The Ultimate 737 FlightWork Preview

This is for you 737NGX drivers out there that haven’t quite jumped on the band-wagon yet and joined our in depth training for this aircraft. Admittedly, we don’t do a great job sharing with you just how in depth our training is. Today, I want to give you a deep look at just how detailed our training is.

I’m going to do my best to use lots of images, make this scannable and quick for you, and try not to be TOO wordy in my explanation. Keep in mind, however, that this training is massive, and contains more information then we’ll be able to cover here.

So, we are going to focus on only the first flight in FlightWork. There are nine flights altogether, but this flight is our inaugural journey and goes from London Gatwick to Rotterdam

This video is just shy of 5 and a half hours long. It comes in streaming Full HD, and Downloadable 720P and Mobile formats. That means you get your training any way you want it.

But, we do break it up in parts, and I’m going to do the same thing here in this post.

We cover the following topics

Preflight Paperwork with PFPX (Dispatch)

Simulator Setup

Arriving at the Aircraft

Originator Setup

Walk Around

FMC Programming

Flight Deck Preparation

Before Start

Engine Start & Pushback

Taxi

Takeoff & Climb

Cruise

Descent

Approach & Landing

Taxi to Gate/Parking

Shutdown

Debrief

 
Wow, what a list! This will be a challenge to not share every cool little detail about each part, so I’m going to summarize in hopefully just 50 words or so on each section, share some screenshots, then we’ll let some of the current trainees chime in and tell you what it’s like.

Preflight Paperwork with PFPX (Dispatch)

PFPX is a big new thing, soon to be on the market. It’s the easiest and most realistic way to plan your flights as real airlines do. We have an advanced copy and not only show you how everything works, but we take you through each number and letter on the dispatch paperwork and show you exactly what everything means.

Duration:1 Hour 17 Minutes

Setting up weather with ActiveSky

Entering Aircraft Weights

Reviewing the Generated Route

Running through the AOA Pre-Sim Checklist

Going over every number of the PFPX Dispatch

More detailed numbers

Arriving at the Aircraft

You now understand all your paperwork, and you’ve just stepped onto the flightdeck. Now what? It’s time to get power to the aircraft, and start to warm up the displays.

Duration:10 Minutes

Completely cold and dark aircraft

Getting Ground Connections setup

Walk Around

Our aircraft will more or less always be the same in the simulator on the outside. But it doesn’t hurt to see where all the components should be, and the dangers to look out for. A physical check of the aircraft is done by real crews, so why not know what they look for? From hydraulic fluid leaks around the brakes, to window position, static port and pitot locations, we cover it all.

Duration:27 Minutes

Checking the nose gear wheel well components

A complete diagnosis of the engine

Originator Setup

You’ve accepted the aircraft completely cold and dark, and therefore you have to attend to every system and check every switch. We don’t just tell you where to place a switch, but we’ll explain in depth what happens when that switch is flipped or turned, and the consequences as a result. This takes a good amount of time, but it’s important information to know for your first cold and dark start.

Duration:12 Minutes

Getting power to the electrical system

Aligning the IRS for proper operation

FMC Programming

The CDU setup is completed in this early stage. We take our time here, explaining every line, and also the logic behind the flow in this computer. What was once confusing will now be demystified with this solid setup for our flight to Rotterdam.

Duration:31 Minutes

Entering the GPS Coordinates for Alignment

Cost Index Explanation

Executing the changes

Flight Deck Preparation

Here’s the big one. We’ll start on the overhead, in the waterfall flows, and work our way across every square inch of the panels, all the way to the back pedestal. Every switch, knob, button and light is explained. It takes a good while, but you will see the light at the end.

Duration:54 Minutes

The long flight deck prep flow!

Initial discussion on LNAV and FMAs

Oxygen mask flow test

All indicator lights test

Cargo fire test

Full EGPWS test

Departure Briefing

Before you can get in the air, it’s important to brief all matters of the departure from the gate, and through the initial departure procedure. This is what a real crew would do, and we teach you in that format, as though we were a crew.

