Full FMC setup - Boeing 737NG

In this video I will show you how to set up the FMC before departure. I will guide you through the initial pages, all the way until the aircraft is ready for departure.
This video is designed to be used together with the "Mentour Aviation" app and the "Boeing 737 setup, from cold to takeoff" playlist.
Enjoy and join the chat on the app with any questions.

[@DNesbitt-p1t]

I'm an aircraft mechanic and was recently called up to the flt deck of a 737-800 because the pilots were having problems with a blanked out milage figure on an alt route. We did a Boeing reset (powered off A/C), which sometimes works, only to have the same issue repeat. Finally, the FO realized that they had put in the wrong airport code that was 5000nm in the wrong direction. Once corrected, everything worked correctly. So these videos help me understand something usually only pilots mess with. It's appreciated.

[@timduggan1461]

Great response. Minor story.....before GPS DC-10s used a similar gyro system. This story begins in Sydney, Australia. Short? The First Officer inputed 'NORTH' Latitude, instead of South. This was before GPS was common. Suffice to say? This DC -10 nav systems were corrupt The Captain, rather than dumping fuel and returning to Sydney Just flew the Flight Plan headings, reported position to ATC, AND made it to Hawai'i....

[@theflyingpotato5601]

better than any pmdg 737 tutorial

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you!

[@MichaelBrodie68]

Agreed - best directions I've seen

[@danmcbride6258]

Michael Brodie great detail and instruction

[@Kwamesamson1]

I tell you!

[@alejordann2fly411]

Totally agree

[@Jourdainist]

Every flight simmer looking like 👁️👄👁️ "I've been doing it wrong"

[@markg7963]

At our airline, we can load and execute anything independently during the preflight. Either the First or Captain can do anything they want to the box, but only up until we do an independent verification of data (it's becoming the norm that the pilot flying the leg sets the box up while the non flying pilot does the walk around, that way the flying pilot is more engaged to any weird or strange issues with the flight). If we are on an over water route, where non-radar will be involved, we both first check the route independently, and then we check the route together one more time. One pilot reads the route and the other checks it against the actual clearance. At that time the box becomes " locked", and it takes both pilots to be in agreement before any further action is executed for the duration of the flight. Including any changes to FMC, altitude, course, heading, etc. Additionally, our 737 boxes uplink almost everything automatically through the ACARS, and many aircraft are rapidly being retrofitted with the ability to upload clearance changes from ATC through CPDLC. I'm not a huge fan of how the CPDLC handles things though, for example, we are required to "accept and load" any CPDLC change from the departure facility into our box, but these CPDLC clearances will not automatically load any runway or departures, so any work you have already done on the route gets wiped out anyway, and you end up reloading all of that again manually, which opens things up to mistakes... As for performance, we send off a request in ACARS for a specific runway, intersection, weight, altimeter setting, etc. And a few minutes later we receive both an ACARS printout of takeoff performance data, and also a FMC prompt to load this data into our box. We accept the data into the FMC, then check it against the ACARS printout before execution. Then, we read and compare all that data one last final time on a checklist before we blast off. We do have the ability to override this data for gusty winds, tailwinds, and any reason we desire a maximum power takeoff. If anything changes, we have to re-accomplish any portion of this whole process that is associated with the change. For example, a different runway dictates a SID change, route change, and performance change, so most of that has to be all re-accomplished and rechecked. In the US, it is common for ATC to constantly change the departure runways to balance out traffic on the field, and this causes a major PITA as we are trying to taxi on busy airports and not screw that up at the same time. Sometimes it just gets too overwhelming so we just stop the aircraft somewhere and get our bearings again.... I love that European airports usually give you a departure runway as a part of your clearance, so you can reduce the changes while taxi. Thanks for an awesome video. Definitely some things different, but basically the same.... That was a hard video to clearly make so people would understand what you were doing. Well done.

[@TheCemm20]

It is obviously the best FMC set up video in KZbin, Thanks Captain !

[@useruiy]

Cem Murat Tulukcu are you pilot which you could understand?

