AA MD80 Enroute KDCA - FMS, Engine Instruments and Systems Displays

[airplanekp]

Hey. what cost index do you use?

[contrail777]

@airplanekp The cost index varies from flight to flight depending on a number of factors...on time status, headwind/tailwind, etc...I've seen it as low as 8 and as high as 200. Around 25 yields a climb speed around 310 and .76 cruise.

[Md80123]

Does American just have md82's and md83's in the super 80 family or do they have ather super 80 series aircraft since I know md80 means all of the McDonnell Douglas aircraft series

[Md80123]

Finally So aa already had md83s and no American md82's have the new engine instruments

[contrail777]

@Md80123 Yes, American had both MD82s and MD83s before the TWA merger. None of which have the upgraded engine instrument panels. The mix of jets AA got from TWA is a little confusing. TWA had both MD82s and MD83s and I am fairly certain that only the MD83s have the upgraded engine panels. The jet in the video is one of 39 with dual FMS. Many of the TWA jets were not equipped with FMS. AA has standardized the cockpits as much as possible, but there are still numerous variations.

[Md80123]

I mean in your fleet

[Md80123]

So some md83's still have the old steam gauge like engine n1 and n2 dials

[contrail777]

@Md80123 That's correct. All the MD82 and MD83 aircraft originally purchased by AA are equipped with the old round dial engine instruments. Those same aircraft have all been upgraded with EFIS and GPS based FMS systems. The only jets with the upgraded engine instrument panels came that way from TWA.

[Md80123]

Do your md83 have these new engine displays or all the old engine displays

[contrail777]

@Md80123 It's a mix. This is a total guess, but we probably have 50-60 jets with the new engine displays. They were all aquired from TWA.

[theoldboy346]

It's the same as Boeing's FMS

[olivermbs]

3:44 shouldn't that be set to CR in the cruise?

[contrail777]

@olivermbs You have a good eye. Leaving the TRI (Thrust Rating Indicator) in CR (cruise) mode is a technique used my most MD80 pilots. The TRI determines the max EPR available to the engines and CL (climb) mode would allow the engines to produce more thrust if needed. At cruise, with the engines at less than the EPR limit, there is no difference between CR and CL except that extra power is available if needed.

[leonelp51]

hi i have a little question !, which CI use AA usually ??? if they use differente CI for different routes can u gie me an average ?

[contrail777]

@leonelp51 Not sure if you are wondering about cruise speed or cost index but am assuming cruise speed...Typical cruise speed for an MD80 is Mach .76 and about 250-260 indicated (IAS). TAS is close to 500 kts.

[leonelp51]

@contrail777 cost index :P

[contrail777]

@leonelp51 Cost index is a number that we input into the FMS that determines how efficiently the flight will be flown. A cost index of 0 would yield the most efficient flight profile possible...usually slower speeds in climb, cruise and descent. A higher number yields a faster, less efficient flight. A typical CI for a flight running on time or ahead of schedule is around 13. Something around 100 or higher would be used when running behind schedule or fighting headwinds.

[leonelp51]

@contrail777 ok thanks for ur reply ! =D

[Soon2BpiLot2992]

Awesome video, love the atc chatter. This is not relavant to your vid, but I just got a 90% on my ppl knowledge test, just throwing it out their cuz I'm so happy.

[contrail777]

Congrats on the PPL test!

[stejensen]

Great video! Keep them coming.