When to descend? Real Airbus Pilot Explains! Microsoft Flight Simulator Tutorial

[@aaryanramourti3081]

I swear you are reading my mind, this is the second time you have uploaded exactly what I wanted, love your videos, keep up the good work !

[@fher182]

same thing happened to me. are you reading my mind because i just asked the same thing

[@320SimPilot]

Perfect! Luck and timing, hopefully I can keep the uploads working for you!

[@omartaha3052]

Same here

[@hjr2000]

Who else hits 'like' on 320's videos before they've even seen them? Just gets it out of the way, you know it's going to happen.

[@Sanderkke]

Yes me! This guy is awesome. Every video again. Perfect voice, accent and content. Just awesome. He deserves so much more subscribers then he has. Hopes he keeps on truckin' video's on to KZbin!

[@RicciReyes]

What do we want? Descend! When do we want it? Now! (10 ft above the runway) I'll just float instead.. :D

[@johnsonof4]

It was definitely worth 25 minutes of my time learning when to descent as a 737 pilot. Thank you very much for this video! ❤

[@dominiquez5643]

Master class again on "how to" A320!!! This is my go to channel, thank you for the clarity and simplicity to explain cryptic concepts to us Sir!!

[@SpaceDad42]

I use the same techniques where I work and I usually add 1 nm per each 10kt tailwind or subtract 1nm for each 10kt head wind. Works well.

[@alexmccabe1948]

Excellent video. I fly on a citation and usually I do ground speed X 5 which is also equal to ground speed divided by 2 X 10. Then I divide altitude to lose by descent rate to get time. And then multiply miles per minute by the time to descend to get my track miles. A bit more complicated and in busy situations I just use the 3 miles per 1,000 foot rule. Our FMS is very old so we use a Garmin 790 to give us a rough descent profile.

[@fibecheee]

This channel is a hidden gem I swear

[@timurakhmadaliev7739]

Default ATC in MSFS would freak out, if pilot would decent without their permission. Is it a case in real life too?

[@kaladrian]

You would likely lose you license if you made a habit out of it.

[@hpharold23]

You can request ATC for Alt change, but it only goes up to 10,000 then you can keep reducing it.

[@enriquebisetti9563]

oh boy!!!, I was just looking for this kind of videos!!! this one fell from heaven!!!. thanks!!! cheers!

[@thelocksmith4553]

Thanks these are the the most amazing tutorials I’ve ever seen and they’ve really helped me get used to an Airbus coming from the 737 on X-Plane

[@The747Captain]

Very useful for me as an EASA ATPL student! Thank you veru much!

[@Dennis92NL]

The ATC in MFS2020 seems bugged when it comes to decending. Thanks for another video. This is the best channel when it comes to Airbus A320.

[@Retro_Jet_Elite]

For descent rate, you could also use (Speed x 5). For instance, the method of (400 kts / 2 x 10) is the same answer as 400 x 5. Great vid!

[@320SimPilot]

Thanks, glad you liked it! My brain works more easily when doing the x10/2 method but absolutely x5 works just as well!

[@willswain4073]

Since getting msfs ive realised just how much goes into flying!! This is just scratching the surface too! Really helpful video! I also love planes but im always anxious when flying but the more i learn about them and how they function, the more relaxed i feel! Nice to know theres a lot more to it than simply pressing autopilot 😂

[@tonys2683]

Mate great advice for a new player to MSFS2020, after watching this video, I did hands down the best approach and landing I have ever done on my flight from Bangkok to Phnom Penh in the A320N. Thanks ...

[@320SimPilot]

Glad it helped Tony, thanks for watching!

[@TopDealTravel]

Great video again. I hope the FlyByWire Team will also make it possible to fly holding patterns. I can add a holding in the MCDU but it does not appear on the ND yet. It would be another way to reduce altitude.