[@Betyarjutub]

I'm new to aviation, and watched about 4 hours fmc tutorials for x-plane 11, but this 16 minutes were the most useful of it. thank you!

[@lkslokinhow]

I have the PMDG 737 on the Microsoft Flight Simulator and I'm shocked on how their replica is accurate. It works exactly as you have showed us in this video. Really cool stuff. Thank you for sharing that.

[@trip5003]

Same here . Mentour tells it straight and very easy to follow . Best real Pilot Channel out there period

[@CallsignMunch]

I like the how you don't execute until you do the route check as a crew. I'm going to suggest my company to incorporate it into our SOP's.

[@Pies.]

oo

[@CraZy291]

How did it go?

[@marktwain3531]

Bro, why the pilot looking at a tutorial on how to use the FMC?

[@CallsignMunch]

​@@marktwain3531Lots of reasons. It's a life long career of learning. Lots of different techniques. Being involved in the aviation community. You name it.

[@marktwain3531]

@@CallsignMunch Yes, I said it jokingly. 💀

[@jakeperl5857]

Hands down the most helpful and clearest-explained FMC tutorial I've seen so far (and I've seen a few)!

[@PrathameshSai]

this shows how accurate the pmdg 737 is wow you can learn evrything on fsx

[@MonishJohnson]

Electrip so which is more realistic?

[@ilovechieftains]

I know PMDG did a great job setting up their FMC, it is super realistic!!!

[@littleferrhis]

The pudgy is about 96% as close to the real thing according to Boeing.

[@rahulmaurya3886]

ABSOLUTELY MATE I WAS SHOCKED AFTER SEEING THIS VIDEO THAT HOW ACCURATE IS PMDG

[@turbofanct6679]

Electrip You are right!

[@aviation.london8302]

I’ve been thing to understand the FMC for weeks now. After this video it all makes sense. Good tutorial from someone who knows what he’s talking about. Thank you captain!

[@shyammohabir8283]

FMC - Flight Management Computer CDU - Control Display Unit FMC has 3 databases: 1. Software options (OP PROGRAM), 2. Model/Engine data base (MEDB) 3. Navigation data base (NDB), All of which are stored on an EEPROM memory card. These databases can all be updated via the data loader. MEDB holds all the performance data for V speeds, min & max speeds in climb, cruise & descent, fuel consumption, altitude capability etc. NDB is comprised of Permanent, Supplemental (SUPP) and Temporary (REF). The Permanent database cannot be modified by crew. There are four types of data: Waypoint, Navaid, Airport and Runway. Runway data is only held in the permanent database.

[@DenisOkan]

Dear Mentour, what was the outcome of inputting the departur airport on the POS INIT page, if you then selected the GPS coordinates? If you do that last step you can enter any airfield and it will actually change nothing... From my point, the advantage of selecting the airport is that this can give you the possibility to enter the GATE and receive its coordinates... if they exist in the database. When I was learining to fly B737 in Denver United Training Center - they had such FMCs and we normally put the ICAO 4-letter code and then selected the gate to get the precise coordinates. But that was on 737CL. And since that times I have never seen FMCs with gates stored in their DB.

[@northstar5934]

u can fly your own jet and leave him fly his own one 😂

[@Airplanegeek777]

Interesting to watch! I fly the A320 family so have a different box with different buttons, but the setup isn't really that different...same info, different order, but all very logical! Great videos, hope you're also doing fantastic! :-)

[@nicholaspazzani4584]

Oh yea! Now when I get X-Plane 11 ill be able to work the FMC. Thanks Mentour, VERY informative video as always!

[@nicholaspazzani4584]

Yes actually I have but about a week ago my phone broke so I haven't been able to use the app recently. But so far the app has been wonderful, really have been enjoying it.

[@snowgolem6099]

You can not get X-plane 11 on mobile. Only X-plane 10.

[@slotigy]

What graphics card are you using?

