Aerosoft Airbus X: From Cold and Dark to Ready for Taxiing

Do not use this for real world flying! This is for Microsoft Flight Simulator X only! This tutorial will teach you how to start up the Airbus X from a cold and dark state and make it ready for taxiing. It is suited for beginners with the Airbus X. This will not teach you how to start up a real Airbus as this is only meant to be used for the Airbus X, however, this tutorial is based on real A320 procedures and a real A320 checklist in cooperation with real Airbus A320 pilots. This tutorial requires basic knowledge about the systems of the Airbus X, therefore I highly recommend reading the Vol1-7 guides, which are provided with the Airbus X and can be found in your Airbus X folder, before you read this tutorial. Anyway, this little tutorial will show you how to start up the Airbus X from a state, where you enter the aircraft and all the systems are off. Youll have to do a security check before the actual startup of particular systems as in real world. Even though this is in not essential or even necessary in Microsoft Flight Simulator X, it is a real procedure. Also make sure that you have the latest version of Airbus X installed on your Computer. (v1.22) You will be starting up the Airbus X as close to real procedures as its system depth allows it. The MCDU will be more or less left out as it is not simulated properly in the Airbus X.

Ok, lets enter the cockpit. You will see that the aircraft is currently in a state which is called cold and dark, you can select and activate this state in the MCDU.

Lets take a seat and begin with some pre-flight security checks.

Now, in order to select the power on, we have to do a few checks. So, we check that the thrust levers are at idle (1), that the engine masters are off (2), the engine mode selector is normal (2), that the parking brake is set (3), that we have the gear selector down (4) and the windshield wipers are off. (5) & (5)

As we have completed the necessary checks, we can now power on the aircraft. First of all we select both batteries on. (1) Then we have to do the APU fire test (2) - as this particular system is not simulated in the Airbus X, simply treat the test as successful and completed. Now we can start the APU itself, we select the master switch on and then the start. (3) After some seconds the APU should be running, which will be indicated by a green light on the start switch.

Ok, the APU start has been successful, we can now set up all the displays and lighting of the cockpit. First of all we set up the lights the flow lights, integrity lights, overhead integrity lights (1) and of course some bright dome (2) not simulated. And well now select the displays to show us some information. (3)

Now, as we have all the displays working and all the lights as well, we can start the overhead scan. The principle is from left to right and from down up. The main purpose of this overhead scan is to test a few features, to enable a few and to extinguish all the white lights. We start with the crew supply light. (1) Now we should test the flight data recorder but since its not simulated, we just leave it out again. (2) Now we check the GPWS and all the flight controls and make sure that there are no white lights illuminating. (3) Now we set up the ADIRS, the inertial reference system, which tells the aircraft where it is currently located. (4) We start by rotating the knobs one at a time to the NAV position but since this system is not simulated, they will be in the NAV position by default. Now we can continue with the overhead scan from the center, we select the seatbelts on, the non smoking switch to auto, the emergency exit lights to armed (5) and we check that the landing elevation is on auto. (6) Then we check the air conditioning panel and we select the APU bleed (7) to supply us the air from the auxiliary power unit to cool or heat the cabin. In addition you should turn on the PACKS. (8) & (8) Continuing with the electric panel, we have two fault lights on GEN 1 and 2, but that is perfectly normal because we have no engines running and nothing runs the generators as well. Now we test the batteries to see if theyre charging correctly, we shut down the batteries and then reselect them (9) check the values on the lower ECAM for that. Since we have finished with the electrics, we can extinguish the lights on the fuel panel (10), to do that we will just select all the pumps to automatic. The fuel panel is set, but you will see a fault on the mode selector and an off on the electrical pump, but this is completely normal in the Airbus X. Now we have to do an engine fire test (11), but since this is as well not simulated, we simply treat it as successful and complete as with the APU above. We continue with the right side and check that there are no white lights illuminated and that the wipers and rain appellant are off. (12) & (13) Then we continue with the radios (14) since this part of the overhead panel is not simulated in the Airbus X, we simply leave it out.

