FS2Crew PMDG 737 NGX Voice Control Tutorial Flight

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The following is a very basic guide designed to help new FS2Crew NGX users make a simple flight from A to B using Voice Control. The tutorial does not cover every possible procedural nuance or variation modeled in the simulation; rather, it is designed just to get new users up and running as quickly as possible. Dont forget: You still need to read the Main Ops Manual carefully to fill in the blanks this tutorial does not cover! TO USE THIS TUTORIAL, YOU MUST PRINT OUT THE CAPTAIN AND FIRST OFFICERS FLOWS FROM THE MAIN OPS MANUAL, AS WELL AS THE VOICE COMMANDS AND VOICE CHECKLIST! The tutorial assumes you already know how to operate the PMDG 737 NGX and make a successful flight using the FMC and autopilot. If youre still learning how to fly the NGX itself, please consult one of the many NGX aircraft tutorials and manuals available on the internet.

For Support, please visit the FS2Crew Support forum at Avsim.com.

FS2Crew PMDG 737 NGX Voice Control Tutorial V1.0

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LETS BEGIN!
1. Re-install SP1c (or later). Note that SP1b is NOT sufficient. You must have SP1c for FS2Crew will not work properly! Links for SP1c:
Download the PMDG 737NGX 8900 SP1c Update Download the PMDG 737NGX 6700 Expansion SP1c Update

IMPORTANT: SP1c may not be the latest Service Pack available when youre reading this manual. Always check the PMDG forum for the latest version!

2.

Make sure youre setup for Voice Control. This is explained in detail in the Main Ops Manual. If using Vista or Win 7, its critically important that your speech recognizer be set to ENGLISH US (even if youre from the UK or Australia!)

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3.

4.

Never forget to do the Voice Training! If you get poor voice recognition results, its usually the result of using a damaged headset/mic or not running the voice training. FS2Crew strongly recommends using a USB style headset. A good generic one can be purchased for around $20 USD. If youre running Skype or anything that might use a Microphone running in the background, and youre experiencing volume changes in FS2Crew, be sure to make this setting via the Windows Control panel. Select DO NOTHING and click apply.

5.

Remember that the Windows built into speech recognizer must ALWAYS be OFF! Never turn it on or your FS2Crew Voice Commands will start controlling Windows functions!

FS2Crew PMDG 737 NGX Voice Control Tutorial V1.0

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6. 7.

8. 9.

Open the FS2Crew Config Manager. A link to it should be on your desktop. You can also look in: Start All Programs FS2Crew2012. Make sure you run the FS2Crew Config Manager as an Admin (right click on the desktop icon and select Run as Admin. Also disable User Account Control (UAC) if its running to avoid problems. Google Disable UAC if you dont know how. Not running as an Admin with UAC on can result in the Config Manager being unable to update the PMDG 737 NGXs Panel.Cfg file. Select the Voice Control Version. Click Enable Voice Control.

10.

Load FSX.

FS2Crew PMDG 737 NGX Voice Control Tutorial V1.0

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11.

Make sure your PMDG 737 aircraft is not the default aircraft that gets loaded. PMDG recommends against that as it can cause problems. If the NGX (or any 3rd party aircraft) is the default aircraft that gets loaded, change your FSX default flight settings so only the Trike is the initial aircraft displayed in the Free Flight menu.

12.

In your FSX Settings menu, ensure your FSX aircraft load by default into the 2D cockpit only by making the selection shown below:

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13. 14. 15. 16.

Now its time to load the NGX. Create a flight. You can use any airport you like. Start at a Gate Location. To keep things simple, dont use any ATC programs or complex weather. After the NGX starts to load, you will be asked if you want to Trust the new FS2Crew gauge that was added to the NGXs Panel.Cfg file. If you were not asked to trust the gauge, then there is a problem. It means either you didnt enable FS2Crew on the FS2Crew Config Manager, or the NGX was the default aircraft loaded by FSX. The other possibility is that not running the FS2Crew Config Manager as an Admin with UAC off blocked FS2Crew from being able to update your NGXs Panel.Cfg files.

