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Hi everybody, Captain Al here with your Training Tips designed to help make you a better flight
simmer, pilot, or aviation enthusiast
Take a seat, strap in let’s stow the HUD and see what is on the horizon for today
Today we are going to look at the Top 10 flight deck differences between the Boeing 747-8
compared with the Boeing 747-400 jet aircraft
We will look at the Top 10 interior features of the latest model of the iconic “Queen
Of The Skies” Boeing jet.
For more detailed information Subscribe to my You Tube channel for future updates or
head on over to subsonicflighttraining.com for Training Tips Tutorial Briefings all free
of charge on the Boeing 747-400
Let’s start with the Top 10 Interior Flight Deck differences between the -8 and the -400
of the Boeing 747 series aircraft.
#1
The Electronic Checklist (ECL)
The Electronic Checklist (ECL) allows the crew to quickly and efficiently display Normal
and Non-Normal checklists Pilots interact with the checklist by using a rotary cursor
control located on the control stand where the trim indicator used to be on the 747-400.
The crew has the ability to reset checklists, override checklists override individual items
and display notes Some system items can be sensed by the aircraft to be true and are
checked off automatically while others must be verified and checked off manually by the
crew
#2
THE Electronic Flight Bag (EFB)
The Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) allows the crew to display approach charts electronically
by creating chart clips calculate performance for takeoff and landing through an Onboard
Performance Tool (OPT) check that Databases are current display useful pilot utilities
and reference airline specific Flight Documents Logbook & Flight Manuals
are referenced through a Documents folder Each pilot has an EFB that has hard and soft
keys along with a touch sensitive screen #3
The Vertical Situation Display (VSD)
The Vertical Situation Display (VSD) is shown on the bottom 35% of the Navigation Display
(ND) It shows a vertical profile of your flight path projected out to a selected range and
is as if you were looking at your aircraft from a right profile view Use of the VSD is
recommended by at least one pilot during takeoff, departure, approach, and landing The VSD shows
Waypoints & Altitude Constraints terrain mapping vertical
approach profile, runway and approach gates and the enroute swath portion of the jet’s
flight path
#4
The Airport Moving Map Display (AMM)
The Airport Moving Map display (AMM) is shown on the Navigation Display when you have Airport
selected on the Display Select Panel and you are in a range of 5 miles or less The moving
map assists in situational awareness during taxi. It can display runways, taxiways, airport
signage, buildings, hold lines, water, and other ground related symbols It does not relieve
the pilots from using taxi charts during taxiing
#5
The Multi Function Displays (MFD’s)
There are three Multi-Function Displays (MFD’s) the Captain’s Inboard Display Unit (DU)
the First Officer’s Inboard Display Unit (DU) and the Lower Display Unit (DU) Any of
the displays can be used to show page information selected on the Display Select Panel (DSP)
The MFD’s allow for flexibility in where pilots want information displayed #6
The Ram Air Turbine (RAT)
For the first time, the 747 has a Ram Air Turbine (RAT) The RAT is designed to automatically
deploy if 3 or more engines fail The RAT is a hydraulic motor pump assembly with a small
propeller that allows ram air to spin it The resultant force is translated into power and
generates a motor that powers either electrics, hydraulics, or both. The RAT is located on
the right inboard wing root and is outlined in red on the exterior to warn in case it
would inadvertently fall and deploy. In the 747-8 it supplies hydraulic power only to
System #3 to power flight controls The RAT does not provide any electrical power on the
747-8 RAT’s are normally found on 2 engine jet transports, but now can also be found
on the 747-8
#7
The Start Panel
The Start Panel on the 747-8 has been simplified by removing the Standby Ignition panel Continuous
Ignition switch Auto Ignition Selector panel and Autostart Switch that all were under the
start switches on the 747-400. The aircraft now is a full
time Autostart system and there is no manual start. When pulling the start switches and
bringing the Fuel Control Switches to RUN there are no lights inside the start switches
like on the 747-400
#8
Aisle Stand Panels Radio Tuning Panels Weather Radar
& Transponder
The Radio Tuning Panels (RTP’s) Weather Radar Panel and Transponder Panel all now
have digital pushbuttons replacing rotary switches of the 747-400 This allows for faster
tuning of the radios quicker selection of weather radar modes and easier selection of
transponder codes compared with the 747-400.
#9
Trim Indication Gear Handle Fuel Reserve Tanks
The trim indicator has been moved to Primary EICAS and is now electronically displayed.
The Gear Handle is much smaller now with no OFF position just UP and DOWN positions and
is a fly-by-wire system. It is really just an electric switchthat sends a signal to extend
or retract the landing gear The gear is depressurized automatically when the gear is retracted.
Reserve fuel tanks are now Main Tanks 1 and 4 instead of Main Tanks 2 and 3 like
they were in the -400 and verification of Tank-To-Engine is done differently now when
referencing the synoptic on the 747-8 compared with the 747-400 #10
Pack Switches Alternate Ventilation System Pack switches are now pushbutton switches
replacing the rotary switches of the 747-400 There is now an Alternate Ventilation System
(AVS) that can be used in the event all 3 packs are inoperative or if the airplane is
not pressurized The switch allows ram air to be directed into the flight deck as an
alternate source of air in the event of pack or pressurization problems Of course, there
are many more differences between the two Boeing jets Both the 747-8 and the 747-400
are majestic reminders of a time when air travel came of age Want to learn to fly a
747? Well, fly over to www.subsonicflighttraining.com and click the + sign on the right side of
the home page then check out both FSX Steam Edition and iFly 747-400 For more detailed
information on the 747, check out Training Tips Briefings on flying the 747-400 As soon
as PMDG comes out with the 747-8 there will be added briefings on that aircraft
So make sure and SUBSCRIBE
to my You Tube Channel So, let’s lower the HUD and go flying, until next time keep
the blue side up
Captain Al ….. OUT!