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pmdg [2022/05/03 15:39] declanpmdg [2023/10/13 21:02] (current) declan
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 Here you will find initial tips and tricks to get you started, specifically with the pmdg 737. It is our belief that once you have mastered the 737, the 747 and 777 aircraft will be relatively similar and should take much less time and effort to master. We will update this section with relevant tips for the 747 and 777 as and when.  Here you will find initial tips and tricks to get you started, specifically with the pmdg 737. It is our belief that once you have mastered the 737, the 747 and 777 aircraft will be relatively similar and should take much less time and effort to master. We will update this section with relevant tips for the 747 and 777 as and when. 
  
-===== Important prerequisites ===== +===== Important prerequisites for p3dv4 and above ===== 
-We would ask that you download our options files, configured by those who use the PMDG most in our community. These will ensure that the aircraft starts in cold and dark, as well as ensuring the autopilot is more BVI friendly on takeoff. The program [[https://secure.simmarket.com/flight-simulator-innovative-addons-flight-simulator-first-officer-professional-edition-fsx-p3d.phtml|Flight Simulator First Officer Pro]] is also recommended to help with the aircraft systems in general, and you will find many videos from the dev on his own site. Flight Simulator First Officer Pro is very configurable, and this config aims for stability and gets the most out of the program by enabling most of the automated functions available. The read me which comes with this folder will explain where to place the files. +We would ask that you download our options files, configured by those who use the PMDG most in our community. These will ensure that the aircraft starts in the long panel state with the GPU connected, as well as ensuring the autopilot is more BVI friendly on takeoff. The program [[https://secure.simmarket.com/flight-simulator-innovative-addons-flight-simulator-first-officer-professional-edition-fsx-p3d.phtml|Flight Simulator First Officer Pro]] is also recommended to help with the aircraft systems in general, and you will find many videos from the dev on his own site. Flight Simulator First Officer Pro is very configurable, and this config aims for stability and gets the most out of the program by enabling most of the automated functions available.  
 +{{pmdg options files.zip|Download options files}} 
 Note: Note:
-This config is for first officer pro 2.04which does not have the options to program the FMC. Version 2.05 is the latest and does have these options, however there are some issues with the interface for BVI pilots at present.+This config is for first officer 2.04. We strongly recommend you use this version which is downloadable from our [[softwares|downloads]] page. This is because 2.05 has certain accessibility drawbacks that have not as yet been addressed.  
 + 
 +You will of course also need [[https://www.talkingflightmonitor.com/|Talking Flight Monitor]], the program created by members of our own BVI Pilots community which gives access to the FMC, and some of the panels, in the 737, 747 and triple 7 line up of aircraft. 
 + 
 +You can also find a guide here in text form which is aimed to help you set up a CDU and complete your first flight. This along with using the tutorial from the Blind Flightsimmer youtube channel will get you in the ballpark on the 737 series of aircraft. 
 + 
 +{{cdu_quickstart.zip|download cdu quickstart guide}} 
 + 
 +===== Prerequisites for Microsoft flight simulator ===== 
 + 
 +For FS2020 you will instead require the latest tfm preview which can be found at [[https://www.talkingflightmonitor.com/preview-releases/|tfm preview page]] 
 + 
 +You will also require first officer next for the pmdg 737 which can be found at [[https://secure.simmarket.com/flight-simulator-innovative-addons-first-officer-next-pmdg-737-msfs.phtml#:~:text=Flight%20Simulator%20First%20Officer%20Next,copilot%20to%20share%20cockpit%20responsibilities. |first officer next]] 
 + 
 +Currently the PMDG 737-600, 700, 800 and 900 packages are available for purchase and can be purchased independently. 
 + 
 +We also offer pre-configured config files for the pmdg 737 options file and first officer next which can be found at {{fs2020_config_files.zip|Download options files}} 
 + 
 +The pmdg options file is particularly important to ensure that your data broadcasting is enabled correctly and should be placed at: 
 +C:\Users\yourname\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\packages\pmdg-aircraft-738\work 
 + 
 +This location is if you have the simulator on the microsoft storewhich is highly recommended.  
 + 
 +Note you will need to change the aircraft identifier to 737, 736, 739 ETC to find the folder path of the particular aircraft you are inserting the file for. Each aircraft is independent and requires it’s own options file. 
 + 
 +Note also that the first officer config is designed not to program the fmc for you. You will therefore need to insert your IRS position yourself unlike in p3d, and furthermore program the fmc as normal. If you require this feature to be on you can change this in the user.dat file. The file will also disable the boarding of passengers within first officer, but again this can be reenabled if you wish. 
 +This file should be located at
 +C:\Program Files (x86)\Flight Simulator First Officer Next\Data 
 + 
 + 
 +You can also find a guide here in text form which is aimed to help you set up a CDU and complete your first flightThis along with using the tutorial from the Blind Flightsimmer youtube channel will get you in the ballpark on the 737 series of aircraft. 
 + 
 +{{cdu_quickstart.zip|download cdu quickstart guide}} 
 + 
 + 
 +===== pmdg 747 quickstart guide ===== 
 +We also offer a quick guide for the 747 which covers completing a flight with the slight FMC differences represented. Thanks to a member of the community, Tower, for writing the majority of the information. 
 +{{747 fmc.zip|download cdu quickstart guide for 747}} 
 + 
 +AS mentioned above you can download the full group of pmdg aircraft options files to configure the options within the aircraft itself. This includes the 747
 {{pmdg options files.zip|Download options files}} {{pmdg options files.zip|Download options files}}
  