[@nathanaelmalm5641]

He flew to Area 51 and stole their best PC

[@youcefdz5598]

@@nathanaelmalm5641 fake because us military uses windows xp and x plane 11 runs on windows 7 and above

[@AviationMahin]

Using reality

[@joseconcepcion3796]

Thanks so much! They make it impossible to learn about the cockpit after 911. Your videos makes one feel they they too can one day be an ATP 😊!

[@davidpinto7542]

Hi Mentour. Just wanted to say we use to program like this, and a year ago we started using company routes. It is the best thing ever. Reduces a lot the amount of work into programming the FMC.

[@avamendez1272]

Davito P takes less than nine minutes for the setup. it's good to stay in practice😊

[@AviationPro]

Thank you, a perfect tutorial. Glad to see such video from a real 737 captain this time, very well done! :)

[@hotmemes7482]

OMG HI

[@yeymymar]

Took a class about it today, this video helped me clear many doubts. Thanks!

[@MichaelBrodie68]

Apologies if already covered in another video, could you please do a follow up video on other FMC functions you use during flight? For example, HOLD, FIX, APPROACH for Vapp calculation. Thank you for this brilliant video.

[@avamendez1272]

this is the most comprehensive instructional video of the flight management system on the net. filmed inside a level D simulator: what is that? They are mounted on a platform that can represent the different attitudes experienced in flight. The sounds, alarms and engines are just like the real thing. pilots are able to practice the most complex departures and approaches. It is here where the crew gains invaluable experience setting up CATII and CATIIIA ILS. It's not always smooth going. at the trainer's discretion, emergncies of every type can be thrown at the crew, all in real time and no one brings you closer to action than Mentour. Guys, it's time to invest in what you love. get the Mentour Aviation app and download the content. Precise information direct from a senior captain and TRE (type rating examiner) it doesn't get better than this. love, Ava❤

[@thomasbrady8056]

this was so helpful as you actually showed where to find everything on the flight plans! Thank you

[@iaexo]

Very much enjoying your professionalism in figuring out the NG.

[@josephcosta5161]

OMG I just Left on two of your videos about learning fmc and I found it the next day.. you are a great teacher as I wanna learn from you, thank you so much mentour polite......

[@gordons.raskin358]

Your videos are such a pleasure. When I watch your posts, my day somehow gets a little more fantastic! Safe travels, Captain.- Gordon

[@rangerrick8220]

In watching these videos, the APU is turned off after the engines are started. So if the APU is off during takeoff, why are you using 0.8 less in the N1 page? Shouldn't the N1 limit still be 98.0?

[@wilbisson1306]

Best explanation of the 737 FMC ever ,thank you !!!

[@MrHification]

Just as you told me you would do this video. Was looking forward to it. Very inspirational how you do this work alongside your full time job.

[@aravindmaddini6348]

Very nice amazing 🤩..i LOVE HOW🥰 PATIENT you here like teaching to children ❤️

[@Alirezarz62]

Well I wasn't expecting this to pop up when searching for pmdg fmc tutorial! Helped me a lot for the 737 and 747 fmc!

[@bobbywelch6035]

Now I have a better understanding of why it takes so long after both pilots are onboard, doors shut and the pilots give me the signal to start engines. Thank you for the explanation.

[@franksommer8151]

+Mentour Pilot, Great video, even if I knew most of the tasks as a PMDG-simmer ;-) But, if you have time, I would like to see how to handle advanced procedures while flying, e.g. route changes (e.g. how to go back to airport in case of emergency after start), alternative airports or holding.

[@quippytube]

Thanks for the video, Captain. But I have a question that maybe will be answered despite this video is quite old. In the legs page of the flightplan we see a T/C Wind of 243/040 and an ISA DEV of +4, however in the summary on top of the plan, where you receive the avg cruise wind, we also see a TOC Wind and ISA DEV - but those are different (231/21 and -3). Why is that and could those also be used? I hope for an answer... Thanks!

