Originally Posted by
dblahnick
You are 20 miles out, approaching the RNAV approach final course on an assigned heading.
Say it the XYZ RNAV RWY 360 and you are on your dogleg...
There are several step downs on the RNAV before the FAF, all coded in to the approach in the database and showing up on the ND. Life is great.
You are level at the altitude in managed NAV and it captures the course as it proceeds to the ABC waypoint directly ahead with its 8000+ constraint. The descent indicator (hockey stick) is WHITE, because you have 8000 feet still in the FCU.
You push APP pb in response to the controller starring "cleared the approach", you are a few miles from the ABC waypoint, you do not change the altitude in the FCU, still shows 8000 feet. Q: What color is the descent indicator (hockey stick) now? (your answer should be WHITE, but we have table top simulators that have it turning blue even with the FCU altitude set at current altitude)
What will happen at that descent point (you are approaching with a white hockey stick) with the aircraft if the APP is armed (pushed) showing on FMA : ALT (FINAL armed) and APP NAV? Will it revert to FINAL APP and descend as it crosses that white hockey stick every time - even with its FCU altitude window left at 8000...?
Our procedures are unique to many I'm reading here, curious the responses Im going to get...
Hi,
the answer to your question is in DSC-22_30-80-30-20 "Engagement conditions".
It is normal that you get the final app activation at 8000 ft as you are within 150 ft of your constraint and within 1.5 nm left/right of track, provided all the other conditions are met.