PMDG 737 Series

This version of It's Your Plane designed for the PMDG 737-600/700 does NOT provide step-by-step instructions for programming the FMC. This may become available in a subsequent release. Thank you.
Launching the PMDG Aircraft:
PMDG suggests that the best way to initialise the PMDG aircraft, is to load a Cessna C172, shut everything off, then load the PMDG aircraft.
Understanding the Limitations of the PMDG "Open-Loop" Design
The PMDG Boeing 737 aircraft was designed in a manner that makes it EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to create Add-On programmes, because of its "Open-Loop" conceptual approach.

What does "Open-Loop" mean?

In simple terms, it means that about 95% of the aircraft's functions CAN'T BE DETERMINED by an external programme like IYP. This manifests itself by prohibiting an Add-On designer to determine the disposition of the aircraft at any given time. Therefore, for example, if an ON/OFF switch is in the ON position, and you say, "Turn it ON", it will turn it OFF. Failing to recognise the shortcoming of "Open-Loop" designs, can become particularly precarious when executing a CHECKLIST sequence with your IYP Co-Pilot.

For example, if your Co-Pilot calls for, "Standby Power ON", and the switch is already in the ON position, you need to say, "Confirmed", "Checked", "Affirmative", "Yes it is", etc. Do NOT say, "Standby Power ON", if it is already ON, because the IYP application will switch it to the OFF position. Why? Because the PMDG design provides no mechanism for the IYP application to "READ" the current position. By contrast, if the switch is in the OFF position, then you will say, "Standby Power ON" to cause IYP to flip the switch. This takes some getting used to, but before long, you'll get the heck of it.

Take a look at this video presentation.

Setting Up The PMDG Keyboard Assignments:
PMDG did not provide third-party vendors with "hooks" to the numerous buttons on their various panels. Therefore, in order to perfect an interface, the IYP application needed to employ a design that utilises Pete Dowson's Mouse Macro technology in order to simulate keystrokes.

Regrettably, there are a number of inconsistencies that exist between the various releases of the PMDG 737 series aircraft. One of the most noticable, is the difference between the declarations in Panel Switcher documentation (737kbd.ini), and what actually works in the released versions. For example, to select the Main Panel via the keyboard on one system, may call for the depression of CTRL+SHIFT+TAB+1, whereas, on another system, PMDG calls for SHIFT+TAB+3, etc.

Therefore, since different releases have different undocumented settings, the Keybord Commands MAY need to be changed in order to work with IYP.

Here's how to accomplish this task:

  1. Bring up the PMDG 737 aircraft and click on the main menu item PMDG, then General, then Keyboard Commands.

  2. Scroll down the list until you get to the Command Panel Switch Press M.

    After ensuring that the Key Assignments are correct, you should be able to launch the It's Your Plane application and say,

      "Display Main Panel"
      "Display Zoom Panel"
      "Display Approach Panel"
      "Display Landing Panel"
      "Display Overhead Panel"
      "Display FMC", or "Display CDU"
      "Lose the FMC", or "Lose the CDU"
      "Display Throttle Quadrant"
      "Lose the Throttle Quadrant"
      "Display Radio Stack"
      "Lose the Radio Stack"
These commands MUST work as described, else NOTHING will work properly.
Recalibration Facilities:
Typically, the PMDG 737-600/700 aircraft comes up with the following default settings:

    Airspeed = 100
    Course=0
    Heading=0
    Altitude=10000
Because of the aforemention "OPEN-LOOP" PMDG design restrictions, if during the flight, you manually change a setting on the panel, (e.g., you change the Airspeed from 250 to 280) then it is necessary that you execute an AIRSPEED CALIBRATION so that the IYP application can remain SYNCHRONIZED. Using the above scenario, since you changed the Airspeed "manually", instead of simply saying, "Airspeed 280" and letting Michelle/Mike do it, the IYP application believes the Airspeed remains set at 250. Therefore, you need to say, "Airspeed calibration 280", to tell the IYP application that you "manually" changed the setting. The same scenario exists with the other settings set forth below.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
The Airspeed calibration is particularly necessary when descending below FL240 when the PMDG aircraft automatically changes from MACH to IAS. Failure to conduct an Airspeed Recalibration at this point will result in crazy things occuring... like setting your Airspeed to 540 KNOTS!!!

    "Airspeed calibration 'nnn'"
    "Course calibration 'nnn'"
    "Heading calibration 'nnn'"
    "Altitude calibration 'nnnnn'" or "Flight Level calibration 'nnn'"
PMDG Voice Commands
The operational GENERAL commands are:
Display Main Panel
Display Zoom Panel
Display Approach Panel
Display Landing Panel
Display Approach Panel
Display (Throttle) Quadrant/Lose (Throttle) Quadrant
Display Radio Stack/Lose Radio Stack
Display FMC/Lose FMC
Display PFD/Lose PFD
Display ND/Lose ND
Display EICAS/Lose EICAS
Display E-Cass/Lose E-Cass

