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Preparing the Flight Management System

This guide will help you prepare the Flight Management System in the A380X for your departure. It includes a simple route that you can use to follow along easily and replicate in the simulator.

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.

The simBrief route used in this guide:

TODO: update/insert downloadable OFP

Download simBrief OFP

AIRAC Updates

Please note, we may update this OFP and guide from occasionally to ensure it is current with the latest AIRAC provided by the simulator or external nav-data.

Prerequisites

Below are a few Prerequisites before starting programming the FMS.

Visit Starting the Aircraft to learn more.

  • Make sure the aircraft is powered up.
    • External Power OR APU
  • Make sure the ADIRS are set to NAV.
  • Have a valid flight plan.
  • Ensure IFR clearance has been obtained.

Requesting IFR Clearance when using an Online ATC Network

Before departing for the flight, we must obtain an IFR clearance from ATC. The clearance may be obtained from clearance delivery or another specific frequency, depending on the airport and available services.

If you are not flying on a network and are using the built-in ATC menu, simply find the appropriate selection in the menu and request for IFR clearance.

Clearances will usually provide the following information below. As a pilot, you would need to read back the clearance correctly or acknowledge it if using the built-in ATC menu.

  • Cleared to the destination via specified route in the filed flight plan.
  • Initial cleared altitude after departure.
  • Assigned SID for departure OR radar vectors
  • Assigned departing runway.
  • Transponder/squawk code.
  • Departure frequency.

Additional reading material: The CRAFT mnemonic

FMS-Setup - Chapters

TODO: describe the MFD, FMS and the process for setting it up.

Flight-Plan

TODO: update docs for importing flight plan manually, and the process for setting it up.

Discontinuity

TODO: update this section with DISCO procedures, identify changes from 32NX.

A380X simBrief Integration

TODO: update/complete this

This section has been moved to our dedicated simBrief Integration feature guide.

After setting up the MCDU, continue with Engine Start and Taxi