Originally Posted by
737Andi
So the VNAV will start with 1000ft/min if below the optimal profile. If it reaches the optimal profile point on the flight path it should have switched to a new V/S value that would have brought me to FL 110 exactly over GIVME, correct?
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Yes. Normally it will keep 1000 fpm until it reaches the profile (well, around 300 ft below the profile) and then reduces thrust to idle as the normal descent profile is flown in idle thrust for as long as possible. Now, it does get more complex if there are several constraints and depending on the options chosen when the plane was configured, as geometric descent is not the default equipment status.