[@johnderperez]

Thank you 🙏🏼 I was waaaaaay to high on my descent into MBPV and now I know why. Your tutorial was very helpful, and that math is easy enough! I’ve just started with the A320 Neo on MSFS. This helps lots. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@flyingpiglet4698]

Nicee this is my home country airport. So glad yo see it get some love 🎉

[@dacallp]

I did this today and even calculated the wind (I had a tailwind of 20 kts so I added 2 trackmiles to the descent), I descend using an open descend, kept the speed at 280 until 11000 feet, then (still in idle thrust) went to 250 kts at 10k feet, and then descended further down. But for some reason, I came in way too early and when I was coming in on 5k feet I still had 33 nautical miles to go. I would be so happy for an answer because I was so happy that I finally knew how to properly descend, but then it didn't work! PS: Yes, I did also subtract the height of the runway into the descend path

[@dakerbal]

Wonderful how there's always a nice British person to explain the A320s for me. First Doofer, now you!

[@ThatsJustEric]

Learned so much from this video. All the questions I e had was answered in this one video

[@fher182]

are you reading my mind? Yesterday I was looking for a Top of descend video and was wondering, when is 320sim pilot is going to release a video about it?.... thank you for this video, you are definitely making my flight sim learning easy!

[@320SimPilot]

Really glad the videos help you Angel! Thanks for watching.

[@Stan-ug9mx]

saw your video, installed the flybywire mod...it's much louder in the cockpit now than before. Guess that's how it is in a real airbus, but I will keep it. Very good tutorial video....and I'll get used to increased cockpit noise. thank you

[@dayanand1190]

Thanks a lot for all your efforts towards these educational videos! Enterntaining as well. Newbie question: Should we explicitly initiate the descent or a320 will initiate descent automatically at the T/D point? Should the target altitude be the first altituide constraint or DH, so that a320 will automatically hold the constraints? If its the first altitude constraint that we initiate to, what should be the next altitude we should select? (second constraint or DH?). Thanks in advance.

[@320SimPilot]

Hi, thanks for the kind words! You will need to initiate descent yourself. Select the target altitude you want to go to and then either pull or push the altitude knob to start the descent. There is no need to set the DH. Please see this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3WyhXSAi8mIlaM

[@dayanand1190]

@@320SimPilot Thanks! You are awesome. Giving back to community like this is highly appreciated!

[@baf_mcnab3065]

Always a nice surprise to see another video from our favourite Airbus pro. I have always used the distance from the field (straight line) for my calculations because in the Sim I never expect to fly all of those track miles, but you have also reminded me that the VS for 3degree descent is 5 times the GS. Thanks for taking the time to give us this very detailed explanation of not only how to calculate ToD but also where to look to keep checking if we are high or low whilst descending.

[@320SimPilot]

Thanks BAF, you are very welcome!

[@paulobatista9105]

Thank you for your videos, from a ship Captain who loves Flight Simulation.

[@320SimPilot]

Thank you for watching and your comment Paulo! I'm a big fan of ships and sailing too, if only there was a good simulator out there!

[@paulobatista9105]

@@320SimPilot My compliments. Look forward to see your video about the go around and its procedures.

[@horacelee6257]

This is really useful. Finally I can know how to descend properly. Thank you!

[@320SimPilot]

Great to hear!

[@HOTMiSCHiEF1]

These are a little long winded, but I am becoming a better A320 pilot. They now call me Mr. Bumpy Landing! And thanks for recommending the FlybyWire MOD. It is SOOOO GOOOD! The sound effects are worth it alone.

[@RuhjedVentula]

i use the VOR frequency (RAD NAV) for the airport to know my distance from it :)

[@ESPirits87]

I play the simulator very Arcade like and i think it's fun, meddling with all the buttons is just inconvenient when you just want to fly, i start to descend with 130 km left for a slow smooth descent, and i do so just by looking at the runway, using custom paths is meeh.

[@willtearne]

In the FSLabs, I tend to descend 10-15 miles before the white arrow - seems to be a relatively gradual and speed efficient method of descending.

[@MarkWalter]

Love the video, helped me out a lot. Also the current dev version of the A32nx mod has the track distance working in the MCDU flight plan now...

[@peteallennh]

This is outstanding guidance. One of the things I do to avoid the track-miles vs. straight-in delta is to use the method you explain but to calculate the distance to the first altitude constraint on my STAR, rather than the runway threshold. Is this unwise?

