PMDG 737NGX - Descent and Approach Discussion

PMDG 737NGX 0.00.107
TUTORIAL #2
For Simulator Use Only DO NOT DUPLICATE 27FEB15 RTM
DESCENT & APPROACH DISCUSSION
Innsbruck is located in a narrow valley that runs east to west between two
very high mountain ranges along the river Inn. There is very little room for
error once we commence the approach.
The descent from cruise up until just before the start of the approach is
actually very easy – we have a 9500 foot crossing restriction at
Rattenberg NDB (RTTNB) already set in the FMC. VNAV will get us there
without a problem.
We need to add the Flaps 15 maneuvering speed restriction to the
OEV18 waypoint however. This is the point where we’ll commence the
steep descent on the approach and we need to be at Flaps 15 with the
gear down just before it starts to avoid overspeeding. Adding this
restriction to the LEGS page causes VNAV to slow us down in time prior
to reaching OEV18.
Note – normally at Innsbruck a 737-800 will use Flaps 30 with gear down
at OEV18, but due to our relatively light gross weight and lack of weather
in the sim, we can use Flaps 15 and save some fuel. If you’re using
weather, I recommend use of Flaps 30 instead.
If you recall from Tutorial #1, our Flaps 15 maneuvering speed is defined
as VREF 40 + 20 knots. We can use this to determine exactly what speed
restriction to set at OEV18.
 Press the CDU PROG button and look at the currently predicted
fuel at LOWI. For me it’s 8900 lbs (4037 kg).
 Add this value to the airplane’s ZFW (for me it’s 122600 lbs or
55610 kg):
122600 lbs + 8900 lbs = 131500 lbs
(55610 kg + 4037 kg = 59647 kg
 Press INIT REF on the captain’s CDU to get to the APPROACH
REF page.
 Enter 131.5 lbs (59.6 kg) into the GW field at LSK 1L.
This is a calculator essentially, when you change the GW, it’ll
update all the V speeds and such to be accurate at the assumed
weight.