[@nathantaylor4538]

Yep, I spotted that too, and wanted to ask the same question. Also, TOC seems to be after WAL (from OFP) but then on LEGS 2/7 it is apparent that TOC is now prior to WAL. Why (if the dispatcher is using the same info to create the OFP) does the FMC have a different TOC?

[@N950T]

Excellent and informative video. Thanks, Captain.

[@MentourPilot]

YOU for supporting the channel. Great to see that people are appreciating the content.

[@702Wolfi]

Thank you for all your awesome videos Mentour Pilot!

[@staaaajn]

Well explained. I hope that I can try it in real life very soon.

[@stephencheshire3109]

one of the best videos on KZbin I've ever watched

[@Galm_1]

Thank you very much. I will try this on PMDG 777. I've always had trouble setting STAR and ILS, now I know how to do this properly!

[@jasoncentore1830]

Very informative video, I knew the FMC did a lot, but had no idea how many functions it controls

[@kirklorange]

Great video. One question: why didn't you enter anything for the centre of gravity? Isn't it very important to know what take off trim should be set to?

[@ehaanansari5132]

Nice now gonna fly the 737 lying in the backyard thanks skipper

[@joshuajackson1616]

You are one hell of a teacher. Best tutorial on here. I’ve learned a lot from you.

[@ruatachhangte]

This helped a lot for my PMDG 737 setup! Thanks!

[@Aviaton618]

This is amazing. Im going to practice this on a calculator. Layman question: why do you have to do all that data entry manually from a printed sheet of paper? Cant this be automated if the flight plan was received digitally and fed into the FMC? Then the FMC calculates the optimal speed v1 flaps altitude etc after the plane sensors measure gross weight, fuel, and other factors?

[@luJustin-z4p]

Amazing video! You make a very professional tutorial for us. Great job.

[@shaheerpmr2594]

I am really proud of you 👍❤️, well explained 👍❤️, I always watch your videos 👍❤️, thank you so much My dream is to become the captain of airbus a 380, and Boeing 787 dream liner 👍❤️

[@rangerrick8220]

Much better than 5 min video - will have to watch Mentour app video.

[@DFW_Spotter]

I’m going to the SWA sims with my friend and I’m going on a study rant to learn as much as I can

[@james_ross]

Amazing what goes into getting the aircraft ready, thanks

[@vasily2022]

Simply splendid!

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

[@onthisrock1970]

May as well been spoken in Japanese for this English speaker but still interesting to see how complex the process is

[@nflaviation8418]

How about CG in Take Off Ref Tab ? Just let it empty ?

[@CraZy291]

They leave it empty (other airlines do not), since they get the stab trim value from the loadsheet (the Boeing OPT app calculates it also).

[@ajidamarjati]

Ohh shoot i set up my FMC comparatively wrong in my PMDG's 737NGXu hahaha. Thanks for this video capt!

[@Lienn1]

Great video Mentour, gonna chek out the app. But one question, what does 27k "bump" thrust mean? when do you use this? short runways maybe?

[@yams900]

Excellent tutorial for PMDG 737-700 in FS2020 !

[@Armysniper360]

Now I know what ZFW is lol. Love the 737 family. Thank you for the videos Captain

[@tm8473]

nice video! There's no place for the first alternate airport in the FMC? How is the transition between the regular route and the alternate route performed, from the FMC point of view?

[@stefannirschl5129]

Thank you for the video! What I dont understand at the FMC setting at the B737 is why is Takeoff weight the same as Gross Weight. From my point of view, at the takeoff page, take off weight (TOW) should be less than Gross weight (GW) as we have to taxi from gate to the runway and this will burn fuel and reduces TOW. At some large airports taxi could take up to 30min this will means that a huge quantity will be burned during taxi. So i don`t understand why TOW and GW will than be the same for caclulation the VSpeeds. Are there no possibiltiy in the FMC to plan taxi fuel? May someone has an idea for this issue. Txs in advance for any input. Cheers.