[@SamBickle133]

excellent. you can notice you are a real pilot

[@PilotongHilaw]

thanks captain for your video. i need to learn how to decent and also in landing.

[@g_pazzini]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.. your explanation is really easy to understand

[@marceldupre2454]

Wonderfully instructive. Thank you. Best A320 channel there is.

[@320SimPilot]

Very kind, thank you Marcel!

[@lineman55]

MSFS has some catching up to on the A320 I see..looking forward to these..

[@AK-qj9id]

Thank you for the video.

[@320SimPilot]

You're welcome!

[@michaelcheung6290]

I love your videos! Can I descend without the instructions from ATC? I had experience that ATC asked me to descend but the time was not sufficient for me to do the approach correctly. Thanks!

[@SasukeUchiha-ks3rz]

Nah u don’t need to listen to act always

[@michaelcheung6290]

@@SasukeUchiha-ks3rz really? But isn't it true that you need clearance in real life?

[@snak3dGKS]

Needed this. Always descended too early.

[@calamityairlines9762]

So do I mate . ILS is all good but if I fly I panic and get down way to early

[@fsvben]

If I had kids I'd put on ur vids to calm them xD rly enjoying ur vids helped me alot to get along with the bus🙌

[@-thefalcon-]

Ooh ooh will that 3° math work on a rnav approach? Definitely going to try it!!

[@simonforrister3820]

Thanks for the video @320 Sim Pilot. Is another way to do this to select vertical speed until the magenta hockey stick appears where you want it? Obviously not in MSFS yet but is that an option in the ToLiss? I tend to use this when I fly the Aerosoft Extended version in FSX when encountering late descent clearances from ATC (vatsim), or for a more gentler profile. Please keep the Videos coming. Always look forward to how the professionals do it, and the comparisons to the real thing is so useful - when many of us Simmers are desperate for a study-level Airbus. FBW still doing a great job.

[@shyamsundar3264]

Well this explains for flybywire. What about other aircrafts? How to calculate for example cessna g1000?

[@hugoweber5317]

Hello Cpt! Thnks againg for sharing your kwnolege and making our sim as real as it gets! At 3:30 you show PERF page with 287 knots por DESCEND profile. I aways get 331 knots for FF A320 and man she dives fast. I suppose that 331 is NOT a reasonable value right? If so, what would be a reasonable range? Does this value change depending on something? Btw, I set 55 for cost index.

[@320SimPilot]

Hi Hugo! 331 is possible but I would prefer a slower speed in case turbulence or wind changes cause a small overspeed. Typically we descend in the 270/300kt range, try using a lower cost index, that should help! Thanks for watching!

[@SuperOrbit69]

Xplane 11 Toliss user here. Does the calculated TD point take into account programmed descent winds? If not, then why do they need to be entered. If so, then we don’t need to make correction for wind in TD point calculation, we can rely on the TD point calculation and just verify/monitor what the autopilot is doing in descent, in terms of the calculations described. Thanks.

[@320SimPilot]

Yes in the ToLiss it does, as long as they were input by either the user or the ACARS. Typically in this case the T/D is pretty accurate and you can just monitor, but don't get caught out by reduced track miles (cutting the corner) or likewise an arrival all coded at 3000ft when actually you will be able to fly it higher. Thanks for watching!

[@jacobwarren1498]

YAY NEW VIDEO!

[@EdilarinProducts]

I've never used the x3 way of calculating. I've always used the /3 way of calculating. So for this it would have been 330/3 = 110 miles. A good thumb rule is to add 1 runmile for every 10 knots you need to lose in speed aswell.

[@nick_leitch]

I’m assuming you just got that from watching captain joes video lol

[@EdilarinProducts]

@@nick_leitch yes and no. We use that at the airline I work at

[@patrickforte4370]

Thank you so much to share Your professionnal knowledge with us, may I suggest you release a video explaining how to make the right choice of flight level? I mean not according to the circular rule , but according to the distance to cover. One more time, thank you Patrick

[@hapysaly7910]

Great video. Are the feet and nautical miles different?