17. Hopefully, the NGX has now loaded and youre sitting in the 2D cockpit of the NGX. 18. If you like, you can now switch to the VC cockpit. However, its important that the NGX load into the 2D cockpit when you first load the NGX. 19. Note: when you move into the VC cockpit with the FS2Crew Main Panel already open, you may notice that the FS2Crew sound volume drops a bit. You can counter that volume drop by reopening the FS2Crew Main Panel from within the VC itself. 20. Wait for the timer countdown to reach 0. 21. Open the PMDGs FMC and disable the V1, VR and V2 callouts. Also be sure to sync the Captain and FOs altimeters.

FS2Crew PMDG 737 NGX Voice Control Tutorial V1.0

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FS2Crew PMDG 737 NGX Voice Control Tutorial V1.0

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22. Next, load the PMDG NGX CLD DRK (Cold and Dark) Panel State via the PMDGs FMC PMDG SETUP menu.

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23. Note: We recommend always using the PMDG default panel state files (like CLDDRK, LONG, SHORT or DEFAULT), not your own. 24. You should now be sitting in a Cold and Dark cockpit and you should be in the 2D cockpit. 25. Open the FS2Crew Main Panel by left clicking this area:

It may also look like this depending on your NGXs Equipment settings:

FS2Crew PMDG 737 NGX Voice Control Tutorial V1.0

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26. The FS2Crew Main Panel should now open. If it doesnt, it means FS2Crew was not successfully added to your NGXs Panel.Cfg file or your default saved flight on startup used the NGX and not the Trike.

27. The Main Panel is very simple to understand; for a full description of the various buttons please consult the FS2Crew Main Ops manual. 28. When the Main Panel is opened, FS2Crew voice recognition system will initialize. If the VOICE button does not stay on, it means the voice recognition system failed to load. Usually this is because the user does not have ENGLISH US set as the Speech Recognizers language. 29. Now, we need to open the Config Panel. 30. Press the CFG button on the Main Panel shown above. This panel should now open:

31. Press RUN PF. It stands for Run Pre-Flight Events. You dont need to do it for every flight, but for this tutorial you should just so you can see how it works.

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32. The FO will then start powering up the aircraft. If youre parked at a gate, the FSX default jetway should connect assuming its available. Note the text in the left window in the Main Panel:

The Orange Text and <-- --> indicates that the FO is performing a flow action. 33. Note the T+30 number on the Main Panel. That shows the time remaining until pushback. You can click on it to fast forward the time down, but only when the FO is not currently doing a flow.

34. For a full list of required crew actions that are to be performed by you and the FO, please see the FLOWS section in the FS2Crew Main Ops manual. 35. In short, as the Captain, all you need to do is set the IRS selectors to NAV and setup the FMC. The FO will do the rest. 36. At T + 18 minutes before pushback, a ground crew staff member will enter the cockpit and ask you if youre ready to start boarding. SPEAK: YES 37. A short time later, the FO will start his main pre-flight setup routine. Hell perform all his functions listed in the FLOWS section in the manual. Itll take him a bit of time to go through everything, so be patient.

38. When hes done, hell say hes ready for the checklist and youll note there will be a little asterisks (*) symbol placed at the end of the PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST text in the Main Window, signifying that the FO is ready for the checklist.

39. Now, its time to run the Pre-Flight Checklist. SPEAK: PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST You then need to respond using the responses listed in the VOICE CHECKLIST section of the Main Ops Manual. If you get stuck, you can say SET or NEXT.

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40. After running the Pre-Flight Checklist, you can brief the FO for departure. You can either speak: ARE YOU READY FOR THE DEPARTURE BRIEF? and then close the brief by saying ANY QUESTIONS. Or, you can press the BR button to open the Brief Panel and then press the button that says PLAY BRIEF.

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41. At +8 minutes, the ground staff will hand you a loadsheet. FS2Crew does not model a physical loadsheet. If you want to use one, we suggest using a program like TOPCAT. SPEAK: THANKS

42. At +1 minutes to pushback, the FA will enter the cockpit and tell you that theyre ready in the back. SPEAK: THANKS 43. In the left window in the Main Panel, you should see the text: B. START PROC. This stands for Before Start Procedure.

44. With the time remaining at 0 or 1, speak: BEFORE START PROCEDURE to ask the FO to perform his Before Start procedure flow. 45. Again, check the FLOWS section in the FS2Crew manual for a full list of required crew member actions, but all you basically need to do is set the STAB TRIM for Takeoff and arm the autothrottle and setup the MCP. The FO will take care of the rest. 46. When done, its time to run the Before Start Checklist.

