Southwest Airline pilot, you copy?

Capt.Ed · Post by **Capt.Ed** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 7:35 am

I would like to know from the swapilot if he can give me some advice on the deployment of flaps on the approach to land, as far as when to start adding 1,2,5,10,15,etc. at what point from the airport. I fly the pmg 737-700 and of course my airline is southwest flight 386. I am glad that we have an expert on board for the technical questions. Thanks.

Capt Ed

swapilot · Post by **swapilot** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 8:39 am

The PMDG is about as accurate a replica of a 737 that I have seen. It does capture many of the flight characteristics of the 737. That being said, at idle, and level flight, the 737 usually loses 10 kts of airspeed for every 1 mile of distance. So as far as planning an approach, I would approach the field at @250kts until @ a 12 mile final. At that point power to idle an then configure on speed. And what "configure on speed" means is that the PMDG 737 also includes the MASI indication as the real 737NG's do. You will notice a green line with a number on it when you select a flap setting. That is your minimum speed allowed for that flap setting. When you select flaps 1 the green line with a number 1 will appear. At this point you should be at idle all the way until final flaps. When your airspeed gets right at the flaps 1 line, select flaps 5. Now a flaps 5 green line will appear. when your airspeed gets to the 5 line go "Gear Down" and select flaps 15. Then on speed select final flaps 30 or, if required, flaps 40. All of this also is with the understanding that you are capturing the glideslope from below, ie: 2000 or 3000ft MSL. If ATC has kept you high then you will have to adjust by slowing earlier, and even using the gear down earlier as a help to descend. The other end of the MASI you will see a red band that creeps down when you select flaps. That is the flap selection MAXIMUM speed. Do not exceed this speed, or allow your airspeed to touch this band. If so, your airplane must be inspected for a flap overspeed occurrence. Good luck with your approaches.

Capt.Ed · Post by **Capt.Ed** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 9:15 am

swapilot wrote:The PMDG is about as accurate a replica of a 737 that I have seen. It does capture many of the flight characteristics of the 737. That being said, at idle, and level flight, the 737 usually loses 10 kts of airspeed for every 1 mile of distance. So as far as planning an approach, I would approach the field at @250kts until @ a 12 mile final. At that point power to idle an then configure on speed. And what "configure on speed" means is that the PMDG 737 also includes the MASI indication as the real 737NG's do. You will notice a green line with a number on it when you select a flap setting. That is your minimum speed allowed for that flap setting. When you select flaps 1 the green line with a number 1 will appear. At this point you should be at idle all the way until final flaps. When your airspeed gets right at the flaps 1 line, select flaps 5. Now a flaps 5 green line will appear. when your airspeed gets to the 5 line go "Gear Down" and select flaps 15. Then on speed select final flaps 30 or, if required, flaps 40. All of this also is with the understanding that you are capturing the glideslope from below, ie: 2000 or 3000ft MSL. If ATC has kept you high then you will have to adjust by slowing earlier, and even using the gear down earlier as a help to descend. The other end of the MASI you will see a red band that creeps down when you select flaps. That is the flap selection MAXIMUM speed. Do not exceed this speed, or allow your airspeed to touch this band. If so, your airplane must be inspected for a flap overspeed occurrence. Good luck with your approaches.

Thanks for that info. I will try that on my next approach into midway.

WAD3 · Post by **WAD3** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 3:50 pm

Thanks that is fantastic info.

Andrew

gunsontheroof · Post by **gunsontheroof** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:44 am

Something new to try, maybe I'm willing to give up the autothrottle for awhile...

b737 · Post by **b737** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:32 pm

Hey swapilot. Are you based in MDW. I live in Big D, but based in Kmdw. Better seniority.

I'm a Captain. Are you Captain or F/O. If F/O, perhaps we have flown together, or at least ran into each other in the lounge....or better yet...Mr. C's

.

I'm very impressed with Fly Tampa version of KMDW! Been off since Feb 2004 due to OJI, but hope to return to the line late Aug/Sept. timeframe. I am SO READY!

It's always cool to see other RW pilot's using flightsim. I've been using FS since the Commodore days. I used FS when I made the vids you guys watch during EPT. Man, the cool stuff we could show now.

Time permitting, drop my a PM or email sometime.

RE: MDW approaches. Also, keep in mind folks, runway 4R has a steeper glideslope than 31C. SO, if ATC has you high on 4R, you might consider configuring slightly earlier than on 31C.

Wanna have some real fun...take your viz down to approx 3 miles, set your winds around 130 and 25kts or so. Then do the ILS to 4R, with a circle to land on 13C. Get's quite interesting...especially with that viz.

Any rate, have fun. Take it swapilot and myself who fly out of MDW...Martin and team have nailed it!

Best,
David

swapilot · Post by **swapilot** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:40 am

David,

Based in MDW, as an F/O. Also have used FS since my Commodore 128 days, and am amazed at how far it has come. Hope to see you on the line soon, or in the crew lounge. PM is disabled in this forum so I couldn't send you this message. Take care.

b737 · Post by **b737** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 2:57 pm

Hey swapilot, Feel free to contact me via Email: dwbarnett@comcast.net

Would love to talk to you.

Best,
David

Southwest Airline pilot, you copy?

Southwest Airline pilot, you copy?

Thanks swapilot