I noticed how current version of this marvellous A32NX is not supporting vertical navigation. I’m still a newbie of airliners and I’m used to airplanes where altitude/speed are not such a big issue to be planned too much in advance.
I’m not really satisfied about my very first attempts to get to the first STAR waypoints. Everytime I’m too fast, or too high… or both.
I wonder how you plan your descend with this specific airplane, do you let autothrottle engaged or not? Do you use airbrakes? Do you use the simple use of 3? (3 miles per 1000 feet)
Yes, especially with the MSFS ATC it’s a bit tricky. And the A320Neo is a slippery plane. So what can you do to have a nice approach:
- Initial descent with open descent. Let the plane do its job.
- Below ~FL180 or 18.000ft switch to V/S and use a vertical speed of 2300-2500 ft/min. You can switch to selected speed and reduce the dial a bit, if you like.
- Approaching 10.000ft (below 13.000ft) reduce your vertical speed (~2000ft/min) and apply speedbrakes (half) if needed to slowly slow down to 250kts. You can switch to selected speed if you like and already dial in the 250. Don’t forget to retract/arm your speedbrakes when their job is done.
- Below 10.000ft you should have enough space to descent to final approach alt. Apply the flaps at the according speeds, this also helps you to slow down.
In general:
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never touch your thrust levers after initial climb, when they are in CLB position. If you change their position, autothrust will not work! They are kept in CLB until the “retard” callout comes from the plane just before touch down. Then you pull them to idle.
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If you’re not flying with ATC (IFR), the roule you mentioned is accurate to begin your descent from crz level. E.g. if you’re on FL330, begin the descent at about 100NM from airport.
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Yeah I’m not using atc for MSFS one being too crazy to me. Thankyou for the great advices just one question. What you mean with open descent in your nr 1? Is it a planned quote with full autothrottle but automatic descend rate accordingly to set speed?
No wind calculation for TOD to any altitude
(Present Altitude) - (Target Altitude) = (Altitude to lose)
Now drop the last three digits and multiply by 3. The result is the NM distance from your target point/target altitude that you need to start descending. You should factor in winds and slowing down the aircraft also.
FL330 to 2000 feet at the IAF
33000 - 2000 = 31000
31 x 3 = 93
Begin Open climb descent at 93 NM from whatever fix you have to cross at 2000 ft.
If strong headwind reduce the number of miles
If strong tailwind increase the number of miles
Here is a TOD Calculator that takes into account all I posted above but also includes winds and allows you to choose a descent rate. The A320 will descend around 2500-3000 fpm in open descent mode. You can control this by changing the airspeed you are descending at. Faster airspeed will increase descent rate and slower will decrease it, in open descent mode.
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Work In Progress
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Open descent occurs if you pull out (click on the bottom of) the altitude knob in the fcu. In open descent, there are no constraints on the descent. If you push the knob (click on the top), you get managed descent and in that case, it will adhere to any constraints programmed into the fmgc; i.e. crossing restrictions for STARS, minimum altitudes for step down fixes, etc.
Yes, Boeing calls it FLC (flight level change). Your autothrottle goes to idle and the managed speed is held with the descent rate.
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That’s very interesting. I had no idea FLC was a Boeing way to say things. Thank you all for the very kind and in-depth replies.
Thank you for the link…
I suggest this guy. He’s a real A320 pilot and (amongst other videos) explains how to set up and fly an A320 in detail (sometimes even with our mod). You can get a pretty good background there:
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Oh yes. Actually were his videos to trigger my questions… simply because I was missing some basic knowledge on Airbus environment. As said I’m very new on airliners and the few experience I had were on a B737.
Now every puzzle piece is taking its place. Thankyou again to all
Why by 3? Because average speed is close to 300knots.?