[@georgeb6909]

Wouldn’t it be easier to descend with -3.0 FPA? That way you would be really descending with a 3 degree slope and your rough calculations would be more accurate. Also if you have a tailwind your ground speed will increase and hence your rate that you need to descend at if you were using FPA mode, so no need to worry about the wind too much. Great video as always😀

[@PilotFlo]

thx, was looking forward to this

[@320SimPilot]

I hope it was useful! Thanks for watching.

[@johnbuckley5458]

Love your vids m8, best out there

[@kikiwade5427]

Download latest dev version. Distance countdown works. Thank for another great video

[@320SimPilot]

Thanks for the tip! And thanks for watching.

[@sadiqkhan6925]

Great video. Now do one on the final approach. I never know when to deploy flaps.

[@gemster18]

Excellent job... And.. X-PLANE still looks like the better Sim...

[@CMDRRustyDog]

Thank you for this !

[@PilotongHilaw]

I just want to ask capt, when you applied flaps. what was the level of Knots & Altitude?

[@johnlloyd5184]

Thank you for another superb video, I have learnt so much from your tutorials, please keep them coming. can I ask, do you use head tracking.

[@AtlasBaudelaire]

Genuinely love these videos, keep it up!!

[@320SimPilot]

Thanks Atlas! Will do!

[@olddogg60]

Again, very helpful. Thank you. 👍

[@andreyzaruba8571]

That's cool but why don't just devide GS on 5 to calculate the 3-degree vertical speed instead of deviding it on 2 and then multiplying it on 10? What is the reason?

[@320SimPilot]

Great question, for me it is easier to divide by two and add a zero but your method would work absolutely fine too!

[@SaurabhKumar-hr7fn]

Can we use speed brake even when at Green Dot speed while descending? I see the VLS jumps at that moment

[@320SimPilot]

Great question! On the real aircraft VLS will increase too. You can use speedbrake but must be careful not to let VLS go above your speed, so just use less speedbrake or increase your speed if possible! Thanks for watching.

[@enriquejesusperezgil227]

Thanks, spectacular video!!

[@The321Shadow]

Woow thank you soo much, i was looking for a proper tutorial for flying this bird, keep up the amazing work ✈

[@320SimPilot]

Thank you! Glad you liked it Colt!

[@The321Shadow]

@@320SimPilot i have some issues especially with the transponder sometimes malfunctioning maybe you might have an answer to this ?

[@yannisl8259]

Would you recommend the toliss a319 or a321?

[@smoothflying]

A321 :)

[@yannisl8259]

@@smoothflying thx

[@fsce8599]

they are essentially the same- just the a319 is shorter and the a321 is quite a bit longer

[@NielsC68]

Yes. 😊

[@MrMK2001]

Incredible tuition. Thank you. Us armchair pilots are eternally grateful.

[@320SimPilot]

Glad you enjoyed it Mikey!

[@damgreene]

Have you seen FBW's new Xmas livery?

[@320SimPilot]

It is featured in my new video, RNAV tutorial! Thanks for watching

[@gruntpadre5337]

keep 'em coming!

[@320SimPilot]

That's the plan! Thanks for watching.

[@JohnLeeShaw]

Thank you very much for this and all the time you put into these videos, they are a great source of information for simmers like me. I wanted to ask, have you tried doing a flight with the default ATC in MSFS2020? I have noticed that you use Vatsim in some videos, but I was just wondering if you've tried the default and how you found it? I ask because I find descending with the default ATC a real pain (almost impossible to do without needing therapy afterwards) and am interested to know if it's because it is their problem or mine. It does seem a little buggy though. For instance, I was flying from Liverpool to Edinburgh, with FL250 cruise altitude and the ATC actually sent me up to FL260 before asking me to descend. Also, it's always doing things like instructing a descent to say 6000 early on and then something like 16000 (while on the way to 6000), then down in steps. It's such a shame because I don't really want to use ATC add ons, I just want to fly with a modicum of realism, but it's looking increasingly like I might have to?

[@michaelcheung6290]

Same here

[@cruisebuddy]

I really appreciate your tutorials - they have helped a lot with learning the 320 in MSFS. I am very frustrated, of course, by the limitations, even with the mod, in MSFS. I would like if you could shows us a "transient shutdown", as if you had landed after leg 1, and were just doing a turn-around before leg 2. I want to do more flights from the gate in a transient state, so I don't have to wait so long to get things going (like IRS would stay aligned, I assume). Thanks very much!

