MEMO AIRBUS A319/A320/A321

FMS Quick start

FMS Standard Procedures

FMS Options, Special Features

Note
This document is for personal use only and must not be used for operational flight.
Airbus FCOM and QRH must be considered as the only reference. This document
describes some functions that can be used on FMS (AIRBUS A319/A320/A321)
Laurent ALAPHILIPPE

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Anne 2011

Laurent ALAPHILIPPE

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Anne 2011

Summary FMS A320

1. Flight preparation...................................................................................................... 4
1.1. How to enter a TO time........................................................................................... 4
1.2. How to find auto tuned Navaids ............................................................................ 4
1.3. How to save a route ................................................................................................ 4
1.4. How to get navigation data coding........................................................................ 4
2. Before Takeoff............................................................................................................ 4
2.1. How to insert new point (Bearing Distance) ........................................................ 4
2.2. How to insert a point in Lat/Long........................................................................... 4
2.3. How to enter a Takeoff shift ................................................................................... 4
3. Navigation ................................................................................................................... 4
3.1. How to sequence F-PLN (if not automatic) ......................................................... 4
3.2. How to intercept a route after resume own navigation ...................................... 5
3.3. How to enter a wind for a waypoint....................................................................... 5
3.4. How to recall ATC abeam a point ......................................................................... 5
3.5. How to update FL CRZ (transition to next phase CRZ) .................................... 5
3.6. How to create a present position point in FMS ................................................... 5
3.7. How to enter an offset on a leg ............................................................................. 5
3.8. How to enter an immediate offset on active leg.................................................. 5
3.9. How to get Equitime Point...................................................................................... 5
4. Descent ........................................................................................................................ 6
4.1. How to enter a wind during DES ........................................................................... 6
4.2. How to program a time remainder ........................................................................ 6
5. Approach ..................................................................................................................... 6
5.1. How to check NAV Accuracy ................................................................................. 6
5.2. How to check the Bearing/Distance of a point .................................................... 6
5.3. How to intercept an inbound course (e.g. : for approaches) ............................ 6
5.4. How to retard Decel Point (D)................................................................................ 6
5.5. How to compute new Green Dot, S-Speed, F-Speed........................................ 6
6. Holding pattern .......................................................................................................... 7
6.1. How to enter a holding pattern on a waypoint .................................................... 7
6.2. How to enter a standard holding pattern.............................................................. 7
6.3. How to update data of a standard holding pattern ............................................. 7
6.4. How to enter a time for a holding .......................................................................... 7
6.5. How to get the maximum time for an holding pattern ........................................ 7
7. Diversion...................................................................................................................... 7
7.1. How to enter an Alternate at destination.............................................................. 7
7.2. How to delete an Alternate..................................................................................... 7
8. Miscellaneous / Fuel Management ....................................................................... 8
8.1. How to enter a constraint in ALT, SPEED, TIME ............................................... 8
8.2. How to activate a SEC F-PLN ............................................................................... 8
8.3. How to change FMS mode from GA to CLB ....................................................... 8
8.4. How to attribute alternate fuel for an holding pattern......................................... 8
8.5. Specific FMS coding ............................................................................................... 8
8.5.1. Waypoint / Distance coding ............................................................................... 8
8.5.2. Color track coding................................................................................................ 8
8.5.3. Miscellaneous coding.......................................................................................... 8

Laurent ALAPHILIPPE

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Anne 2011

FMS Procedures - AIRBUS A320

1. Flight preparation
1.1. How to enter a TO time

1.2.

1.3.

1.4.

Use Vertical Revision then RTA or EET

o VERTICAL REVISION
o RTA
o EET (Estimated Time of Takeoff)

How to find auto tuned Navaids

Use DATA function, then Position Monitor and Selected Navaids
o DATA
o POS Monitor
o Sel Navaids
In case of NOTAM with a VOR/DME Out of order, the previous procedure allows to
remove the auto tuned navaid. Another is automatically selected and tuned.