Duration:4 Minutes

Discussing a danger zone near 08L

Discussing the departure procedure

Before Start

Last minute preparations now need to be done. The aircraft is all setup, so we need to close the doors and setup the aircraft to be self-sufficient on power and air so we can start the engines and blast off.

Duration:9 Minutes

APU Startup and Monitoring

Noting the time as we begin pushback

Engine Start & Pushback

Now the ground crew pushes us back. We monitor their progress, and start the engines simultaneously. Learn each step in the start up sequence, including the noises you should hear, and the indications to look for.

Duration:12 Minutes

Requesting Pushback Services

Sufficient motoring for #2, fuel to IDLE

Parking Brake set after pushback

Ground crew waves us off, all clear

Setting up the aircraft after start. Packs to AUTO.

Flight Controls test

Taxi

Finally you can push those thrust levers forward and move under your own power. The fun is just starting, through. You must be on the lookout for other aircraft, the correct airport signage and so on. Additionally, you will learn how to specifically handle a 737 in taxi. We’ll tell you all about the proper speeds and techniques to use.

Duration:13 Minutes

Just started rolling, coming up on ROMEO

Approaching Runway Flow, Attendant Call Button

Clearing the 08L Final, no traffic.

Takeoff & Climb

We’ve taken our sweet time getting the aircraft setup, but here is where things start to move really fast. There’s no holding back this Boeing driven Pony. Learn proper takeoff technique, climb procedures, all while handflying the aircraft. This is challenging.

Duration:15 Minutes

Rolling Centerline, advance power

Positive Rate, Gear Up

Changing MCP Altitude and talking about VNAV

10K Climb Flow

Cruise

Our cruise will be really short for this flight. Most of cruise is spent doing descent planning. Only 8 minutes long, we have a finite amount of time to prepare. This is rapid fire, jam packed preparation.

Duration:8 Minutes

Quick review of the PROGress page

Descent

Falling fast from FL230, we don’t waste a moment preparing for the approach ahead. The weather will be plenty good for the approach, but we still want to treat it as though we’ll be flying to minimums. Much preparation must be done, flows performed, and checklists completed.

Duration:15 Minutes

Manually entered range rings

Reviewing the charts for arrival and approach

18K Descent Flow, lights on, transition level if needed

Identifying Rotterdam VOR for the approach

Approach & Landing

Now on the VOR06 Approach into Rotterdam, you’ll be hand flying the approach down. Then, once you’ve successfully done the approach, break off minimums and we’ll teach you exactly how to do a perfect flare to landing every time.

Duration:6 Minutes

EFIS Setup for Approach

Tried and true flare technique explained

Taxi to Gate/Parking

Perform the after landing flows and stow all the lights, flaps, speedbrakes, and reverse thrust. Then, call up the airport services and follow the follow me vehicle to our parking, where the marshaller will be waiting.

Duration:10 minutes

Following the vehicle to the ramp

Marshaller guides us in

Shutdown

We’ll be shutting down the engines as soon as possible so we can turn off that fasten seatbelt sign. The passengers are anxious to get off at this point. Up front, we still have a list of items to complete.

Duration:5 Minutes

Setting up ground connections before fuel cutoff

Shutdown Checklist

Debrief

We finish off this flight by talking about what we’ve done and learned, and what could have been improved upon. Honest self evaluation of your performance as an aviator will help you improve for future flights.

Duration:10 Minutes

See for Yourself!

You can see there’s a tremendous amount of information here. So much that we can’t possibly do a justice in sharing it here today. But I’ve sure tried!

We’ve shared what we know about FlightWork, now we want to turn the time over to people who have seen the training.

GO HERE NOW TO ENROLL

 
In the comments below, have a look at what they have to say. And, if you have any questions, you can also comment there.

Please note: We reserve the right to delete comments that are snarky, offensive, or off-topic. If in doubt, read the Comments Policy.