Problem: AP will following FPLAN waypoint headings and speed but NOT altitude. No matter what I do, I can click managed 50 times, I can manually create waypoints with assigned altitudes, it won’t follow them. I can go DIR to a waypoint with spd/altitude and it won’t follow the altitude. Help!
I’ve seen youtube videos of the AP following waypoint altitudes… unless they were edited, which seems silly. Hoping it’s something i’m doing wrong.
Aircraft: A320neo V2 (same problem with a330-200r)
Flightplan: Simbrief (example plan)
Highlights of my procedures related to MCDU/FMC/NAVIGATION: (I’m leaving out obvious procedures, like flaps, trim, etc.)
Before takeoff
- Cold start, batteries/start APU/fuel pumps, adirs 1/2/3 set to nav
- Import Simbrief FP and upload the following data to the FMC:
○ Flight plan
○ Payload (fuel, weights)
○ Takeoff calculations
- INIT flight plan on MCDU
- On MCDU, setup departure and arrival RWYS/SIDs in FPLAN
- On MCDU, clear FPLAN discontinuity if necessary
- On MCDU, load ZFW/ZFWCG from FP and calculate fuel
- On MCDU, input trip wind
- On MCDU, import Simbrief takeoff data (V1, v2, etc)
- Start engines
- On MCDU, verify all waypoints on FPLAN are complete. Verify speed/altitude data, fuel calcs, aircraft weight, rad nav numbers
At take off
- Enable FD 1&2, set speed/HDG/Alt knobs to managed. (Dot next to their corresponding numbers)
- Take off, once off the ground, set thrust levers to CL and enable AP1/Autothrottle