[@rondeldebbio9219]

This is awesome, exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[@sandman4asleep]

Capt. great video as always. I have a couple questions if you can answer. 1. Does the F/O side FMC gets set up automatically with same values when the captain sets up his side? 2. I understand why derated T/O is performed for reasons but why enter a fake temperature degree to SEL side? 3. In case you have to land to a nearest airport, in FMC, is there a nearest airport list like in Garmin GPS devices installed in smaller aircrafts. I fly pmdg sim and cant set up fmc to show and select nearest airports and related frequencies. Thanks so much. Keep up the great content. Cheers

[@medyapimnetherland527]

Hey hey, iknow this video is old. But can we get one day tutorial about how to calculate the ISA DEV for TC and also for Descent forecast? I see you had the possibility to put the P04 in ISA DEV in the perf page, but PMDG removed the option .... we can only put it in the T/C OAT would like to see a calculation tutorial from u about the ISA DEV T/C and Descent Forecast! Thanks in advance! :)

[@Mikinct]

Great instructional video, thanks for posting this. Question 4 you or the group here. I'm new to FMC- I know the basics. I paid for update Navigraph subscription and downloaded recent AIRAC cycle for my Plane in the Sim which is a Wilco 777-200ER. One question is, the new AIRAC cycle show correctly in my FMC CDU screen ok. But when I enter say New York (KJFK airport then try choosing runway 31L or 31R for Departing its not there listed as an option. It only showing 1/1 pages so there isn't another page. Only runways showing for KJFK are RW04L, RW04R, RW13L, RW13R & RW22L) thats it- No runway 31L or 31R for departures. Strange thing is on my FMC if I try seeing what runways are available at KJFK for Arrivals I'm seeing all runways including 31L, 31R. But I noticed its also missing IAPs- they show the runways but do not list ILS or RNAV approaches. Anyone have a clue whats going on or how to fix/remedy this issue? or experienced this themselves?

[@brianmccarthy714]

Wish he would explain why you set all those waypoints. Big reason is, if you have a comms failure, you fly that route and atc will know where you are at all times.

[@luthvinaw]

How about deleting data (such as routes, flight plans, etc.) for previous flights(end of flight)? because the aircraft is going to be used for the next flight

[@ShurikAviation]

Now i have a complete and realistic input of the fmc into pmdg 737-800NG thanks ^^

[@brendaproffitt1011]

Totally awesome great set up great showing how and the flight plan to..route too.wow ..Thank you so so much for everything that you do...I do greatly appreciate it too..

[@moyito53]

Captain How are you ??? on the end you did not fill the CG and the take trim out to complete the operation Greetings from Costa Rica

[@GaryNumeroUno]

Petr, is it compulsory to stick to the precise take off speed? In your demonstrated set up the system shows V2 at 142 knots. Can you just add a few extra knots such as in this case... 145 knots so you have a few extra knots up your sleeve should you get an engine failure on takeoff? It seems odd to me that aircraft take off what seems to be just over stall speed. It seems more sensible having extra speed up your sleeve before you leave the ground... remaining runway allowing of course!

[@FlyNAA]

V2 itself is for engine failure

[@ZIPPO3342]

Why did you leave the QRH OFF on the takeoff ref page? Awesome video!!!

[@khadarmila498]

Captain I would like to ask if air craft can be hacked?

[@Sy-T007]

no pmdg setup or fs action in this 😉

[@Haleeoo]

Mentour Pilot i think he is making fun of the "fsaction" and "pmdg setup" menu which is implemented in the pmdg cdu to enable fuel loading etc. within fsx or p3d. :)

[@GenLeeWasted]

AH SO THIS IS HOW ALL THE TERRORISTS LERN HOW TO FLY COMMERCIAL AIRLINES

[@GenLeeWasted]

You mean flight simulators and mentors like yourself?

[@Sy-T007]

Mentour Pilot No captain, it was a joke, maybe a bad one.

[@rokix101]

LOL i got you man pmdg 737 ngx is amazing , i run P3D btw how about you :D

[@marcwatson5533]

Why do the E, N, S, W letters have boxes around them?

