Boeing 777 Flight Deck. What should you expect from PMDG 777? A few comments about the looks, ergonomics and handling of 777’s cockpit.
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The flight deck. I stand at the back and look around. You may think that I am at the door, but actually this is what a person sitting in the left jump seat would see. In the back of this flight deck there are two jump seats for observer or instructor. Door is located on the left hand side.
Back wall
Above the jump seats, aircraft documents are fixed behind a plexiglass cover which is cracked. These documents are clear enough to distinguish Certificate, insurance policy, emergency equipment, etc.
Emergency oxygen valve is located close to each seat. During cockpit check you should test if it works. Push the test button and the oxygen will flow with a quiet whiz. Check if the knob moves – go through all positions – Normal, Emergency, 100%. If it’s ok – set it back to NORM.
Oxygen
The pilots have already brought their bags – there is a huge flight bag filled with checklists, charts and manuals next to each pilot’s seat.
From the captain’s seat I can admire my new workplace. I really admire it! PMDG uses perfect textures – in no place are they blurred or too-sharp. I like how the wear was indicated on several parts. It is not an old plane but the metal plate on the yoke is scratched – especially around it’s edges. Plastic parts of the yoke are shiny in places where pilot holds his fingers – the same can be observed on other parts that are often touched.
Captains view
Left side of the cockpit
The closer look at the grooved knobs shows how difficult it is to keep these parts clean. Trim knob is the worst – I think it should be replaced soon.
Sounds
One of the best impressions from this cockpit is how authentic the buttons and switches sound. Switches and buttons making sound when they are pushed of flipped is almost a standard feature in payware aircraft. Almost – I still find recently published payware planes that have silent switches… This is not the case of PMDG 777. Here not only the switches make a sound but they also make different sounds depending on the knob, switch or button type and construction. There are even slight differences between switches of the same type – like in case of two Auto-Throttle switches. The sound is related to how the switch or knob is build and how it works. A heavy and large wipers knob makes a louder and “harder” noise than radio frequency selector that just clicks quietly.
Clickspots
Usability is very important for me, especially since I bought EZDOK camera and dynamic cameras make clicking in cockpit a little harder. What I noticed in 777 is that I never had to wander where should I click to get the expected result. Also the clickspots are large enough to to be easily targeted by EZDOK users when the camera shakes.
The cursor changes it’s shape and color depending on what the switch does – it’s helpful feature and simplifies operations. In some cases it is an overkill – I do not need a special cursor shape to know that the Flight Director switch moves down – it’s obvious. On the other hand – advanced cursor is invaluable when I use double selectors with a built in button – like the heading selector. Thanks to cursor color I can distinguish which part of the selector I am turning (white cursor for primary selector, gray for secondary). The cursor changes shape when I point to the SEL button on top of this knob.
2d panels
When flying advanced airliners I like to be able to open some screens or panels in form of two dimensional panels. Shift+2 to Shift+9 keyboard shortcuts open eight panels (there are additional available under clickspots in the cockpit). If you do not want to remember the shortcuts for displays – you can open these panels clicking in the middle of the screen you want to enlarge. Click again in the middle of the screen (or the panel) and it closes.
I do not use this feature often – PFD and ND are clear enough to watch them in Virtual Cockpit. But the 2d CDU is very handy. Even with TrackIR it is not easy to work with CDU in VC.
MCP can be shown as 2d panel with the keyboard shortcut or a hidden button (under DATA button on MCP).
Usability / ergonomics
Two position switches can be thrown with a single click of the left or right mouse button.
Three position switches change position to the right (or up) with the right click and to the left (or down) when clicked with left mouse button.
Selector knobs work just like switches – right click – turn right, left click – turn left (counterclockwise).
There is some confusion on flight sim related forums about several knobs that you should turn and hold – like BARO and rudder trim knobs. You need to press the mouse button and hold it until the appropriate indicator shows desired value. There is a tooltip provided – it explains that if you hold mouse button down and move the mouse – the values will change faster.