SPEAK: BEFORE START CHECKLIST 47. Again, consult the FS2Crew Voice Checklist manual to see how you can respond to the various items in the checklist. 48. When youve completed the Before Start Checklist, the mode will change to: S.CREW/ENG START:

49. Before we can talk to the ground crew, we need to setup the Audio Control Panel or the ground crew wont be able to hear us.

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50. The easiest way is to simply press in FLT on the Captains Audio Control Panel. The other option using the Service Interphone is described in the Main Ops Manual.

51. Now, contact the start crew. SPEAK: COCKPIT TO GROUND AND AFTER THE GROUND CREW REPLIES BACK SPEAK: WE ARE READY FOR PUSHBACK AND ENGINE START AND AFTER THE GROUND CREW REPLIES BACK SPEAK: BRAKES RELEASED

52. Now, its time to start the engines: SPEAK: START SEQUENCE IS TWO THEN ONE SPEAK: START ENGINE TWO You will need to manually move the fuel lever to idle at around 25 percent N1 or max motoring. After the engine has stabilized repeat the procedure for the remaining engine SPEAK: START ENGINE ONE 53. Note: If the FO says were not configured for engine start, something is wrong. Usually the problem is not having SP1c installed or not having FSX load by default into the 2D cockpit. You can also try re-installing FS2Crew.

FS2Crew PMDG 737 NGX Voice Control Tutorial V1.0

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54. After both engines have stabilized, the FO will automatically perform the first part of his Before Taxi flow, the details of which are described in the Flows section in the FS2Crew manual.

55. Next, wait for the pushback procedure to end. When told to set the parking brake, set the parking brake and speak BRAKES SET. 56. When ready to disconnect the Start Crew, speak: YOU ARE CLEARED TO DISCONNECT AND GO TO HAND SIGNALS. 57. You should now be in this mode:

58. SPEAK: FLAPS 5 to ask the FO to set the Takeoff Flaps. This is also the trigger for the FO to finish the last section of his Before Taxi Flow. 59. After the FO completes the 2nd part of his Before Taxi flow, its time to run the BEFORE TAXI CHECKLIST. SPEAK: BEFORE TAXI CHECKLIST

60. Complete the Before Taxi Checklist, and youre now ready to taxi. SPEAK: CLEAR ON THE LEFT 61. Start taxiing toward the runway. You can turn on the taxi light if desired. 62. A short while later, the FA will phone the cockpit to tell you that the cabin is ready for takeoff. (The FO answers this call). 63. After that has happened, call for and run through the BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST. SPEAK: BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST

64. You should now be coming up on the hold short line. 65. When you enter the runway, you need to run the RUNWAY ENTRY PROCEDURE. SPEAK: RUNWAY ENTRY PROCEDURE

66. The FO will then perform his runway entry flow as described in the manual.

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67. After the FO says Ready to Go, speak: TAKEOFF.

68. 69. 70. 71.

Advance the throttles to 40% N1, then press TOGA. The FO will call V1 and ROTATE. When the FO calls POSITIVE RATE, speak: GEAR UP. Now its just a matter of using the available Voice Commands to ask the FO to set the autopilot panel and clean up the aircraft as desired as per whichever takeoff profile you follow. Some typical commands might be: SELECT HEADING SELECT SELECT LNAV SELECT VNAV SELECT LEVEL CHANGE FLAPS UP SPEED SELECT COMMAND A FLAP ONE FLAPS UP SET SPEED TWO TWO ZERO SET ALTITUDE EIGHT THOUSAND CLIMB THRUST

72. After the flaps are up, call for the AFTER TAKEOFF CHECKLIST. SPEAK: AFTER TAKEOFF CHECKLIST

73. Note: Make sure the flaps are fully up before you call for the AFTER TAKEOFF CHECKLIST. 74. Passing the Transition Altitude (TA), press STD on the EFIS Panel to change your altimeter to Standard pressure. 75. At this point, there generally isnt much to do until you are near the Top of Descent. The plane flies itself on autopilot. You just need to monitor the systems.

