TOPCAT will provide you, the captain, with Load Sheets, Take-off and Landing Performance Reports including all relevant speeds (V1, VR, V2), de-rated and assumed temperatures and stop margins.

An unlimited, fully functional evaluation copy of TOPCAT

 

Currently available Aircraft Types:

• Airbus A320-214
• Boeing 747-400
• Boeing 747-400 Combi
• Boeing 747-400 Freighter
• Boeing 767-300
• Boeing 767-300 ER
• Boeing 767-300 Freighter

TOPCAT Features:

• Microsoft® Windows® application made by professional airline pilots (does not require any other software)
   
• Easy-to-use, user-friendly interface resembling real-life software
   
• Worldwide database with close to 10,000 airports and 28,000 runways
   
• Including obstacle data and engine-out procedures (EOSIDs)
   
• Take-off and landing data for abnormal configuration (e.g. engine out, flapless landing, inoperative thrust reversers, etc.)
   
• Ready-to-print and ready-to-save loadsheet, take-off and landing reports
   
• Build your own Individual Runway Tables (IRTs) for your favourite airports
• Save Weight & Balance data directly into LDS767, PMDG747 and WILCO/FEELTHERE A320 (FS2004 and FSX)
   
• ActiveSky weather support (FS2004 and FSX)
• A wide variety of units: kilograms (kg), pounds (lb), meter (m), feet (ft), hPa (hecto pascal), inHg (Inches of mercury) for your personal needs
• Editor to add or modify runways and airports

I have played with and used this more and more and it does make a difference to your flights. also in the nwxt section there it some info for your FMC/CDU's which when armed with the above is priceless. I personally will buy TOPCAT as it worth those few Euros.

Navigational Information for use with flights.

Phill NBL5278G Past on this information which can be used in various FMC/CDU’s HOLDS INFORMATION HOW TO
IE,,IF YOU WANT TO HOLD 30NM BEFORE VOR :LAX: EG,,YOU WOULD TYPE LAX/-30 IN THE LEGS SECTION
IE,,IF YOU WANT TO HOLD 30NM PAST LAX VOR YOU WOULD TYPE LAX/+30 IN THE LEGS SECTION

Examples :-

Place/Bearing/Distance = Wypt.  (Please note NO space)
Boogi/080/5   Boogi wpt/ 080 Radial / 5 Nautical Miles
This being wypt boogie from hdg 080 @5 miles from boogi would be you wypt activation point.
Other examples are:

Boogi/-25   act 25nm Before Boogi
Boogi/+25  act 25nm After Boogi
Boogi/180/15  act 15nm away from boogi on 180deg Radial
Boogi/340/15  act 15nm away from boogi on 340deg Radial = (Boogi01)

Rates Of Descent 

Climb IAS 300kts and descent at 310kts IAS (above 10000').
Pilots don't like to do a lot of mental arithmetic while flying therefore they have worked out simple rules 

Don't know how many miles from the destination you should start your descent (TOPD), easy; say you're at 30,000 feet, simply divide this by 3 and take away 2 zero's eg. 30,000 / 3 = 10, 000 - 2 zero's = 100 that's it. 100 miles prior to your destination you should descent that will give you a descent profile of 5%. 

The next question then is at what descent rate should you descent to maintain this profile and get to the destination at the correct altitude. Easy just half your ground speed (GS) and add a zero; eg. you're GS is 400kts / 2 = 200 + add a zero = 2000 feet that's your vertical speed you should use. 

How do you know that you are at the correct altitude at any stage during the descent? Easy, just multiply your distance to the destination by 3 and add 2 zero's; eg you are 35 miles to go, times 3 = 105 + add 2 zero's = 10,500 feet 

FMC’s set cost to 50 –80% for takes and flight.

Start descent 50nm before T/D and then set cost to 100%
Set a fix for the Approach airport and rwy hdg at 150nm
Gives more controlled rate of descent and for better approach. 
 

FMC Custom waypoints

 Example:
                    Boogi/080/5
                    Wypt / Radial / NM 

Boogi/080/-25 25nm before wypt
Boogi/-25   25nm before
Boogi/+25  25nm After
Boogi/180/15nm    15nm away 180 Radial
Boogi/340/15nm    boogi01 15nm away 340 Radial

If you attempt to enter a W/point  into the LEGS page, an FMC message “NOT IN DATABASE” is generated. To overcome this problem, enter the lat/long coordinates for the W/point waypoint.
Type IE- “N4110.0W06700.0” into the scratchpad and press the appropriate left LSK on the LEGS page to insert the point into the route. The new waypoint is created at the exact lat/long position entered.
This type of waypoint is used extensively for oceanic routings. Also, if the FMC cannot find a waypoint in the database, the lat/long coordinates can be used to represent the missing waypoint (as demonstrated in the above example).

 If your not sure how this all works then chat to Tony and Phil from the Australian hub on TS and they will always help you out. Please Note some of these Guys are 'REAL WORLD PILOTS' and they prove this stuff works.
 

FREE Route Finder

Unlike most other So called route finders which have limited or restricted usage. Bob found this little online site which does a brilliant job of finding your routes.
So much so this is what we have use to create the 'Suggested Route' on all the Gatwick flights on the PIREP service that is now in place.
You simply enter ICAO codes for Departure and Arrival airports/airfields. Then tick the boxes if you want Sids, stars,Tracan,Nats etc and then your altitudes and all will be revealed for your pleasure.

All flight plan data. waypoints and info, any restrictions of airspaces etc.

with this all in place making your flights more workable and also knowing the destination is there and your flight would follow any restrictions if you want you flight to be more real.

Flightlevel350

For Those who like to sit back and enjoy the odd 1 or 2 videos about aviation, these feast you eyes on this site.
a bit like You tube but the aviation world version.

100's of free online videos all on aircraft, aviation, airports, and so on. 90% of these a very high quality and very interesting to watch. so if you got the time or just want something to do while that FS aircraft is still miles from T/D give this site a look.

Flightlevel350.com

That's it for this month don't forget want to have something posted in the Newsletter email me and I will get it in.

Editor email   anthony272.uk@btinternet.com