Finished that flight, but there's was some error during transition from Arrival (STAR) to Instrument Approach (IAP), but I think I fixed that. I'm doing another test flight (well, 2 actually as I want to see how the FMGC resets when you start a flight after another) So this one is Merlion Flight 741 from Penang (WMKP) to Singapore Changi Intl. (WSSS). We'll be using MIAData_v3.1's Company Route > MIAPENSIN1 for this flight. Winds suggest I take off at Runway 22 in Penang and land on Runway 20R at Singapore. We want to use the IKIL1D Departure Procedure for Departure from WMKP-22 and LELI1B for Arrival and ILS20R for Approach to WSSS-20R. (The route, SID, STAR and IAP for WMKP and WSSS are included in git)
Departure > IKIL1DArrival > LELI1BNow, on to the aircraft...
Start up normally, turn the Brightness Knob on the mCDU to full and click on INIT to initialize the Flight-plan. Type in
WMKP/WSSS and click on LSK-R1 (The one next to FROM/TO).
NOTE: That's simply to search for available routes and select one. If you already know the CO_RTE ID, you can simply enter that in the CO_RTE Field (LSK-L1)
Now, when you search for available routes from WMKP to WSSS, it takes you to this search results page, where you get the route ID on top and the route in the center. We're going to select that route so now, click on LSR-R6 (*INSERT>)
The mCDU automatically enters the selected route ID and initializes a flight-plan. Now, you need to enter the other fields on the INIT_A page, like the CRZ FL, TEMP, Cost Index, Flight Number and Alternate Airport/Route (not yet effective but you CAN enter it).
For Cost Index, any number from 0 to 999 is acceptable. A realistic value will be around 28 to 35. This flight is merlion's MIA741, so that's what I entered in the Flight Number Field. For Alternate Route, you need it in the forum ICAO/CO_RTE_ID, for example (WMKK/MIASINKUL2) and for CRZ FL/TEMP, it has to be ---/TEMP, for example if the cruise altitude is 33000 ft, and the temperature at FL330 is -36 degrees C, you enter 330/-36. (To get the '-', click on +/- on the mCDU key pad twice)
Now, click on either the RIGHT or LEFT arrows to move on to INIT_B (aka. FUEL PREDICTION). If you have a well planned Company Route (all the Routes in the MIAData_v3.1 DB work good), the mCDU predicts the total flight time. You get the fuel blocks and total trip time in the TRIP/TIME Field. (Green Fields cannot be edited, cyan can). Btw, the maximum fuel capacity is 30.2 blocks, you can use that as reference. Now, I want about 2 blocks in reserve if I need to divert to my alternate airport (WMKK), so I type in 2/0 in the RTE RSV/% Field. Note that you can also type in RSV Fuel in Percentage with the following format - 0/6 means 6%. If you type in Blocks, it calculates percent and vice-versa. You can also enter the Fuel in Blocks you want to have and how long it'd last when you arrive in the FINAL/TIME field.
ZFW is the Zero fuel weight of the aircraft in 1000 lbs and ZFWCG is the CG of ZFW. By default, the values are 125.5 and 25.5 but you can change it accordingly. Now, enter the fuel in blocks you have on board in the BLOCK Field. (A very good value will be TRIP + RTE RSV + FINAL but I put in a bit more) EXTRA/TIME shows the extra fuel in blocks you'll have and how long that'll keep you in the air for. (0110 means 110 minutes, I still need to convert it into HHMM format)
And using your entries, the mCDU calculates TOW and LW. It's important that ZFW is correct as the TOW/LW calculation is based on that and blocks.
Now, you can go into the RAD NAV page and enter the radio frequencies. I entered 108.90 in the ILS/FREQ Field as that's the frequency for ILS-20R at WSSS. Then for VOR1 and VOR2, you can EITHER enter the Frequency or the VOR ID. For example, I entered NKS in VOR2 and it automatically fills in the FREQ.
Now, let's go into the F-PLN page. This page shows us the whole flight plan for the flight. From here, click on LSK-L1 (The button next to WMKP) to select Departure Procedure (SID)
In the general LAT REV FROM xxxxx page, you can enter next waypoint, in the NEXT WP Field, add a new destination after this wp in the NEW DEST Field or Direct to (Sorta like JUMP TO) this waypoint by clicking on DIR TO>. In other waypoints (not possible for Departure and Destination), you'll have the DEL WPT option to delete the selected waypoint. Now, click on <DEPARTURE to select a SID.
In the DEPARTURE FROM WMKP Page, select an available runway for departure. (The winds from 249, so I selected runway 22) The runway ids are on the left, runway lengths on the center, course and widths (ft) on the right. Just click on one of the Left LSKs next to the runway to select it.
Once you select the runway, you get to the page with available SIDs (Note that you can scroll through runways and TPs with the up and down arrows). Click on an LSK next to the SID you want. I'll be selecting IKIL1D.
Now, in the SID Confirmation page, click on TMPY INSERT to confirm the SID you selected. If you want to re-select a sid, click on TMPY ERASE.
Now, go back to the Flight-Plan and click on the LSK next to WSSS (DEST) to select an arrival procedure.
Now, click on <ARRIVAL.
Select a runway for the landing (I'll be selecting 20R)
And a STAR for arrival into that runway (I'll be selecting LELIB2B.20R)
And ofcourse, confirm it. Note that the FMGC already enters approach and missed appraoch procedures for 20R automatically.
Now, back to the F-PLN. You should notice runways next to the Departure and Destination. Here's something else... we can't fly this route normally as the last waypoint in the route is AFTER the first waypoint in the STAR, so we need to delete our last waypoint (VJR)
Scroll down to the bottom of the F-PLN (using the Down Arrow Key) and click on the LSK next to VJR.
In the LAT REV page, click on DEL WPT to remove that waypoint and return to the flight-plan. You'll see that VJR has been removed.
Now, to set the AP (NOT ENGAGE)... We'll manage speed and altitude manually (even though the FMGC can do it automatically) and heading with FMGC. Click on the HDG knob to set it to MANAGED MODE.
Now you can do the other checklists and stuff, and have a nice flight.