Where'd you learn?

[Foxtrot Sport]

Okay, I see all these payware planes with 'fully functional FMC' and TCAS and other systems like that.  Including now some Freeware by way of that iFly plane.  Anyways, that is all STILL way over my head in terms of flying a plane.  As advanced as I get is usually a posky or something, that have no realistic systems.  

So, where, when, and how did you guys learn how to use all those functional systems and ultimately, how to properly fly something of that nature?

[G-EORGE]

I've picked a lot of info up from reading magazines, like Airliner World etc; also you can ask questions on the Professional Pilots' Rumour Network (pprune.org) - although the answers you get will generally be  pretty technical.

However, the beauty of the simulator of course is that you can fiddle about and experiment as much as you want, picking things up as you go along.

[wji]

Every type I fly is from cold & dark. I learn all the start-up procedures and how to turn everything on and, finally, how to operate all onboard system including FMC (FMS) GPS, etc., etc.,

How you say?

By studying (reading just won't cut-it) the manuals accompanying each system and test-flying until I can start and stop everything as required.

"That's a heckuva lot of work!" you say. Yes it is. It's even a lot of work to keep current on each type. That's why I'm not adding anymore new planes; I can barely keep current on the ones I have.

Another important point regarding manuals sometimes one has to have them printed out to study while away from the sim. We all wanted it as real as it gets so now that we have it, I say: "Deal with it."

Yes, I'm a realworld instrument rated pilot and throughout my  training I had a slogan written on a banner over my desk. It read: "It is effort that educates." That part does not appear to have changed.

P.S. thanks for asking  

[Ecko]

During my work experience I got to fly four jumpseat flights with Cimber Air (small danish regional airline), and they actually walked me through the FMC programming, startup and everything of an ATR-72. It was so great!!

So I bought the Flight/DreamFleet2000 ATR-72, tried to start it from cold, and program the FMC. And I pretty much succeeded within 20 minutes (with some help from the manual).
So that was very easy, two hours of pure fun flying with real ATR-72 pilots, and about 10 minutes of reading.


The Level-D 767 was another matter though!!
As I haven't ever seen a real life startup of a 767 (FMC programming is that different), it was very hard, so I headed for the manual. Read a lot, then read some more, then tried about 10 times, and failed, then finished reading, and still failed to start her up and fly her properly.
So I got some help from an MD80 pilot I know, but since he isn't trained on the 767 he couldn't help me with everything, but he got me the real Boeing 757/767 CBT (Computer Based Training), which was extremely useful.
So I finally get familiar with the systems and I can now fly her properly. Very proud!


Me best advice is; Get some help. from a real airline pilot.

It's hard work learning this stuff, but worth it in my opinion.

[Nexus]

Well, nobody is really self-taught.
We all start somewhere with zero knowledge about those kind of systems.

In my case it all began with Dreamfleets 737-400 for FS2000. The FMC manual was (and IS) fantastic.
Granted, going from zero experience to an FMC wiz will take time. Also add the other complex systems of a real world airliner, and you're in for many hours of reading.

BUT, the most important thing is to think logical.
Understand the reasons why you push button X and button Y, and not "because the manual says so".

Speaking for myself: I'm still learning something new everyday, and this is coming from a guy who has passed the real 737 theory exams:)
That's the beauty of aviation, you'll never know everything  ;D

[Midnight_LS1]

What I do is I print out all the manauls

(not the flight data such as payload, etc. Just the manuals how to operate the aircraft and it's systems)

Sit in a chair for a good hour to two and read through them (remember, RTFM)  then I go and mess with it on the comp  ;)

If I got a problem in the middle of it, I'll go back to the manauls.

[vololiberista]

Like some of the guys on here i'm a real pilot (since 1987).
The best advice I can give is to find the manual for the aircraft and print it out. (Real pilots HAVE TO use real printed manuals for every stage of every flight). Doing it from memory is dicing with death, and in the eyes of the CAA a criminal offence!!

Practice start up / shut down pprocedures etc.  Then do some taxiing in order to familiarise yourself with the engines.

Then try a couple of touch and go's followed by local area flights. When you are confident you can handle the aircraft.

Remember that a good landing is one you can walk away from!!!!!

vololiberista

[Mees]

i learn from expirience, just doing for example: park your level-d 763 on a ramp and look at all the systems, click 'em all and if you see, hmm. Nothing happens , okay. but if a major difference appears, check the manual for an example

[Viper22]

I've picked up tons of info through the learning center, mainly on ILS and VOR.  That should help

Viper

[simonmd]

All of the above! With complicated jet aircraft systems, most are basicaly the same, from a 737 to an A340. You just need to find each switch. ie, From cold and dark on a heavy jet,

Get power, either battery or ground supply,

Put appropriate lights on to signal you have power,

Get air, bleed air needed to start first jet engine so either connect to ground air or start the APU,

Switch the appropriate air valves on so it is being feed to the engine and not the aircon system,

Get ignition, find switch for ign' on and to spool up the first engine,

Get fuel, make sure the pumps are on and being feed to the engines. Make sure the starting engine's fuel cut off is switched so it gets fuel when the N2 reads 20% or over.

Once the first engine is started, switch it's generator on and you can disconnect ground supply.

This is basicaly the same for any complex aircraft whether it be the PMDG 737 or LDS 767, etc. It's just getting to know the switch layouts.