[@gcdevicegc6103]

HI! I believe A320 from Aerosoft (fro FSX , P3D) got everything on display as in real aeroplane ! have you tried ?

[@JackassGaming91]

Very helpful guide !

[@mikebakkeyt]

Heeeellllllllpppppp (Love the channel and *have* watched this and many other videos often) I am having a nightmare with flying the LAM approach to ILS 09L at EGLL. In general honestly I find managing descents tricky at best as the nx behaviour seems inconsistent. One day I'll think managed descent is working well, then it won't so I go selected and that sits at 700fpm and I end up throwing VS at it. Bring on VNAV puhlease :-) Ok - 9L. Looking at the plate we basically come in at 7000 over LAM and drop to 6000 by D34.0 which is perfectly achievable. But - we then need to go to 3500 by GWC 39.0. Now - using the times 3 rule we need at least 7.5nm but it seems to me we have at best around 6. On top of this the AP turns early and cuts corners all the way round the square of this approach. We then need to step down through 3000 to 2500 by the FAF at RW -7.5 Every time I end up behind the curve and arrive above the GS which means it will not acquire even though I'm not hugely over. My only way to make it is to approach the terminal stage below the posted constraints or extend east before turning back , neither of which I like doing. I guess my question is - how do you do it because that will work :-)

[@mavidane]

Excellent video as usual

[@320SimPilot]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Fly54791]

Hello A320 sim Pilot why didnt you use VS speed on FCU to change the ROD instead you have increased speed ?

[@320SimPilot]

Great question! If we use OP DES and increase the speed, the aeroplane will descend faster to try and reach that speed, but when it reaches it it will pitch up and maintain the speed. If we set a high V/S to descend, the speed will accelerate and the aeroplane could overspeed as it will target the V/S. I hope this makes sense!

[@Fly54791]

@@320SimPilot thanks for the reply, I am planning to start my A320 TR soon. Your videos are really helpful

[@abracadabra544]

Thanks a lot for this video. You are clearing things up a lot for me, especially because you're always doing comparisons with the real-life aircraft. So is my understanding correct that there is no automatic descend in the A320 Neo. For example, is it capable to start descending on its own and at a steady rate in order to comply with the flight plan ? later edit: thinking about the x3 rule etc. But how do you handle more complex scenarios, where for example there's a mountain range in your descend path ?

[@320SimPilot]

The Airbus does have an automated 'VNAV' mode we call 'managed descent'. It is not yet included in the Flybywire A32NX. Hopefully this video I made can help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaelgop8edKKgsU

[@dudenda757]

So, about that tail/head wind. Is there a specific formula or calculation for it? For example if I am at FL 290 and have a heavy tail wind of lets say 98 should I descend sooner for more time to slow down and if so, when? 29X3=97+10+ 107. Should it be more like 117 instead to allow more time to slow down?

[@welfversson]

Same thing really but I find the 3degree V/S calculation easier with GS x 5 😀

[@ro4526]

Hi,, I have a question. I mean once we have estimated when we should descend based on 3:1 rule, adding wind component distance as well, then how do we deal with the fact that our descent rate will no more be the same as we get lower and closer to FAF for instance. I mean let's say we initiated initial selected descent at 2300 ft/min ( GS 460knots), how can we srill assume we'll descend at this rate when we 're lower and that GS will probably be around 350 knots ( 1750 feet/min'). Can the plane still descend at the initial rate we did set in the mcdu?Or does that rule alteady account for the fact that we'll have a lower GS anyway?

[@zpirateko2129]

i usually frantically watch a tutorial on how to descend, get everything wrong and then nosedive from 20,000ft instead

[@seb9148]

How are you heights correct in the mcdu, mine are all over the place... From cruise flight to 8000 then back to 17000 and back to 8000 in only 5 miles for example

[@GastonDwarvenPilot]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing :)

[@J.Leistikow]

FINALLY! Thank you!

[@320SimPilot]

You are welcome!

[@philipekeberg3737]

Is the airbus that youy are flying free? Love your videos!

