A Typical Flight

This section describes a typical flight to illustrate the use of the checklists and the main instruments. You should read all the instrument documentation before reading ths section.
This flight takes place in America, between MMCN Ciudad Obregon Intl (Mexico) to KPHX Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (USA). The aircraft is the United Airlines A320 by Project Airbus. This scenario begins with a dark and cold cockpit (all engines OFF, all power OFF), spoiler and flaps retracted, main exit opened.

Startup and Taxi | Check-list
The first thing we need to do is to switch batteries ON and avionics ON. | Batteries: ON Avionics: ON
As engines are OFF, all Generators should be OFF. | Generators: OFF
All the passengers are on board, we can close the doors. | Doors: CLOSED
At this time, we can turn NAV lights ON. | Nav Lights: ON
The ADIRS must be checked to make sure they are correctly aligned (check with your position on the airport). | ADIRS: Checked
Fuel: The quantity of fuel should be enough for our flight. Here we have a little more than 19 tons (almost maximum load), which is more than enough for this flight which should last around one hour and a half, including reserves. | Fuel Quantity: Checked
The ATIS should be listened to have the latest weather information. I write down the current runway in use and the altimeter setting. We can set COM2 frequency to 126.700, and switch COM2 ON on the audio selector. ATIS indicates runway 31 is in use, and altimeter should be adjusted to 30.09 inHg. Now we can switch COM2 OFF. | ATIS: OK
Then we need to load the flight plan, using the Flight Planner of FS2002. The flight level will be FL330 (33000 feet), I have to set this cruise altitude on the FMGC. | Flight Plan: Loaded FMGC Cruise Alt: Set
Now it is time to contact the ground frequency to copy the IFR clearance to Sky Harbor. I write down the departure frequency and enter the squawk code that was requested on the transponder. We will now pushback and start the engines at the same time... | IFR Clearance: OK Transponder Code: OK
The throttle lever should be on the IDLE position | Throttle: IDLE
Then the SD screen is set to display DOOR page, to make sure all doors are closed. | DOOR Page: Checked
Now the Beacon light is turned ON, and the seat bealts and no smoking signs are switched ON, the parking brakes are still set. | Beacon: ON Seat Belts: ON No smoking: ON Parking brakes: Set
Taxi clearance is requested. MMCN is a small airport, so we do not need to change the COM1 frequency to request IFR taxi clearance. | Taxi Clearance: OK
Once cleared for taxi to runway 31, we can switch taxi lights (Nose) ON, release parking brakes and begin pushback. | Taxi light: ON Parking brakes: Released
During pushback, the engines are started by turning the engine starter switch to the IGN/START position. | Engine Starter: IGN/START
N2 values must be watched for each engine. As soon as it has reached 20%, the fuel valves must be opened (you can use Shift-Ctrl-1 and Shift-Ctrl-2 keys for this) | Fuel Valve: OPEN
When engines are started, the engine starter switch should turn back to the NORM position. | Engine Starter: Checked
The SD screen should now display the WHEEL page. Otherwise, it means something is wrong... | SD Page: Checked
Immediately after startup, both Generators must be turned ON. Otherwise, a BATTERY warning is triggered and the ELEC page is displayed on the SD to indicate an electrical problem. | Generators: ON
The navigation chrono can be turned ON at this time to count the running time of the engines. You can decide to turn it on at another moment if you wish. | Nav Chrono: START
Before taxiing, the elevator trim should be adjusted for take-off (centered), and the flaps must be positioned for take-off: you can use the 1+F or 2 position. | Elev Trim: Centered Flaps: 2
The rudder trim is centered, the spoilers are armed and the Flight Director is turned ON. The aircraft is now ready for taxi. | Rudder Trim: Centered Flight Director: ON
With the Project Airbus A320, a little thrust is enough to begin taxi, and IDLE power is enough to maintain taxi speed (20 to 30 knots). | Taxi speed: 20-30 kts
During taxi, the brakes should be tested to make sure they work properly. | Brakes: Tested
Depending on the weather, you can turn ON the probe and engine anti-ice if you wish. Here it is not necessary. | Probe Heat: As needed Anti-ice: As needed