Mouse wheel works with most selectors. This is (the only so far) inconsistency in PMDG programming – there are some selectors that you can move with the mouse wheel and there are some that you can not move… I found an explanation that several selectors can not be turned with the mouse wheel to protect the user from turning other selectors by mistake when they are located nearby (like heading selector and bank angle selector). That is a sound reason, but it does not explain why overhead selectors and knobs can not be turned with the mouse wheel. I actually prefer using mouse wheel instead of clicking.
Buttons and switches
I like how they look and how they are animated! When I press the button – it moves as it should. There is only one exception – CDU buttons are not animated. I assume that this has something to do with FSX limiting the number of animations.
I have never found a switch or a knob in this cockpit that would work differently from it’s real world counterpart. It often happens (even in payware aircraft) that regulator knobs can be only turned on or off – with no positions in the middle – not in this case. If the knob can be smoothly turned – it can be smoothly turned in this cockpit (that is very important when the lights are set).
Overhead
Flap and spoiler levers animations
When the flap or spoiler lever is moved in a real 777 – the pilot or copilot has to rise the lever to free if from the detent. Flap lever has a detent for each flap position (up, 1, 5, 15, 20, 25, 30) and speedbrake has three (closed, armed, and operating range). In PMDG 777 both levers move exactly as they do in the real world planes – so you will see there the detents are and how the lever is raised between it’s positions.
What’s next?
Cold and dark cockpit – the startup guide.
PMDG Boeing 777 – what happens after purchase and before the first flight? PMDG 777 configuration tutorial and introduction to the manuals.
PMDG 777 – megareview part #2
Is it a review or a tutorial?
777 PMDG does not require a review. PMDG brand and 777 add-on excellence are well known and are commonly treated as examples of highest quality in the flight sim market. I could write a standard review, rating each and every feature of this plane with 5 or 6 start but that makes no sens. Instead – I am going to publish a series of texts introducing this plane and describing my experience with it. This review is not about changing your opinion. It is about showing you what exactly the “highest quality” means. Instead of writing “what” is good in this plane – I will explain “why” I think it is such a good product and how it is different from many other available.
This review will be very detailed. Sometimes I will put things in the simplest possible terms – for the people who have never flown an advanced plane before. If you think that this part or the next explains something obvious – skip it and go to the next part – I hope I will surprise you every now and then even if you have flown this plane many times.
Purchase
This review features two PMDG products:
The base pack (-200 and F models) and the expansion (-300ER) are sold at a price of $89.99 and $29.99 respectively. That’s about 120 dollars for both (for FSX). Prepar3d price is $45 higher.
PMDG is sold as a download package. Download links and product key is send in an email after the purchase is completed.
Installation
Pmdg B777 In P3dv5
The installer is fully automatic. It may install some Microsoft libraries – they are necessary for this product to work correctly.
Activation
Activation is required on the first run of this plane. In my case it went through without a slightest problem – I entered the key – it was verified online in a moment.
PMDG-777-Introduction document informs that all zeros in the activation key are zeros (not O letters).
777
PMDG-777-Introduction
Like all other manuals PMDG-777-Introduction is located in FSXPMDGPMDG 777XFlight Manuals (“FSX” being the name of the main FSX folder on my PC).
This manual explains the specifics of Boeing 777 simulation in FSX. The first part of this document covers:
- 777 installation and activation
- Windows and FSX configuration (tweaks)
- FSX settings for 777
- configuration problems and troubleshooting
- other manuals’ use
120 of 175 pages are dedicated to answering questions concerning PMDG 777 that arose (or could have arisen) and to explaining the function of every page of PMDG 777’s FMC MENU.
In some cases I think it’s was an overkill – just take a look at this Doors window – it takes the whole page and clarifies that… this page is used to open and close aircraft doors.
Doors Window in FMC menu – to save some space I refrained from copying the empty part of this page of the manual
This page shows the philosophy behind PMDG’s manual – “nothing is too irrelevant or too simple”.
I have recently flown two planes that only had vague manuals – after this experience I prefer PMDG’s method. And I really admire the amount of work that someone put into this manual!
One more thing – I had not encountered a single problem with PMDG 777 that I could not solve with it’s manuals. This shows how well they are prepared.
Last pages of Introduction document explain behavior of the 777 in FSX – it’s a very interesting reading.