[@narendra_lm]

hey great vid again! just a question: when starting the initial descent do you wait for ATC instructions or you tell them on your plans?

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

You can request descent but often ATC will give you permission to descend with a STAR clearance. For example, ATC: “Qantas 859, When Ready Descend Flight Level 250”.

[@ronaldolivas5486]

320 Sim, Sir, could you please help me understand the data on the flight plan page ?...I get the FL### for flight level, but what of the other numbers ? I know on approach the names and descending altitudes are listed........ many thanks

[@tex24]

I find your videos very useful. Question... In real-life, how do you program the system for approach and selecting runway? Do you know this information before takeoff and thus being able to program it, or is this information you receive as you get closer to destination airport? If so, do you have a video on getting this information in-flight and programming the sim for approach?

[@P_double_H]

I think he had mentioned he has a subscription in Navigraphs. He probably has a tablet in his plane where he can easily search this information when close enough to the destination.

[@peterlovett5841]

For rate of descent I just used 5 times ground speed. Close enough for government work.

[@MK-hz8du]

From experience do you tend to guess what to expect from ATC for directs? And when it’s best to ask?

[@Pelesys_a320]

I always do that take the distance to touchdown times 3 = more or less my altitude. Some pilots descend at 300 KTS some at 270 kts. In this case take distance times 3 then minus whatever speed you have for example you are descending at 280 KTS. Take your distance times 3 and subtract from from your result 3. Because 280 kts is close to 300 kts. If you are descending at 270 kts do the same thing but in this case subtract 2 coz 270 is close to 250 kts. Then when I’m approaching 10000 feet the distance gotta be 40 NM and speed is obviously 250 kts (IAS). Then golden rules for me are 20 NM = 5000 ft. (Of course you’re not gonna fly 250 kts at this latitude unless ATC says so. 15 NM = 4500 ft and speed is gonna be 210 kts or green dot or flaps 1 coz SOP says flaps 1 has to be minimum at 15 NM.

[@endlogic]

Any plan on RNAV landing tutorial?

[@Fixingthingz4u]

Great video 320

[@320SimPilot]

Thank you!

[@Fixingthingz4u]

320 Sim Pilot your videos are so easy to sit down watch and follow thanks again legend

[@ddthompson42]

Most of the aircraft level off if you change the speed during descent in the sim; I was wondering if that's what happens in real life. Question answered. Thanks!

[@320SimPilot]

You are very welcome!

[@chrisjohnson6876]

No calculations for the Boeing VNAV It sets up your TOD for you, and even auto descent if you dial in a lower ALT in the MCP. The Airbus system seems a bit antiquated

[@Easyjetsimpilot]

The real A320 does this too. Just not implemented yet in MSFS.

[@chrisjohnson6876]

@@Easyjetsimpilot Thanks for clearing that up. May I ask if the real Airbus will auto descend on reaching TOD, or does it have to be manually initiated via the FCU, even tho a lower ALT is selected prior to TOD? Thanks

[@Easyjetsimpilot]

@@chrisjohnson6876 It does not auto decent, unless, you've passed an altitude constraints & have a lower altitude set in the AP.

[@320SimPilot]

Have a look at the second half of the video in X Plane 11 and you'll see the Airbus can do all of that!

[@320SimPilot]

You must initiate the descent yourself as easyjetsimpilot says. Even if you select a lower altitude in the FCU it will not descend unless a vertical mode is engaged (managed DES, OP DES or V/S).

[@chiefsimpilot]

Loved it thanks pro

[@SaurabhKumar-hr7fn]

Can you explain why a heavy aircraft takes more time to descend compared to a lighter one?

[@ricardoroberto100]

I assume it's to do with speed management and not going outside the narrow envelope.

[@salokin1]

More energy to "dump" ??

[@Aldarean90]

Thank you for this awsome video. A question: what do pilots do, if they can‘t descent fast enough with all tricks. Are they flying holdings to get extra miles?

[@320SimPilot]

Hi, thanks for watching! Great question, yes either hold or ask ATC for some extra track miles, then they can give you headings around to help!

[@ct8350]

🤯 Cool thanks...hmmm I'll think about this.