The standby altimeter must be set to the ground altitude so that it displays 0 (it will give you the ground altitude). | Stdby Alti: 0
Take-Off and Initial Climb |
Before asking for the take-off clearance, all the systems must be checked to make sure there is no alert. | Systems: OK
As soon as we have take-off clearance, the departure frequency is entered as the COM1 standby frequency. | Take-off clearance: OK Departure freq: Entered
I switch OFF taxi lights (Nose) and switch ON landing lights and strobe lights. | Taxi light: OFF Landing lights: ON
Auto-brake is set to RTO (Rejected Take-Off) and spoilers are armed, in case of an aborted take-off. | Strobe Lights: ON Auto-Brake: RTO Spoilers: Armed
By pressing the TO-CONFIG key, the take-off checklist appears on the E/WD. Everything is green, showing the aircraft is ready for take-off. | TO-CONFIG: Checked
The aircraft is now aligned on the runway, ready for take-off. As the runway is not that long and the aircraft is heavy, we decide to take-off with a flap configuration of 2 and FLEX power. You can choose the TOGA power if you wish, but FLEX is better to reduce the engine temperature. | Flaps: 2
For take-off, the stick is pushed half-way forward, and throttle lever is slowly pushed to the FLEX position. | Throttle: FLEX
The aircraft accelerates on the runway. When it reaches 80 knots, the stick is pulled back to the neutral position. When Vr is reached (around 140 knots), the stick is pulled to leave the ground. | Vr, Rotate
As soon as positive vertical speed is confirmed, the landing gear must be retracted, spoilers must be disarmed and auto-brakes must be switched OFF. | Landing Gear: Up Auto-Brake: OFF
Initial climb should be conducted with a climb angle around 15° (depending on the aircraft weight), corresponding to an airspeed close to the ideal speed indicated on the PFD. | Climb angle: 15-20°
We are now requested to contact the departure center. As the frequency is ready to be used, COM1 frequencies just have to be swaped to have it set (key Shift-Ctrl-F). | Departure freq: Set
When the ground altitude (shown on the standby altimeter or the radio altimeter) reaches 1500 feet, throttle lever is pulled back to the CL position. It shouldn't move from here during the whole flight. I can also turn landing lights OFF. | Throttle: CL Landing lights: OFF
At this time, the automatic systems of the A320 can be used: speed is set to managed mode by pulling the speed button on the FCU. Doing this, the FMGC will automatically determine the best airspeed depending on the aircraft configuration. The throttle lever does not need to be touched any more. | Speed: Managed
Suggestion: ND can be switched to ARC mode for more convenience. | ND Mode: ARC
End of Climb - Cruise |
As the aircraft keeps climbing, the flaps are progressively retracted, and the aircraft accelerates to 240 knots below 10000 feet as ATC instructions are followed. The flight management system can be used also for altitude and route following: heading and altitude buttons are pulled on the FCU to set managed mode. | Flaps: retracted Altitude: Managed Heading: Managed
Then the transition altitude of 18000 feet is reached. It is time to switch Seat Belts sign OFF and make sure the flaps are completely retracted. | Seat Belts: OFF Flaps: 0, Checked
The altimeter setting flashes to indicate that it should be switched to standard mode. Pressing the button, STD appears instead of the altitude setting. The aircraft keeps on climbing, following the route programmed in the FMGC. | Altimeter: STD
At 32500 feet (500 feet below the cruise altitude), a beep is heard that indicates the cruise altitude is about to be reached. The aircraft slowly climbs to the cruise altitude of 33000 feet, accelearting to the cruise speed of Mach 0.80. |
The cruise altitude is reached about 20 minutes after take-off. During the cruise, the crew is supposed to monitor the SD and E/WD to make sure all systems and fuel quantities are OK, and make sure the route is correctly followed by the aircraft, even if cross wind is strong. Today, we have about 60 kts of cross wind, and the heading is corrected by the FMGC to take this into account. | Systems: Checked Fuel qty: Checked Route: Checked
Descent |
ATC asks for an altitude change to flight level 280, it is time for descent. The target altitude is changed on the FCU, and this triggers the descent on the FMGC (a beep can be heard). Heading and speed keep on being managed. | AP Altitude: Entered FMGC: Descent
