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Old 3rd February 2005 | 08:53
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Centaurus
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Joined: Jun 2000
: ATP+Mil
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From: Australia
Presumably you are doing the circuits in a simulator? Some pilots like to hang on to the automatics in the circuit which is a waste of valuable time and sometimes indicates lack of confidence in one's basic flying skills. Others use partial automatics like leaving the FD's and autothrottle engaged. Still others fly the circuit in MAP mode with partial automatics without looking outside very much.

Or you can bite the bullet and enjoy the pleasure of flying circuits without the bells and whistles of automatics and MAP modes.
It all depends on your personal viewpoint. Circuits are excellent for increasing your scan rate, while the primary objective of touch and go landings is approach and landing practice. They are not intended for landing roll and takeoff procedure training (see FCTM relevant paragraphs).

Here is one suggested method of practicing 737 circuits in the simulator. Personal viewpoint of the writer only, so please no brickbats from the experts!

Switch off the FD and autothrottles for take off and launch. Use flap 5 for convenience. Aim for climb speed 180 knots and leave flap at 5. At 1000 agl start turn at 30 degrees angle of bank - maintaining bank angle until arriving at downwind hdg and hauling back throttles to maintain 180 knots while levelling at 1500 ft agl. Set Vref for landing flap from previously set V1 and VR.

Up to you whether you set MCP cursor at 180 knots or set Vref+5 now. You are not using autothrottle so the MCP speed is purely a reminder figure rather than an A/T setting. Ensure A/T is switched off and not just ARM (see FCTM cautionary paragraphs on autothrottle use in ARM mode - Boeing do not recommend it)

Downwind keep eyes on runway and visual tracking. Don't stare at MAP. Abeam landing threshold hit stopwatch, select gear down, flap 15, arm the speed brake if full stop landing and allow speed to reduce toward 150 knots and call for landing checklist to flaps.

45 seconds after passing end of runway, turn base 25-30 degrees angle of bank and square off the circuit because of slower speed of 150 knots. Avoid flying a 5 degree bank angle turn as this is sloppy flying. If an ILS is available ensure the standby ADI ILS is selected because it gives you earlier glide slope indication than primary ADI/HSI glide slope. Very useful if the simulator is limited in side view.

Flap as required on base and final. Cross the fence at Vref if no wind and use reverse and manual braking. This gives you the practice at modulating the brakes as a skill rather than always carrying out autobrake use which can lead to loss of braking technique skills.

For touch and go don't arm the speed brake and no reverse. On touch-down open up to 50-60% spool-up N1, select flap 15 at same time set stab trim at 5 units. When ready, set take off thrust and rotate at Vref which had already been set. Around 1000 ft agl select flap 5 and aim for 180 knots and repeat the circuit. Note at no stage was FD, AP or AT used. Miminum talk in the cockpit.

For asymmetric circuit practice simply maintain flap 5 downwind and 180 knots, pull back one throttle to idle early downwind, set flap 15 Vref in ASI and you are on your way again.

Hope this is some value. But forget use of any automatics if you want real value in circuits -just stick to manual flying raw data no AT. You will really enjoy the experience.
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