PMDG-777-Tutorial-1
Only 128 pages are sufficient to explain how to take this plane for a short flight from Dubai to Maldives – from the startup to shutdown. Do not worry – illustrations take a lot of space in this tutorial.
If you decide to follow it – you will fly to Male and get the basic knowledge about FMC programming and autopilot operations.
The proper manuals
Boeing 777 has four main manuals that are used by the flight crew:
- Flight Crew Training Manual (356 pages)
- Flight Crew Operations Manual vol 1 (1210 pages)
- Flight Crew Operations Manual vol 2 (1266 pages)
- Quick Reference Handbook (844 pages)
I did not see any differences between this manuals and the real world manuals of the 777 that I had earlier. Differences I noticed can be explained by the different equipment used in the airline from which the manual came from.
Oooo! There is a significant difference – real world manuals do not have “Do not use for flight” warning and PMDG logo. That is the biggest discrepancy.
Flight Crew Training Manual
FCTM describes maneuvers and techniques used by Boeing 777 crews. It is a broad document that explains the reasons and the context of some tasks. FCOM in contrast will focus on what to do and when to do it.
Flight Crew Operations Manual
FCOM covers procedures (checklists) and aircraft performance in volume one. The second part describes aircraft’s systems in details.
Quick Reference Handbook
QRH is a checklist collection that should help in solving any problems that may occur during flight.
777
Manuals – read this before you run away
I know that three and half thousand pages sounds scary. Especially when compared to an ordinary FSX add-on that has only 30 or 50 page manual. My first though was – “how people find time to read this?”. I will share my experience – I never considered it an obligatory reading. I am not trying to be the real world 777 pilot and I do not have to acquire knowledge of each and every system, button and knob on this plane. Learning how to fly the 777 is a process. In real world this process starts when a pilot learns to fly planes that are less complicated. In the safe environment of flight simulation we can jump into deep end – learning new things as we fly this plane. It’s a good way to learn this plane.
To be hones I need to warn you – I had a lot of experience with other advanced add-ons. 777 systems are not that hard to figure out by someone who has at least basic knowledge.
For those who do not have any previous experience PMDG gives the tutorial – try it and you will get some of the necessary knowledge. Try to alter it a little (maybe change the destination – and both airports) – and you will learn more. In every flight you will learn and get better. This huge manuals are there to help you!
PMDG Operations Center
This nice piece of software solves all the problems I have with other FSX add-ons. What it does is:
Pmdg B777 Liveries
- 777 configuration
- liveries download and installation
- alternative sounds installation
- updates
Additionally – you will find a shortcut to all the manuals in Op Center (under “Documentation”).
Boeinga 777 PMDG configuration
Aircraft Specific Settings / Aircraft Properties table shows the current configuration of British Airways Boeing 777-300ER (G-STBB). In here I can configure:
Pmdg B777 Checklist
- displays
- AFS
- FMC
- FMC Datalink
- GPWS
- warnings
- TCAS
- appearance options (testing equipment, “no smoking” swich text, auxiliary instruments, ADF, etc.)
- weight and temperature units
If I wanted this 777’s GPWS to call 400 feet altitude before landing – I simply need to select this option. There are tens of other options. In the beginning – I suggest you use the default. Later it is nice to get into this and tweak your 777 a little.
Sound Settings
This tab installs a replacement sounds – low-quality cockpit sounds (to lower memory usage) and surround sounds (for external views).
Livery Manager
Manages liveries and adds new liveries (from file).
Livery Downloader
Downloads and installs new liveries (from PMDG server).
Livery Downloader
This feature is very useful – in just a minute I selected the liveries that I liked and installed them. There are tens of liveries to choose from. Each of this liveries is just one click away – no changes in aircraft.cfg file are required.
Version
Check if the 777 is up to date.
How long does it take to configure this plane?
I am impatient! I installed the 777, turned on the FSX and selected one of three planes I had installed by default (installer ads 777-200, 777F and 777-300 in PMDG livery). It took me 10 minutes to get to the cockpit from the moment I downloaded the plane.
All the configuration settings are optional – you can use them (and I am sure you will) but they do not require your attention if you just want to enjoy your new plane.
Come back tomorrow for the cockpit description!