How to save a route

Use DATA Page then Next Page, Code Route, Active F-PLN
o DATA Page
o NEXT PAGE
o CODE ROUTE
o ACTIVE F-PLN

How to get navigation data coding

Use DATA Page and check coding of each navaid (position, freq, ident)
o DATA Page
o NEXT PAGE

2. Before Takeoff
2.1. How to insert new point (Bearing Distance)

2.2.

2.3.

Use the Place/Bearing/Distance functions (PBD):

o Scratch pad : SECHE/250/10
o New point will be inserted using LSK

How to insert a point in Lat/Long

Use specific coding in scratch pad
o Scratch Pad : N1500.0/W1000.0 (for N15000/ W100 00)
o LL01 will be inserted in routing

How to enter a Takeoff shift

Use PERF PAGE
o Under FLAPS Setting
o Enter TO SHIFT in meter (e.g. [300] for 300m)
This data is very important as FMS position is update applying Takeoff thrust. If a shift
occurs and aircraft is not at threshold of runway, an error is inserted in FMS.

3. Navigation
3.1. How to sequence F-PLN (if not automatic)

Sometime, the F-PLN is not properly sequenced (especially if distance from track is more
than 7NM (D > 7NM). So the solution is to clear current FROM point and the new leg will
be automatically sequenced.
o CLR FROM POINT
o F-PLN is automatically sequenced

Laurent ALAPHILIPPE

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Anne 2011

3.2.

3.3.

3.4.

How to intercept a route after resume own navigation

After a resume own navigation (transition from HDG to NAV), the current track has to
cross Active Leg (track FROM and TO / TO displayed on ND). Otherwise, guidance will
never change from HDG to NAV.
o Track has to cross Active Leg : HDG => NAV

How to enter a wind for a waypoint

Use the following keys :
o F-PLN
o NEXT PAGE
o Enter wind XXX/XX kts

How to recall ATC abeam a point

If ATC request to report abeam a specific point (e.g. LUC), use DIRETC TO function
o DIRECT TO
o LUC
o Choose abeam

Use the FIX INFO function (Lateral Revision on FROM POINT 1 point), then a point and
a bearing (maximum 5 abeam allowed)
o FIX INFO (LAT REV FROM)
o Scratch Pad : TOU
o Scratch Pad : 180

3.5.

3.6.

3.7.

3.8.

3.9.

st

How to update FL CRZ (transition to next phase CRZ)

If FCU ALT window is updated with FL higher than FMS FL CRZ entered in FMS, the FMS
FL CRZ is automatically updated. To allow CRZ phase transition at a specific altitude, we
can enter FL 1 in PROG Page (or any FL under current FCU FL) => it will automatically
update FMS FL CRZ :
o If new FCU ALT > FMS FL CRZ => FMS automatically updated with FCU ALT
o To copy FCU ALT in FMS FL CRZ => enter FMS FL CRZ = 1 (PROG Page)

How to create a present position point in FMS

Use PPOS function
o CLEAR TO POINT (always displayed on ND : right upper corner)
o PPOS appears
o DISCONTINUITY appears
This function can be used to perform a downwind without perform a radial inbound CI
interception.

How to enter an offset on a leg

Use LSK on a WAYPOINT then OFFSET
o LSK DGN
o OFFSET : enter 5L (for 5NM left of the current track)

How to enter an immediate offset on active leg

Use FROM Point then OFFSET
o LSK FROM
o OFFSET : enter 5L (for 5NM left of the current track)

How to get Equitime Point

Use DATA then Equitime Point function
o DATA Page
o EQUITIME (between LFMN and LFPO for e.g.)

Laurent ALAPHILIPPE

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Anne 2011

4. Descent
4.1. How to enter a wind during DES

4.2.

Use the following keys :

o F-PLN
o NEXT PAGE
o Enter wind XXX/XX kts

How to program a time remainder

Use scratch pad and enter a time directly
o Scratch Pad : 1645
o A new point will be automatically inserted in routing

5. Approach
5.1. How to check NAV Accuracy

5.2.

5.3.

5.4.

5.5.