-You will of course also need [[https://www.talkingflightmonitor.com/|Talking Flight Monitor]], the program created by members of our own BVI Pilots community which gives access to the FMC, and some of the panels, in the 737, 747 and tripple 7 line up of aircraft. 
  
 ==== Initial tips and tricks ==== ==== Initial tips and tricks ====
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 We also encourage you to use your own initiative and to search for videos online. Aviation pro, doofer 911, and matt Davies are all good youtube channels with educational resources, but there are so many out there we cannot provide a full list. The videos by blindflightsimmer in a further videos section on this page will also help from a blind pilots perspective.  We also encourage you to use your own initiative and to search for videos online. Aviation pro, doofer 911, and matt Davies are all good youtube channels with educational resources, but there are so many out there we cannot provide a full list. The videos by blindflightsimmer in a further videos section on this page will also help from a blind pilots perspective. 
 The advantage of the PMDG is that the sighted community can access it in just the same ways as us. TFM's CDU, for example, is set out in such a way as to mirror it's counterpart in the real aircraft, meaning that videos or tutorials providing detailed info on how to set it up can be followed just the same. The advantage of the PMDG is that the sighted community can access it in just the same ways as us. TFM's CDU, for example, is set out in such a way as to mirror it's counterpart in the real aircraft, meaning that videos or tutorials providing detailed info on how to set it up can be followed just the same.
-Therefore, rather than exploring how to set up the panels or CDU, we will focus in on a few tips for using the specialist softwhere talking flight monitor and first officer pro.+Therefore, rather than exploring how to set up the panels or CDU, we will focus in on a few tips for using the specialist software talking flight monitor and first officer pro.
  
 When you download the pmdg 737 NGXU and flight simulator first officer pro, to make things easier for you, you will find in this folder download links to a user.cfg and an options.ini. These have been configured so that you will have minimal work to do in terms of finding options to enhance your user experience. When you download the pmdg 737 NGXU and flight simulator first officer pro, to make things easier for you, you will find in this folder download links to a user.cfg and an options.ini. These have been configured so that you will have minimal work to do in terms of finding options to enhance your user experience.
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 The connect button, to connect to the flight sim once FSFO is loaded. The connect button, to connect to the flight sim once FSFO is loaded.
  
-the voice button, to toggle voice listening off or on. We encourage you to press this once first officer is loaded and then use the no smoking sign to toggle listening instead to minimise tabbing back and forth. You can even assign the no smoking signs to a button on your joystick if you prefer, this can be done in the p3d key binding options.+the voice button, to toggle voice listening off or on. We encourage you to press this once first officer is loaded and then use the no smoking sign to toggle listening instead to minimise tabbing back and forth (note this is not available in msfs). You can even assign the no smoking signs to a button on your joystick if you prefer, this can be done in the p3d key binding options.
  
-The VCHK button, this turns on the automatic voice replies to checklists. Press it once first officer has been loaded if you wish to have checklist items responded too automatically. Do not press if you want to use your mic to respond to checklist items via voice yourself.+The VCHK button, this turns on the automatic voice replies to checklists in p3d. Press it once first officer has been loaded if you wish to have checklist items responded too automatically. Do not press if you want to use your mic to respond to checklist items via voice yourself.
  
