the aircraft systems when the engines are not running. The aircraft needs at least two external power units to power the whole electrical network.

ALL BATT pb-sw (BAT1, BAT ESS, BAT 2, APU BAT) ....................... OFF
ALL BATT .............................................. CHECK AT LEAST 25V

How and Where?

The batteries can be checked using the battery selector on the overhead panel.

ALL BATT pb-sw (BAT1, BAT ESS, BAT 2, APU BAT) ........................ ON
- If the AVAIL light is on:
EXT pb-sw (2, 3, 1, 4) ................................................ ON
ALL IR MODE selectors ....................................... OFF then NAV

ADIRS Alignment

It is recommended to align the inertial references as soon as possible. The initialization may take some time. It is also recommended to complete a full alignment if this is the first flight of the day, the flight crew has changed, the GPS is not available to all segment in the flights, or that the pilot expects long segments with low NAVAID coverage. It is recommended to perform a fast alignment for all other flight conditions.

COCKPIT LIGHTS ................................................... AS RQRD

<p style="color:yellow; font-size:18px;">TODO: images or link to flight-deck</p>

Fire Tests and APU Startup

What and Why?

The fire tests are done to ensure that the fire detection system is working correctly.

The APU startup is done to provide power and bleed air to the aircraft systems when the engines are not running.

Turning on and setting up the radios at this point is also important in case of any emergencies.

RMP 1 and 2 ....................................................... ON/SET
APU and ENG FIRE TEST ............................................ PERFORM

Fire Test Result

Verify that the fire detection systems and extinguishing systems are functional by checking the following items:

A constant repetitive chime sound, the master warning light flashes on the glareshield, the ECAM displays the engine fire alert messages (ENG 1(2)(3)(4) FIRE, APU FIRE, MLG BAY FIRE), All engine fire pushbutton and the auxiliary power unit fire pushbutton displays in red, the squib light of the engine and apu agent pushbuttons are illuminated, the disch light of the engine and auxiliary power unit agent pushbuttom illuminates and all fire lights on the engine master panel illuminates.

APU ................................................................ START
- When the APU is AVAIL:
AIR COND panel ....................................................... SET
EXT pb-sw ......................................................... AS REQ

External Power

It is recommended to keep the external power units to ON to reduce the APU load in hot weather conditions.

How and Where?

TODO: images or link to flight-deck

Cockpit Preparation Flow

The cockpit preparation flow is an easy way to remember the steps to startup and setup the aircraft correctly. It follows a flow starting on the overhead panel on the left buttom moving up and then to the right. Then it continues the flow on the main panel starting and moving to the pedestal, setting up the FMS to then continue to the glareshield. At last the lateral consoles are checked and set up.

Normally, the flow is done by the two pilots in the cockpit. The First Officer (FO) does the overhead panel, main panel, pedestal, and his side of the cockpit for the glareshield, lateral consoles and his MFD.

The Captain does his side of the cockpit for the glareshield and lateral consoles and his MFD.

In the simulator, we are usually alone, so we will do the flow on our own.

Overhead Panel from left to right and bottom to top - prepare
Main Instrument Panel - prepare
Pedestal - prepare
MFD (see Preparing the FMS)
Glareshield - set and crosscheck
Lateral Consoles - Oxygen Mask Test
Windows - check closed/locked
PFD/ND - check

Overhead Panel

What and Why?

We scan the overhead panel from left to right and bottom to top to ensure that all switches are in the correct position.

Overhead Panel Left (bottom to top)

ALL WHITE LIGHTS ..................................................... OFF
RECORDER GROUND CTL pb ................................................ ON
EVAC CAPT/CAPT & PURS sw ............................................ CAPT
PROBE & WINDOW HEAT pb-sw ........................................... AUTO
EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER (ELT) ................................ ARMED

How and Where?

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

All White Lights

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Recorder Ground Control

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Evac Capt/Capt & Purs

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Probe & Window Heat

TODO: insert image of probe & window heat or link to interactive flight deck

ADIRS All IR Mode

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Emergency Locator Transmitter

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Overhead Panel Center (bottom to top)

STROBE sw ........................................................... AUTO
BEACON sw ............................................................ OFF
NAV sw ................................................................ ON
REMAINING EXTERIOR LIGHTS .....................................AS REQUIRED
SEAT BELTS ............................................................ ON
NO SMOKING .......................................................... AUTO
EMERGENCY EXIT LIGHTS ................................................ ARM
ENGINE START selector ............................................... NORM
APU BLEED pb-sw ....................................................... ON

APU BLEED

It is not recommended to use the auxiliary power unit bleed system if a high-pressure ground air unit is connected to the aircraft. This can be checked on the bleed page of the system display. If there is pressure in the bleed air system, the high-pressure ground air unit is connected.