Finally we go up, checking the maintenance panel for any white lights (15), but we should see none. Then we check the circuit breakers (16) and we check that the audio switching switch (17) is on norm. Now the overhead scan is complete.

Now well be heading down to the center panel, we will check the standby instruments like the ADI (1) and we check that the anti-skid and nose wheel steering switch is in an on position. (2)

Lets now go down to the pedestal, we check the radio panel and turn it on (1). It should be set on VHF1 (2) and transmitting on interphone, receiving as well. The weather radar should be off. (3)

After that we go a bit forward to look at the lower ECAM. We check that all the switches are in their normal position (1) & (1) and we can check a few statuses on the lower ECAM display. First we check the ENG page (2), to see if everything is normal, then we check the hydraulics (3) and look for any abnormalities. As last we should actually check the overall status page (4) but this page is not simulated, so we have to leave it out.

We will continue with the trust levers once again, we will check that they are in their idle position (1), well check that the engine masters are both off and the engine mode selector is on normal (2), that the ground spoilers are retracted and disarmed (3), that the flaps are selected up (4), rudder trim is showing zero (5), parking brake is set to on (6) and the gravity gear extension lever is in its correct position as well. (7)

Then well move forward again checking the right hand radio as above. The last thing we will check on the pedestal is the TCAS, the Traffic Collision and Avoidance System. We must check that the selector is on its standby position (1). Now the overall cockpit scan is completed.

What we have to do now, is to set up the MCDU. We select the flight management and guidance computer, we check that there are the correct engines and that the database is valid (1) (not relevant for FSX) please disregard the data shown in the picture as the MCDU is not well simulated in the Airbus X.

Now we continue to the initialization page. At this point you should type in your flight data and your route but since this is a tutorial and the MCDU is not really simulated in the Airbus X, well leave it out. There are other tutorials or manuals about the MCDU, so youll better read them first. Simply plan your route, put in your V speeds and check you weights, choose the departure and youre done.

The last thing we have to do is to set up the FCU, the Flight Control Unit. On the flight control unit, we check that the flight director is on (1), that we have a comfortable position for our navigation display (2) that the constraints are on (3), that we have the correct barometric pressure (5) depending on our location. The next thing well do is select an initial climb altitude (6), which in this case is 4000 ft. Then we should do the same on the right first officers side, but only the captains side of the cockpit is simulated in the Airbus X, so we have to leave that out again. The rest of the FCU is computed automatically.

Now we can already start the engines. At this point we should grab our before startup checklist and check everything. When everything is ok, we have to ask the ATC for clearance. As soon as the ATC has cleared us to start the engines, well do that. First we switch the beacon light on (1), and then we select the engine mode selector to ignition (2) and by flicking the master switch number two on (3), well start the auto start sequence.

Now we take a look at the lower ECAM again and watch the pressure and temperature rising, as soon as engine number two is running stable, we can start engine number one with the same sequence. After the engines are running stable, we switch the engine mode selector back to normal. Now we can actually pushback, taxi and takeoff, we ask for a pushback, perform all the necessary checklists, test the flight controls and finally taxi to the runway.

As we reach the runway, we apply TO/GA thrust and try to hold the centerline until we reach our rotation speed (Vr) and get airborne.

At this point the tutorial is finished and the autopilot takes over. I hope you enjoyed reading it and I hope it was easy to understand. I tried to make it as simple as possible for beginners. If I get good feedback Ill write a cruise, approach and landing tutorial and Ill update this tutorial with a MCDU part as soon as Aerosoft release their Airbus X Extended. The Airbus X might be easy to fly and to learn, but I hope I could help all the FSX beginners out there who want to fly an Airbus. If you have any questions regarding systems, procedures, failures or if you just want to give me some feedback, feel free to contact me via my e-mail: astondbrs9@googlemail.com

You are not allowed to edit or upload this tutorial anywhere without my permission!

All copyrights go to Bogdan Misko. Special thanks to Pranas Dulis and Ralf Hint.