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76. Around 50 to 100nm back of the Top of Descent, you need to brief the FO for the arrival. You can speak: ARE YOU READY FOR THE APPROACH BRIEF? And then close the brief by asking: ANY QUESTIONS? Or you can open the BRIEF Panel, and run the Approach Brief by pressing PLAY BRIEF. Either way, you should still always open the Brief Panel because you need to use it to set the Decision Height for the FOs Minimums call.

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77. A few seconds after the Brief is done, the FO will run his pre-descent flow.

78. When the FO has finished his pre-descent flow, call for and run the DESCENT CHECKLIST. SPEAK: DESCENT CHECKLIST

79. Important: Make sure you set the Transition Level (TL) in the FMCs DESCENT FORCAST PAGE. FS2Crew uses that info to make the Transition Level call. Also setup your radios (like the ILS frequency) for the approach.

80. Passing the TOD start the descent. 81. Passing the Transition Level, the FO will call TRANSITION LEVEL. Press STD and set local pressure in your altimeter and announce the altimeter setting on your PDF. SPEAK (FOR EXAMPLE): ALTIMETERS TWO EIGHT NINE TWO 82. Passing 10,000 feet or the TL, whichever is lower, call for the APPROACH CHECKLIST. SPEAK: APPROACH CHECKLIST

83. The FO will read-back his altimeter setting. You need to read back yours.

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SPEAK (FOR EXAMPLE): ALTIMETERS TWO EIGHT NINE TWO

84. Navigate your own way down to the ILS approach course. 85. When you complete the Approach Checklist, the mode should automatically change to LANDING:

86. While in the LANDING MODE, you can make the following voice commands in accordance with a typical ILS landing profile. FLAPS ONE FLAPS FIVE FLAPS FIFTEEN GEAR DOWN LANDING CHECKLIST FLAPS 30 CLEARED (*spoken when cleared to land) LANDING (*spoken when the FO says Minimums)

87. Land the aircraft. The Mode will change to ROLL OUT.

88. SPEAK: MANUAL BRAKING when you apply manual braking. 89. After you exit the runway, speak OKAY TO CLEAN UP or retract the speed brake. The FO will then clean up the aircraft (retract the flaps, etc.). He will also turn on the APU.

90. 91. 92. 93.

Note that there is no After Landing Checklist. The FO reads it silently. Taxi to the gate. The FO will tell you when the APU is on-line. Wait for that call. When the FO has finished his After Landing Flow, you will be in the PRE-SHUTDOWN MODE:

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94. When parked at the gate, set the Parking Brake. That is the FOs trigger to start his preshutdown flow.

95. The FO will tell you when hes ready for shutdown. 96. After the FO says that hes ready for shutdown, manually set both fuel levers on the throttle pedestal to cutoff. (Thats your job, not the FOs!) 97. Selecting both fuel levers to cutoff is the trigger for the FO to run his main shutdown flow.

98. A few moments later, you will hear a chime and the FA will phone the cockpit to tell you that the slides have been disarmed. When you hear the chime, speak: YES.

99. Next, open the PA Panel, and press the O-DOORS button to tell the FAs they can now open the doors. Or, you can make a voice PA and speak: CABIN CREW DOORS MAY BE OPENED.

100. The ground crew will also contact you to let you know that the chocks are in. This will be associated with the 2nd chime you hear. SPEAK: GO AHEAD to reply. IMPORTANT: Make sure you have FLT (or the SVC Interphone) buttons setup on the Captains Audio Control Panel otherwise the ground engineer wont be able to hear you when you respond!

101. When the FOs flow is complete, run the SHUTDOWN CHECKLIST.

102. Finally, well assume this is the last flight of the day and were not handing the aircraft over to the engineers, so ask the FO to run his Securing Aircraft Procedure.

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SPEAK: SECURE THE AIRCRAFT PLEASE That is the FOs trigger to run his securing aircraft flow.

Note that you will need to manually shut off the APU and turn off the position lights.

103.

When done, run the SECURING AIRCRAFT CHECKLIST. SPEAK: SECURING AIRCRAFT CHECKLIST

104.

If you want to make another flight, there is no need to reload the aircraft. Simply press RUN PF events again and start from the beginning!

TUTORIAL END

FS2Crew PMDG 737 NGX Voice Control Tutorial V1.0

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