XBLEED selector ..................................................... AUTO
AIR FLOW selector ................................................... NORM

AIR FLOW

The bleed system works with the flight management system. If there is no number of passengers entered into the flight-management-system, the airflow will be automatically set the air flow like when the value entered is the maximum number of passengers. If the number of passengers is entered, the airflow will automatically adjust to that number.

CKPT selector ................................................ AS REQUIRED
CABIN selector .................................................. PURS SEL
TRIM TK FEED ........................................................ AUTO
MAINTENANCE PANEL ALL LIGHTS.......................................... OFF

How and Where?

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

Strobe

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Beacon

TODO: insert image of beacon or link to interactive flight deck

Nav

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Remaining Exterior Lights

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Seat Belts

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No Smoking

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Emergency Exit Lights

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Engine Starter

TODO: insert image of engine starter or link to interactive flight deck

APU Bleed

TODO: insert image of APU Bleed or link to interactive flight deck

Xbleed

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Air Flow

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CKPT

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Cabin

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Trim TK Feed

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Maintenance Panel All Lights

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Overhead Panel Right (bottom to top)

CARGO AIR COND ............................................... AS REQUIRED
RADIO MANAGEMENT PANEL 3 .............................................. ON
STBY RAD NAV ......................................................... OFF
CVR TEST ........................................................... PRESS

How and Where?

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

Cargo Air Cond

TODO: insert image of cargo air cond or link to interactive flight deck

Radio Management Panel 3

TODO: insert image of radio management panel 3 or link to interactive flight deck

Standby Radio Navigation

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CVR Test

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Main Instrument Panel

SWITCHING PANEL ..................................................... NORM
INTEGRATED STANDBY INSTRUMENT SYSTEM ............................... CHECK
LANDING GEAR GRAVITY SYSTEM .......................................... OFF
CLOCK ............................................. CHECK/SET AS NECESSARY
ANTI AKID (A-SKID) ................................................... ON

How and Where?

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

Switching Panel

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Integrated Standby Instrument System

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Landing Gear Gravity System

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Clock

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Anti Akid (A-Skid)

TODO: insert image of anti akid (a-skid) or link to interactive flight deck

Pedestal

PARKING BRAKE ........................................................ ON
BODY ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE ............................... CHECK/REINFLATE
THRUST LEVERS ...................................................... IDLE
THRUST REVERSER LEVERS ........................................... STOWED
ENGINE MASTERS (1, 2, 3, 4) ......................................... OFF
COCKPIT DOOR SWITCH ................................................ NORM

MFD

On the MFD SURV/CONTROLS page:
XPDR ............................................................... STBY

Preparing the FMS

How and Where?

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

Parking Brake

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Body Accumulator Pressure

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Thrust Levers

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Thrust Reverse Levers

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Engine Master Switches

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Cockpit Door Switch

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ATC Clearance

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Navigation Charts

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MFD Surveillance Default Settings

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At this point, the Flight Management System (FMS) should be initialized. See Preparing the MFD for more information.

Glareshield

INTEGRAL LIGHTS ............................................. AS REQUIRED
BAROMETRIC REFERENCE ................................................ SET
NAVIGATION DISPLAY (ND) MODE AND RANGE ........................... AS REQ
WEATHER RADAR ............................................... AS REQUIRED
OTHER EFIS OPTIONS .......................................... AS REQUIRED
FLIGHT DIRECTOR ...................................................... ON
NORTH REF ........................................................... MAG

North Reference

It is recommended to ensure that the “TRUE” message does not appear on the primary flight display or on the HDG/TRK display.

SPD/MACH, HDG / TRK, V/S / FPA display ........................... DASHED
ALTITUDE display .................... INITIAL EXPECTED CLEARANCE ALTITUDE
AUTO FLIGHT SYSTEM CONTROL PANEL ............................. CROSSCHECK

How and Where?

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

Integral Lights

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Barometric Reference

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Navigation Display (ND) Mode and Range

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Weather Radar

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Other EFIS Options

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Flight Director

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North Reference

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SPD/MACH, HDG / TRK, V/S / FPA display

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Altitude Display

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Auto Flight System Control Panel

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Lateral Consoles

OXYGEN MASKS TEST ............................................... PERFORM
DOOR SD PAGE REGUL PR LO indication ................. CHECK NOT DISPLAYED
SLIDING WINDOWS LOCKED .................................... CLOSED/LOCKED

How and Where?

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

Oxygen Masks Test

TODO: insert image of oxygen masks test or link to interactive flight deck

Door SD Page Regul PR LO Indication

TODO: insert image of door SD page regul PR LO indication or link to interactive flight deck

Sliding Windows Locked

TODO: insert image of sliding windows locked or link to interactive flight deck

Pilot Briefing

As the last step the pilots would conduct the takeoff briefing:

TAKE OFF BRIEFING ............................................... PERFORM

How and Where?

Take Off Briefing

TODO: describe briefing

This concludes the Starting the Aircraft guide.

Continue with Preparing the FMS.