As we go down, we arrive to the transition altitude again, in descent. The correct pressure must now be set on the altimeter. You can get this value by interrogating an ATIS nearby or by waiting for the next radio contact with the ground. The Seat Belt sign can also be switched ON. | Altimeter: Set Seat Belts: ON
Later on the descent, the ATC asks us to turn to a heading of 320°. The aircraft stops following the planned route (the route now appears in yellow on the ND). At this time, the DIRECT key of the FMGC is pressed to indicate that we will now fly direct to the destination airport. | AP Heading: Set FMGC: Direct mode
The ATC also gives the runway in use at the destination airport. This runway is selected on the FMGC destination airport page, and as auto-tune is activated, the correct ILS frequency and course will be automatically set. | FMGC: Runway selected
When the aircraft is close to the airport (around 40 miles), COM2 frequency is set to the ATIS frequency of the destination airport, that can be read on the FMGC or the ND. For Sky Harbor, it is 121.200. COM2 is selected on the audio selector to hear the ATIS. The LS switch can be pressed to activate ILS information on the PFD. | ATIS: OK LS: ON
At this distance, the ILS frequency and course are automatically set for approach (auto-tune). The dashed line appears on the ND to indicate the runway heading. | ILS course: Checked
Landing |
Following the ATC instructions, we arrive near our destination airport. Flaps are progressively extended, and the FMGC maintains a correct speed depending on the aircraft configuration. | Flaps: As needed
ATC finally guides the aircraft to the localizer of our destination runway. It is time to extend the landing gear and make sure it is down and locked. | Landing Gear: Down and locked
Suggestion: The ND can be switched to LS mode, and Navid 1 and 2 can be switched OFF to increase ND readability during final approach. | ND mode: LS Navaid 1 & 2: OFF
Then Landing Lights are turned ON, the spoilers are amed for automatic extension on the ground, and the auto-brake should be set as necessary. | Landing lights: ON Spoilers: Armed
Even if the visibility is perfect, I decide to make an automatic landing. When aligned on the localizer and glideslope, the aproach mode is selected on the FCU by pushing the APPR button. The auto-pilot now keeps the aircraft aligned on the approach path. | APPR mode: Armed
For the Autoland to work, the auto-throttle is engaged, the auto-brake must be set on the MED or MAX position and the second autopilot AP2 must be turned ON. | Auto-throttle: Checked Auto-Brake: MED AP2: ON
The aircraft keeps descending. As it reaches the decision height, a beep is heard and the message AUTOLAND appears on the E/WD. | AUTOLAND: Checked
I keep my hands on the throttle and stick, just in case something is wrong. Fortunately, everything works great this time again... |
The aircraft lands on the runways. As soon as it touches the ground, spoilers are deployed, engine reverse is engaged, and automatic braking begins. | Spoilers: Extend, Checked Braking: Checked
The aircraft goes slower and slower until it comes to a complete stop. I had my hands ready, but they did nothing... As the aircraft stops, the auto-brake should turn OFF automatically. | Auto-Brake: OFF, Checked
Taxi - Parking |
Now I take the control of the aircraft again. Auto-brake is OFF, the spoilers can be retracted, landing light can be switched OFF and the taxi light ON. As I begin taxiing, the flaps and slats can be retracted. | Spoilers: Retracted Landing lights: OFF Taxi lights: ON Flaps: Retracted
As soon as the aircrafts leaves the runway, I am requested to switch to the ground frequency to taxi to the parking point. | Ground frequency: Set
To the parking place, the aircraft cn be switched OFF. First, parking brakes must be set, then Generators must be switched OFF just before engines are shut down by closing fuel valves. Lights can be switched OFF (taxi and strobe lights). The passengers can be released and allowed to smoke... and doors can finally be opened (check the DOOR page on the SD). | Parking Brakes: Set Generators: OFF Engines: OFF Taxi light: OFF Strobe light: OFF Seat Belts: OFF No smoking: OFF Main exit: Opened
As I want to leave the aircraft, Avionics can be turned OFF, just before Batteries. The aircraft is now dark and cold, ready to start again... | Avionics: OFF Batteries: OFF

The flight duration was 1 hour 10 minutes, and my A320 burnt around 4.5 tons of gas. Nice flight...