-The options button will open the dialogue to adjust various parameters, but much of the dialogue is mislabelled. We strongly encourage you to instead use the text config for adjusting options to avoid mistakes. +The options button will open the dialogue to adjust various parameters in p3d, but much of the dialogue is mislabelled. We strongly encourage you to instead use the text config for adjusting options to avoid mistakes. 
- +The BRF button, or performance in msfs. This takes you to the briefing page which should be filled out before departure. Again, much here is mislabelled, but it is generally possible to figure out what each box is for. The import flight plan will open a dialogue for you to brows to the pln file you got from simbrief to be imported. This will prefill much for first officer prof, whilst next for msfs can automatically pull the flightplan from simbrief without you carrying out this step 
-The BRF button. This takes you to the briefing page which should be filled out before departure. Again, much here is mislabelled, but it is generally possible to figure out what each box is for. The import flight plan will open a dialogue for you to brows to the pln file you got from simbrief to be imported. This will prefill much for first officer. We recommend you tick the download wx box, so that first officer will find the local pressure ETC and perform relevant tasks, and also the tune ILS checkbox. This means first officer will tune the frequency to the nav radios in the 737 before landing. The blank eddit box next to the set ILS checkbox is to choose the arrival runway to be tuned. By majority, the rest of this dialogue can be left as is. There are boxes to choose arrival flap settings, arrival minimum altitudes, departure pac settings ETC, but these can be left on default options if you wish. First officer is able, for example, to pull the flap settings you enter into the fmc in the takeoff and landing performance pages and use them for it's purposes, meaning that if you do not adjust these boxes in the briefing, you will not notice any opperational differences.+We recommend you tick the download wx box, so that first officer will find the local pressure ETC and perform relevant tasks, and also the tune ILS checkbox. This means first officer will tune the frequency to the nav radios in the 737 before landing. The blank edit box next to the set ILS checkbox is to choose the arrival runway to be tuned. By majority, the rest of this dialogue can be left as is. There are boxes to choose arrival flap settings, arrival minimum altitudes, departure pac settings ETC, but these can be left on default options if you wish. First officer is able, for example, to pull the flap settings you enter into the fmc in the takeoff and landing performance pages and use them for it's purposes, meaning that if you do not adjust these boxes in the briefing, you will not notice any operational differences
 +NOte that in first officer pro 2.05, some of this information can be obtained automatically from your simbrief plan. The first officer can further program the CDU to an extent, although elements such as your sid and star will be left to you. 
 +Note: you will find many of these options in a menu in msfs's version of first officer, FSFO next. Hitting alt brings up this menu, and dialogues can be expanded and will only disappear if you return to the menu and click on the name of the dialogue once again. See the videos section for fuller demos of FSFO next
  
 you will First open the doors with ctrl E. FSFO should begin the start-up flow. You will hear ground power establish eventually, and the position entered into the FMc amongst other things. Whilst this is happening, you can bring up the fmc with left bracket ctrl C in tfm. you will First open the doors with ctrl E. FSFO should begin the start-up flow. You will hear ground power establish eventually, and the position entered into the FMc amongst other things. Whilst this is happening, you can bring up the fmc with left bracket ctrl C in tfm.
 It will appear in the prior-mentioned format.  It will appear in the prior-mentioned format. 
  
-Here then, you see how first officer performs flows automatically when events are trigured. When you are ready to close the doors and do so, it will begin the before start flow and start up the APU.+Here then, you see how first officer performs flows automatically when events are triggered. When you are ready to close the doors and do so, it will begin the before start flow and start up the APU.
  
-So far you have seen that much of the systems opperation, aside from the CDU, can be performed by first officer pro. As you grow in experience with the aircraft, you will see that you learn the flows that are performed on the overhead panels. If you wish to do anything on these panels, from starting the APU or engines yourself, you can. By hitting left bracket followed by ctrl + P, you can bring up TFM's panel dialogue. This treeview has various panels you can access, before tabbing through the various elements within this panel. +So far you have seen that much of the systems operation, aside from the CDU, can be performed by first officer pro. As you grow in experience with the aircraft, you will see that you learn the flows that are performed on the overhead panels. If you wish to do anything on these panels, from starting the APU or engines yourself, you can. By hitting left bracket followed by ctrl + P, you can bring up TFM's panel dialogue. This treeview has various panels you can access, before tabbing through the various elements within this panel. 
 A video on how to start engines manually is linked in the videos section of this page. A video on how to start engines manually is linked in the videos section of this page.
  
 Another key example in using these panels may be in reconnecting the ground power after landing and when parked up. You can request chocks and a GPU in the FS actions/services section of the CDU, but will need to use the TFM electrical panel to turn the ground power on, and to shut off the APU by turning generators off followed by the APU master switch. Another key example in using these panels may be in reconnecting the ground power after landing and when parked up. You can request chocks and a GPU in the FS actions/services section of the CDU, but will need to use the TFM electrical panel to turn the ground power on, and to shut off the APU by turning generators off followed by the APU master switch.
 +  Note that in the latest TFM preeviews, the APU controls are located in the new engine section after TFM's panel re-design.
      
 === Tutorial videos === === Tutorial videos ===
 For a full flight example with video walk-through, see the following videos. You can cross-reference them with much of the documentation that is provided with the aircraft itself.  For a full flight example with video walk-through, see the following videos. You can cross-reference them with much of the documentation that is provided with the aircraft itself. 
-The following two tutorials were created by Blindflightsimmer on the PMDG 737 NGXU:+The following two tutorials were created by Blindflightsimmer on the PMDG 737 for msfs:
  
 part 1: part 1:
  
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLsl5wZUflw&t=2085s+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLdqtCWZnN0&t=5391s 
 Part 2: Part 2:
  
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcGCLaGNQ-s+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8B6Vk6oCP8&t=1445s
  
 For a briefer demo of TFM in action with the pmdg see: For a briefer demo of TFM in action with the pmdg see:
pmdg.1651585157.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/05/03 15:39 by declan