Bill Bulfer — Articles / Posts — Flaps 2 Approach

The 737 Cockpit Companion is a well known guide within the flight simulation community, having been published in several formats; each dealing with a specific release of a Boeing 737 aircraft series.

The guide, written by retired airline Captain Bill Bulfer, are very specialized and unravel each of the many 737 aircraft systems. The 737 NG Cockpit Companion 600/-700/-800/-BBJ & BBJ 2 provides a detailed explaination into the following:

The companion may look small, but the information it includes is detailed and informative. The small size allows easy storing in the side pockets of the throttle quadrant . In my opinion, this guide is essential reading and answers many questions often asked by flight deck builders and virtual pilots.

CONTENTS

AFT Panel
Forward Overhead Panel
Glareshield Panel
Captain’s Panel
Center Panel
First Officer’s Panel
Forward Electronics Panel
Control Stand (throttle)
Aft Electronics Panel

Example of a page from the Cockpit Companion

It is important to note that this guide provides much more information than just indicating a name for something. Each system's functionality is explained in detail along with comprehensive sketches, diagrams and fold out schematics.

For example, in the Captain’s Panel section, there are several pages that explain, the elements that make up the Pilots Flight Display (PFD) and Navigation Display (ND). There are two pages that deal only with the speed tape providing information dealing with the various options indicated by the tape during ascents and descents.

Another page details the intricacy of Navigation Performance Scales (ANP and RNP) providing operational information on how to read and decipher the scales in relation to whatever flight mode is set on the MCP.

A final example is several pages that detail the functionality of the EFIS unit and what exactly occurs when you push a button on the EFIS unit.

Flight Deck Builders

The guide is essential if you are constructing a flight deck and want to simulate the 737 systems. Apart from systems information, the guide indicates switch functionality and provides information to which lights illuminate for what functions and when.

The guide is not a procedures manual; it is a technical reference manual. The content will not provide instruction on how to fly the 737. Rather it provides a detailed study of each system and provides information explaining the relationship between systems.

No matter what your skill level, It is a very handy reference and strongly recommended. I often leaf through the pages to cross reference something that I don’t quite understand.

Pocket Reference - PFD / ND Flags and FMC Messages

Often when you fly, a message will show on the Pilot’s Flight Display (PFD) or Navigation Display (ND). Remembering what all the abbreviations mean can be daunting, and often you don’t have the time to open a manual t wade through copious pages that have nothing to do with what you want.

Enter the pocket reference guide. This small and very handy leaflet guide outlines all the PFD, ND flags and FMC messages and provides a brief description of the flag displayed. The pocket reference is sold separately to the cockpit companion. It's size is 10 cm x 5 cm.

Example of page from 737 Pocket Reference Guide

Written by an Aviator for Aviators (real or virtual)

The Cockpit Companion and Pocket Reference Guide, written by an aviator for aviators, is very concise, easy to read and understand. As with its sister companion, the FMC Guide, it’s a high quality production.

If your serious about how you fly your simulator or are developing your own simulator project, the Cockpit Companion is certainly a must have in your training material.

The guide that is most relevant to the 737 Next Generation is titled: The 737 NG Cockpit Companion 600/-700/-800/-BBJ & BBJ 2

It can be purchased from Leading Edge Publishing.

I will be reviewing another of Bill Bulfer's text in the near future - FMC Guide.

My Rating 10/10

I am not affiliated with Leading Edge Publications and do not receive any commission from them.

The Control Display Unit (CDU) is the pilot interface to the FMC (Flight Management Computer). It’s one of the more complex items that real and virtual aviators need to the master.

Historical Context

First introduced on the 737-200 in 1979 as the Performance Data Computer System (PDCS), the Flight Management Computer (FMC) was a technological step forward in in-flight navigation The PDCS was trailed on two in-service 737-200 series aircraft and crew reports indicated a fuel saving of 2.95% and an increase in trip time (based on a 71 minute trip). As a result, the PDCS became a standard fit and over time was developed to be reincarnated as the FMC will see today in the later 737 series aircraft.

The FMC is only one component of the Flight Management System (FMS) which is defined as being capable of four dimensional area navigation (latitude, longitude, altitude & time). The FMS contains the navigational database.

Learning CDU Functionality can be Frustrating if not Adequately Trained

Many virtual aviators blunder through the CDU line detents trying to understand what they do; often failing. For the most part, the uninitiated will blame buggy software for the aircraft’s sudden dive or climb in response to a CDU command. The algorithm behind the functionality of a CDU is not simplistic – it is complex, and mastering the CDU is not achieved overnight.

Real-world pilots attend lengthy pre-flight classes to understand the use of the CDU, and although there are several training guides available on the Internet, many are not peer-reviewed and fall short of being comprehensive.

Software Variations

One of the reasons that learning the CDU can be tiresome, is that the software that provides the intelligence behind the Flight Management System, has over time been upgraded to take into account technological advances. This is in addition to there being several software variants available. Software variants have been developed to cater towards individual airline options; an airline may want, or not want a particular function available to its flight crews.

Precision Manual Development Group (PMDG) produces a very good section in one of their manuals that deals with CDU usage (PMDG 737 FMC Guide). Tom Metzinger and Fred Clausen have also documented in their excellent tutorials, a segment on using the PMDG style variant CDU (PMDG use the latest software version). I suggest googling on the Internet to see if you can find these documents.

Invest in Education - FMC Guide

If you are serious about your virtual flying or have a bent for technology, I strongly recommend you purchase Captain Bill Bulfer’s FMC Guide.

The guide is a real-world guide designed for 737 pilots, and not only provides detailed information on a vast array of FMC commands, screens and nuances, but also examines many of the options relating to specific software versions.

The guide is a high quality production and has been written in a style that provides clear and a concise guidance. It can be purchased either in colour (recommended) or in black and white.

Like anything in life, you get out what you put in. With a good working knowledge gained from the study of this text, you will soon discover that the carrying out a procedural turn with altitude and speed restrictions, before flying a complex STAR and approach is not that difficult to fathom.

The information in this guide will allow you to be confidently and correctly operate the CDU.

To purchase a copy you can either navigate to Leading Edge Publishing.

I will be reviewing another of Bill Bulfer's text in the near future - The 737 Cockpit Companion.

My Rating 10/10

Please note that this review is not endorsed.