[@ScuuBdoo]

North, South, East, West

[@marcwatson5533]

ScuuBdoo Oh, thanks

[@8should1no]

Fester Blats To make those keys easier to find when you need to manually put in coordinates. (To create temporary waypoints or during IRS alignment)

[@jasoncentore1830]

My guess is they are very commonly used so they highlight them.

[@jaksongpg]

fantastic - thanks for all your work Mentour!

[@trophywife6772]

Is the 27k bump something used in practice? If so is its use pilot discretion or something your perf calculator recommends?

[@roybaker6366]

great clear video on setting up FMC

[@iliyanyordanov9835]

Isn't the aircraft automatically calculating zero fuel weight? And also on takeoff page why you didn't enter the aircrafts center of gravity to make the plane calculate the initial trim?

[@AlphaSimmer]

Hi Capt. Thank you so much for this FMC tutorial.

[@TroyaJamilyn]

Thank you for this, Mentour. Very, very helpful.

[@kamranbhatti1673]

Caption, on arrival at 5:04 you selected a runway and BAGSO1L departure you said. on arrival is it not a STAR we are looking for and not a departure. Please correct me. In General, a great tutorial, thank you.

[@FlyNAA]

He goofed, you're right

[@audreykile]

Hello Sir ..if you will ..when recommending a video you wouldlike us to view ..would you put the link in the description..just found your chnl..enjoying very much ..fly safe ..and get well soon from your accident 🥰

So it only provides you with the information on how you should fly, but does not actually control the aircraft correct?

[@CJSLR]

Great video! Thnks a lot! What is mean plan fuel at perf unit page? Is it trip fuel or total?

[@38911bytefree]

Appart form using this system as a guide to check at way points and estimating what other tasks peforms. It "talks" to the AP so it can get between this figures, modify engines settings, thing like that or it just for pilot usage as an assistant. I mean, does this gear participate on aircrafts inputs ?. Thanks. Excelent vid, love it.

[@pilotpawanc]

A beautiful video Cap. Loved it!!!!

[@yams900]

tack tack, tittade igen !

[@hflx]

I will try on my 737... does it work on a 700 as well? thanks, will use for MSFS for sure , tks. Great channel on aviation, not to say how it has so many views and information about Aviation!

[@papakilo-2750]

5:02 for anyone confused, sids and stars are usualy the same as they can be used vice versa, that's why he said departure

[@PAMOLA28]

Thank you very much...found your videos very useful. clear and precise. cheers.

[@andersongeorge4653]

*Since u can only put ( 20) waypoints what if there if some more than 20 fixes how to put more fixes on RTE* ?!

[@greenlightzone]

I like your home built cockpit

[@theinfiniteflightdeck]

Ah, it’s not a home cockpit. That’s a real-world level-D sim training sim. He’s a TRE (type rating examiner) so has access to that.

[@gcrauwels941]

It'll take a few views of this to sink in, but not because of the explanation. Thank you.

[@이종혁-d8t]

Could you explain how you determine the derate figure and T/O CG?

[@AhmedAli-xy2jd]

This video is very helpful. I like it.

[@Richardushirolumb]

@Mentour Pilot I've seen that some pilots are told to set V2 +20 into the speed window on the MCP, however in this case you haven't done it. Is that something that varies by airlines/SOPs or is it a normal thing to do?

[@Ortfinder]

How you calculated the SEL 42?

[@CraZy291]

Boeing's OPT (Onboard Performance Tool). Can be downloaded from the App store.

[@MaciejSwic]

Won't putting the AVG WIND on WAL overwrite the TOC WIND? Always been told to put it right below the first wind value (RIGVA and not WAL in your video).

[@mikemoreno4469]

That was wonderful. Thank you, Captain.

[@hflx]

Very clear and objective, what about CG% and trim calculation? is that done later? anyone knows? I'm using this for FS but I did exactly like that, except for the derate which I dont have a easy way to calculate for PMDG... so far my biggest issue is to change a route legs

[@turboprop7774]

Another Excellent and Informative video Thank You!