Use PROG PAGE and enter NAVAID

o PROG PAGE
o AGN To[ ]
o This will calculate Bearing/Distance
Compare Data displayed on FMS with Raw Data (ND : VOR Needle and Distance)

How to check the Bearing/Distance of a point

Use PROG PAGE and enter NAVAID
o PROG PAGE
o AGN To[ ]
o This will calculate Bearing/Distance
There are many possible NAVAID, for example
o TOU (VOR)
o TDP (VOR)
o LFMN04L (for Bearing/Distance to threshold 04L in NICE)
o NC (ADF)

How to intercept an inbound course (e.g. : for approaches)

Use DIRECT TO Function to clear flight plan:
o DIRECT TO a specific point
o Radial 270
o Intercept Inbound (never use outbound for this)
o * to insert the point
It will clear all previous waypoint. This function is very useful to perform approaches and
intercept a specific radial (in HDG mode for example).

How to retard Decel Point (D)

Set constraint Speed VApp on Final Descent Point
o VERTICAL REVISION at FD
o Enter SPEED CSTR = Vapp

How to compute new Green Dot, S-Speed, F-Speed

Use FUEL PRED PAGE and enter new GW/CG
o FUELD PRED PAGE
o GW/CG update value
o New GD, S, F will be computed

Laurent ALAPHILIPPE

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Anne 2011

6. Holding pattern
6.1. How to enter a holding pattern on a waypoint

6.2.

6.3.

6.4.

6.5.

Use LSK on waypoint name, then HOLD

o LSK on AMIRO
o > HOLD
o Enter an exit time (for example 2045)

How to enter a standard holding pattern

Use LSK on IAF name, then HOLD
o LSK on TALAR
o > HOLD
o INSERT HOLD

How to update data of a standard holding pattern

Use LSK HOLD R and read last exit time
o LSK HOLD R
o > HOLD
o Update data like
 inbound track
 outbound track
 length of leg (in mn)

How to enter a time for a holding

Use LSK on Holding
o LSK on HOLDING Point
o > HOLD
o Enter an exit time (for example 2045)

How to get the maximum time for an holding pattern

Use LSK HOLD R and read last exit time
o LSK HOLD R
o > HOLD
o Time : last exit time

7. Diversion
7.1. How to enter an Alternate at destination

7.2.

Use LSK at Destination

o LSK at DEST
o > ALTN
o Enter new airport for diversion

How to delete an Alternate

Use LSK at Destination
o LSK at DEST
o > ALTN
o > NO ALTN or select DEST then INSERT
o => it will remove all green routing

Laurent ALAPHILIPPE

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Anne 2011

8. Miscellaneous / Fuel Management

8.1. How to enter a constraint in ALT, SPEED, TIME

8.2.

8.3.

8.4.

If ATC request to pass STP at 1945, use TIME Constraint function :

o STP VERTICAL REVISION
o Add new point LIM

How to activate a SEC F-PLN

The condition to activate SEC F-PLN is that Active Leg has to be common with current PPLN
o Otherwise, SEC F-PLN
* Activate F-PLN

How to change FMS mode from GA to CLB

Case 1 : Use LSK at Destination LFMN
o LSK LFMN
o > ALTN
o NO ALTN then INSERT
Case 2 : Enter a New destination
o Any LSK
o New DEST

How to attribute alternate fuel for an holding pattern

Use LSK at Destination
o LSK at DEST
o > ALTN
o > NO ALTN or select DEST then INSERT
o => it will attribute additional fuel for holding

8.5. Specific FMS coding

8.5.1.
Waypoint / Distance coding

R278
278R
CF
FF
FD

8.5.2.

Colour track coding

NAV F-PLN temporary

NAV F-PLN (active)
NAV GA
NAV ALTERNATE
NAV SEC F-PLN
NAV F-PLN (not inserted)
EO SID

8.5.3.

Radial 278 of TOU (for example)

Radial 278 at 18NM (as letter R is the 18th letter on FMS keyboard)
Final Course
Final Fix
Final Descent

HD
TL

DASHED GREEN
SOLID GREEN
SOLID BLUE
DASHED BLUE
WHITE
DASHED YELLOW
SOLID YELLOW

Miscellaneous coding
Head Wind
Tail Wind

Laurent ALAPHILIPPE

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Anne 2011