Cockpit Preparation
This guide will help you with preparing and powering up the Airbus A380.
It includes images to help you understand the locations of all buttons and switches.
Disclaimer
This is for simulation purposes only.
The level of detail in this guide is meant to teach an Airbus A380 beginner to start the aircraft correctly.
A beginner is defined as someone familiar with flying a GA aircraft or different types of airliners. Aviation terminology and know-how is a requirement to fly any airliner, even in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
This guide simplifies the process of starting the aircraft to accomodate beginners and the fact that this is a simulation. More advanced sim pilots can use the A380X SOP directly.
When this guide refers to ATC it is referring to any Online ATC network but NOT the built-in ATC in the simulator as this is very unrealistic and unreliable.
Prerequisites
This guide assumes that your aircraft is in a cold and dark state at a gate.
Pre-checks
What and Why
Before starting the aircraft, we need to ensure that all switches are in the correct position. This is to prevent any damage to the aircraft systems and to ensure that the aircraft is ready for flight.
(Of course, this is not an issue in the sim, but in real life it is crucial to check this!)
ENGINE MASTER SWITCHES (1, 2, 3, 4) .................................. OFF
PARKING BRAKE (OR CHOCKS).............................................. ON
SPEED BRAKE LEVER .............................................. RETRACTED
FLAPS LEVER .................................................... RETRACTED
WEATHER RADAR ........................................................ OFF
ENGINE MODE SELECTOR ................................................ NORM
THRUST LEVERS ....................................................... IDLE
GEAR LEVER .......................................................... DOWN
WIPERS (BOTH) ........................................................ OFF
How and Where
Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.
After these pre-checks, we can start the aircraft starting with the initial power up.
Initial Power Up
What and Why?
The initial power up is the first step in starting the aircraft. This is where we turn on the batteries and external power to provide power to the aircraft systems.
The batteries are the first source of power for the aircraft. The external power is used to provide power to the aircraft systems when the engines are not running. The aircraft needs at least two external power units to power the whole electrical network.
ALL BATTERIES (BAT 1, ESS BAT, BAT 2, APU BAT) ........................ ON
EXTERNAL POWER (2, 3, 1, 4) ........................................... ON
COCKPIT LIGHTING ............................................. AS REQUIRED
How and Where?
Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.
Fire Tests and APU Startup
What and Why?
The fire tests are done to ensure that the fire detection system is working correctly.
The APU startup is done to provide power and bleed air to the aircraft systems when the engines are not running.
Turning on and setting up the radios at this point is also important in case of any emergencies.
RMP 1 and 2 ........................................................... ON
STANDBY RADIO NAVIGATION ............................................. OFF
COMMUNICATION FREQUENCIES ........................................... TUNE
INTERPHONE RECEPTION ...................................... RELEASE/ADJUST
APU FIRE ............................................ CHECK IN and GUARDED
APU AGENT ............................................................ OFF
ENGINE 1/2/3/4 FIRE.................................. CHECK IN and GUARDED
ENGINE 1/2/3/4 AGENT 1 and 2 ......................................... OFF
FIRE TEST .......................................................... PRESS
Fire Test Result
Verify that the fire detection systems and extinguishing systems are functional by checking the following items:
A constant repetitive chime sound, the master warning light flashes on the glareshield, the ECAM displays the engine fire alert messages (ENG 1(2)(3)(4) FIRE, APU FIRE, MLG BAY FIRE), All engine fire pushbutton and the auxiliary power unit fire pushbutton displays in red, the squib light of the engine and apu agent pushbuttons are illuminated, the disch light of the engine and auxiliary power unit agent pushbuttom illuminates and all fire lights on the engine master panel illuminates.
APU MASTER SWITCH ..................................................... ON
APU START ............................................................. ON
APU Start
You can monitor the APU start on the SD APU page which comes up automatically when the APU is started. Once the APU is running, the APU page will show switch back to the previous page.
The APU page should look similar to this now:
EXTERNAL POWER .................................................... AS REQ
External Power
It is recommended to keep the external power units to ON to reduce the APU load in hot weather conditions.
How and Where?
Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.
Cockpit Preparation Flow
The cockpit preparation flow is an easy way to remember the steps to startup and setup the aircraft correctly. It follows a flow starting on the overhead panel on the left buttom moving up and then to the right. Then it continues the flow on the main panel starting and moving to the pedestal, setting up the FMS to then continue to the glareshield. At last the lateral consoles are checked and set up.
Normally, the flow is done by the two pilots in the cockpit. The First Officer (FO) does the overhead panel, main panel, pedestal, and his side of the cockpit for the glareshield, lateral consoles and his MFD.
The Captain does his side of the cockpit for the glareshield and lateral consoles and his MFD.
In the simulator, we are usually alone, so we will do the flow on our own.
- Overhead Panel from left to right and bottom to top - prepare
- Main Instrument Panel - prepare
- Pedestal - prepare
- MFD (see Preparing the FMS)
- Glareshield - set and crosscheck
- Lateral Consoles - Oxygen Mask Test
- Windows - check closed/locked
- PFD/ND - check
Overhead Panel
What and Why?
We scan the overhead panel from left to right and bottom to top to ensure that all switches are in the correct position.
Overhead Panel Left (bottom to top)
ALL WHITE LIGHTS ..................................................... OFF
RECORDER GROUND CTL (INOP)............................................. ON
EVAC CAPT/CAPT & PURS (INOP)......................................... CAPT
PROBE & WINDOW HEAT ................................................. AUTO
ADIRS ALL IR MODE .................................................... NAV
ADIRS Alignment
It is recommended to align the inertial references as soon as possible. The initialization may take some time. It is also recommended to complete a full alignment if this is the first flight of the day, the flight crew has changed, the GPS is not available to all segment in the flights, or that the pilot expects long segments with low NAVAID coverage. It is recommended to perform a fast alignment for all other flight conditions.
EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER (INOP) ............................... ARMED
How and Where?
Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.
Overhead Panel Center (bottom to top)
STROBE .............................................................. AUTO
BEACON ............................................................... OFF
NAV ....... ........................................................... ON
REMAINING EXTERIOR LIGHTS .....................................AS REQUIRED
SEAT BELTS ............................................................ ON
NO MOBILE ........................................................... AUTO
EMERGENCY EXIT LIGHTS ................................................ ARM
ENGINE STARTER ...................................................... NORM
APU BLEED ............................................................. ON
APU BLEED
It is not recommended to use the auxiliary power unit bleed system if a high-pressure ground air unit is connected to the aircraft. This can be checked on the bleed page of the system display. If there is pressure in the bleed air system, the high-pressure ground air unit is connected.
XBLEED .............................................................. AUTO
AIR FLOW ............................................................ NORM
AIR FLOW
The bleed system works with the flight management system. If there is no number of passengers entered into the flight-management-system, the airflow will be automatically set the air flow like when the value entered is the maximum number of passengers. If the number of passengers is entered, the airflow will automatically adjust to that number.
CKPT ......................................................... AS REQUIRED
CABIN ........................................................... PURS SEL
TRIM TK FEED ........................................................ AUTO
MAINTENANCE PANEL ALL LIGHTS.......................................... OFF
How and Where?
Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.
Overhead Panel Right (bottom to top)
CARGO AIR COND ............................................... AS REQUIRED
RADIO MANAGEMENT PANEL 3 .............................................. ON
STBY RAD NAV ......................................................... OFF
CVR TEST (INOP) .................................................... PRESS
How and Where?
Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.
Main Instrument Panel
SWITCHING PANEL ..................................................... NORM
INTEGRATED STANDBY INSTRUMENT SYSTEM ............................... CHECK
LANDING GEAR GRAVITY SYSTEM .......................................... OFF
CLOCK ...........................................CHECK and SET AS REQUIRED
ANTI AKID (A-SKID) .................................................... ON
How and Where?
Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.
Pedestal
PARKING BRAKE ........................................................ ON
BODY ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE (INOP)......................... CHECK/REINFLATE
THRUST LEVERS ...................................................... IDLE
THRUST REVERSE LEVERS ............................................ STOWED
ENGINE MASTER SWITCHES (1, 2, 3, 4) ................................. OFF
COCKPIT DOOR SWITCH (INOP).......................................... NORM
ATC CLEARANCE .....................................................OBTAIN
Requesting ATC IFR Clearance
Before departing for the flight, we must obtain an IFR clearance from ATC. The clearance may be obtained from clearance delivery or another specific frequency, depending on the airport and available services.
If you are not flying on a network and are using the built-in ATC menu, simply find the appropriate selection in the menu and request for IFR clearance.
Clearances will usually provide the following information below. As a pilot, you would need to read back the clearance correctly or acknowledge it if using the built-in ATC menu.
- Cleared to the destination via specified route in the filed flight plan.
- Initial cleared altitude after departure.
- Assigned SID for departure OR radar vectors
- Assigned departing runway.
- Transponder/squawk code.
- Departure frequency.
Additional reading material: The CRAFT mnemonic
NAVIGATION CHARTS ............................................... PREPARE
MFD SURVEILLANCE DEFAULT SETTINGS................................. SELECT
MFD Surveillance Default Settings
Verify on the Multi-Function Display (MFD) Surveillance page that the transponder is set to AUTO, the squawk code is as per ATC, the TCAS is set to TA/RA and Norm, all TAWS modes are ON, and the weather radar is set to AUTO, the elevation/tilt to AUTO, Mode set to WX, TURB set to AUTO, GAIN set to AUTO, WX ON VD set to ON and PRED W/S to AUTO)
In the MFD Surveillance page, you can set the squawk code by clicking on the SQWK field and typing in the assigned
code and confirm with ENTER. Then click on the AUTO button to activate the squawk code.
MFD Surveilance Page:
How and Where?
Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.
At this point, the Flight Management System (FMS) should be initialized. See Preparing the MFD for more information.
Glareshield
INTEGRAL LIGHTS ............................................. AS REQUIRED
BAROMETRIC REFERENCE ................................................ SET
NAVIGATION DISPLAY (ND) MODE AND RANGE ........................... AS REQ
WEATHER RADAR ............................................... AS REQUIRED
OTHER EFIS OPTIONS .......................................... AS REQUIRED
FLIGHT DIRECTOR ...................................................... ON
NORTH REF ........................................................... MAG
North Reference
It is recommended to ensure that the “TRUE” message does not appear on the primary flight display or on the HDG/TRK display.
SPD, HDG, V/S display .......................................... DEFAULTS
ALTITUDE display .................... INITIAL EXPECTED CLEARANCE ALTITUDE
How and Where?
Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.
Lateral Consoles
OXYGEN MASKS TEST (INOP)......................................... PERFORM
DOOR SD PAGE REGUL PR LO indication ................. CHECK NOT DISPLAYED
SLIDING WINDOWS LOCKED .................................... CLOSED/LOCKED
How and Where?
Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.
Pilot Briefing
As the last step the pilots would conduct the takeoff briefing:
TAKE OFF BRIEFING ............................................... PERFORM
This concludes the Cockpit Preparation guide.
Continue with Preparing the FMS.