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The operational MAIN PANEL commands are:
Reset Master Caution
Reset Fire Warning (Alarm)
Reset Auto Pilot Alert
Reset Auto Throttle Alert
Reset FMC Alert
Airspeed Calibration 'nnn'
Course Calibration 'nnn'
Heading Calibration 'nnn'
Altitude Calibration 'nnnnn' or Flight Level Calibration 'nnn'
Execute Fire Warning System Test
Make the Course 067
Course Calibration 067 Synchronize Panel Gauge with IYP
Airspeed Calibration 250
Airspeed 250 (Synchronize Panel Gauge with IYP)
Make the Heading 150/Turn LEFT/RIGHT Heading 150
Heading Calibration 150 (Synchronize Panel Gauge with IYP)
Climb and Maintain 7,000
Climb and Maintain Flight Level 260
Descend and Maintain 7,000
Descend and Maintain Flight Level 260
Altitude Calibration 7,000 (Synchronize Panel Gauge with IYP)
Flight Level Calibration 260 (Synchronize Panel Gauge with IYP)
Auto-Throttle ON/OFF
Flight Director ON/OFF
N1 (Selector) ON/OFF
Speed (Selector) ON/OFF
Level Change (Selector) ON/OFF
Heading (Selector) ON/OFF
Approach (Selector) ON/OFF
VS (Selector) ON/OFF/Vertical Speed Selector ON/OFF
L NAV (Selector) ON/OFF
V NAV (Selector) ON/OFF
Auto-Pilot ON/OFF
C M D A (Selector) ON/OFF (same as above)
C M D B (Selector) ON/OFF
C W S A (Selector) ON/OFF
C W S A (Selector) ON/OFF
Set (the) Auto Brakes to RTO
Set (the) Auto Brakes to OFF
Set (the) Auto Brakes to Postion1
Set (the) Auto Brakes to Position2
Set (the) Auto Brakes to Position3
Set (the) Auto Brakes to Maximum
Parking Brakes ON/OFF
Landing Gear UP/DOWN
Reset Minimums
Set Minimums to (e.g. 300) / Make Minimums (e.g. 300)
Press CTR / Press Center
Press FPV / Press Flight Path Vector
Press Metres
Select Pressure
Mode Selector to Approach
Mode Selector to VOR
Mode Selector to Map
Mode Selector to Plan
Make the Range 5
Make the Range 10
Make the Range 20
Make the Range 40
Make the Range 80
Make the Range 160
Make the Range 320
Make the Range 640
VOR 1 OFF/ON
VOR 2 OFF/ON
ADF1 ON
Speed Intervention ON/OFF
Altitude Intervention ON/OFF
N1 on 2/1/AUTO/BOTH
Speed Ref on AUTO/V1/VR/WT/V Ref/Set
Fuel Flow Reset/Rate/Used
Display Weather ON/OFF
Display Stations ON/OFF
Display Airports ON/OFF
Display Data ON/OFF
Display Positions ON/OFF
Standby Attitude OFF/on Approach/on BackCourse
Landing Gear UP/DOWN

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The operational OVERHEAD PANEL commands are:
Ground Power ON/OFF
Standby Power ON/OFF
Battery Master Switch ON/OFF
No Smoking ON/OFF/On AUTO
Seat Belts ON/OFF/On AUTO
Start (the) APU
Shut Down (the) APU
APU Bleed ON/OFF
Left Engine Bleed ON/OFF, or Number 1 Bleed ON/OFF
Right Engine Bleed ON/OFF, or Number 2 Bleed ON/OFF
Number 1 Center Fuel Pump ON/OFF
Number 2 Center Fuel Pump ON/OFF
Number 1 Aft Fuel Pump ON/OFF
Number 1 Forward Fuel Pump ON/OFF
Number 2 Aft Fuel Pump ON/OFF
Number 2 Forward Fuel Pump ON/OFF
Number 1 Electric Hydraulic Pump ON/OFF
Number 2 Electric Hydraulic Pump ON/OFF
Number 1 Hydraulic Pump ON/OFF
Number 2 Hydraulic Pump ON/OFF
Number 1 Generator ON/OFF
Number 2 Generator ON/OFF
Number 1 APU Generator ON/OFF
Number 2 APU Generator ON/OFF
Number 1 Ground Ignition
Number 1 Ignition OFF
Number 1 Continuous Ignition
Number 1 Flight Ignition
Number 2 Ground Ignition
Number 2 Ignition OFF
Number 2 Continuous Ignition
Number 2 Flight Ignition
Galley Power ON/OFF, or Cab Util Power ON/OFF
(Passenger) In Flight Entertainment ON/OFF
Window Heat Switches ON/OFF
Window Heat Test
Select Left Ignition Switch
Select Right Ignition Switch
Yaw Damper ON/OFF
Emergency Exit Lights ON/OFF
Probe Heat Switches ON/OFF
Isolation Valve Open/Closed/On Auto
Equipment Cooling Supply Normal
Equipment Cooling Supply Alternate
Equipment Cooling Exhaust Normal
Equipment Cooling Exhaust Alternate
Left Pack OFF/On Auto/On High
Right Pack OFF/On Auto/On High
Cycle Fuel Crossfeed
Number 1 Air Conditioning on Very Cool
Number 1 Air Conditioning on Cool
Number 1 Air Conditioning on Auto
Number 1 Air Conditioning on Warm
Number 1 Air Conditioning on Very Warm
Number 2 Air Conditioning on Very Cool
Number 2 Air Conditioning on Cool
Number 2 Air Conditioning on Auto
Number 2 Air Conditioning on Warm
Number 2 Air Conditioning on Very Warm
Wing Anti Ice ON/OFF
Number 1 Anti Ice ON/OFF
Number 2 Anti Ice ON/OFF
Left Wiper on PARK/INTERMITTENT/LOW/HIGH
Right Wiper on PARK/INTERMITTENT/LOW/HIGH

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The operational THROTTLE QUADRANT commands are:
Number 1 Fuel ON/OFF
Number 2 Fuel ON/OFF
Start Number 1
Start Number 2
Parking Brakes ON/OFF
Auto Spolier ON/OFF
Retracted Spoilers
Spoiler 25 percent
Spoiler 50 percent
Spoiler 75 percent
Spoiler to the Maximum
Flaps 1
Flaps 2
Flaps 5
Flaps 10
Flaps 15
Flaps 25
Flaps 30
Flaps 40
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