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737NGX

Secret Shuttle – Janet 356 Reloaded

737NGX Adapted Mission

737NGX-600 in Janet livery on final approach to Groom Lake

By Jonathan Fyfe

Edition 1.1

Publish Date: 11th August 2013

Published at jf737ngx.wordpress.com

jf737ngx.wordpress.com

Rev 1.1 PMDG 737NGX – Secret Shuttle – Janet 356 Reloaded 2

For Simulator Use Only jf737ngx.wordpress.com 11/08/2013



INTRODUCTION Flight Simulator X comes with many exciting missions; one of the most notable and popular is the

Secret Shuttle – where you are flying your first “Janet” flight that shuttles workers to secret military

installations. This flight is an early morning run from Las Vegas (KLAS) to an air base at Groom Lake in

the so called “Area 51”. You have a veteran co-captain in the right seat providing familiarisation.

It’s fun to be able to go somewhere virtually that you can never visit in real life, and this is what

makes the Secret Shuttle mission so appealing. Normally, the mission is flown using the stock Boeing

737 that ships with FSX.

If you own the PMDG 737NGX, it is easily possible to modify the mission to use this aircraft in place

of the stock 737 and also to run the flight using the FMC. Only a few minor configuration changes are

required to do this, and the aim of this guide Secret Shuttle – Janet 356 Reloaded is to walk through

the steps required to do this.

WHO IS THIS GUIDE FOR?

This guide is for FSX users who own the PMDG 737NGX and are comfortable dabbling in some minor

configuration changes.

Difficulty Level: Easy/Medium

Time to complete: 20 mins, optional components 2 hrs

Warning – this activity can be addictive!

Note, look for follow-up tutorial: Secret Shuttle – Adding Janet AI Traffic

SUMMARY OF FSX MODIFICATIONS

Required

1. Create a new version of the mission’s .flt file that has two minor changes in it.

Optional

2. Configure Panel state to suit the mission

3. Add Waypoint, Navaid & Airport data to the FMC NAVDATA files

4. Add the VOR/DME ground station to Groom Lake airport

Extras

5. Flight Dispatch paperwork

6. FMC Programming for the mission



DISCLAIMER

The diagrams, charts, nav data and other content provided here are only to be used in the flight

simulator environment. The information is compiled from a variety of sources and is intended solely

to augment and add a perceived degree of realism to the Secret Shuttle mission in FSX.

The content is provided purely for entertainment/escapism purposes. It is not to be used for any

real-world navigation activity either in the air or on the ground.

No responsibility is taken by the author for any issues arising from following the steps herein. All files

should be backed up prior to modification. This guide represents one way to accomplish the stated

outcome – there may be other methods.

Finally, although I have corresponded with individuals from PMDG about certain product details, I

have no formal affiliation with PMDG.

REQUIREMENTS

FSX SP2 / Acceleration PMDG 737NGX

OPTIONAL

PMDG 737NGX 600-700 expansion pack PMDG Janet livery for the 737-600 FSX SDK Airport Editor such as ADE9X The ADE9X Airport Design Editor software is freeware by Scruffy Duck Software and comes with comprehensive documentation.

The FSX SDK also comes with extensive documentation.

This tutorial assumes some familiarity with both.

RECOMMENDED

It is recommended that you have a minimum 10+ hours flight time in the 737NGX prior to undertaking this flight exercise, and have previously flown the mission using the stock 737.

NOTE

This document assumes that FSX is installed in “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft

Flight Simulator X”. Substitute your path where this is referenced if you have the program installed

elsewhere.

THE JANET 737-600

The Janet livery is available from the PMDG precisionmanuals.com website. The 737NGX-600 expansion

pack is required to use the livery. See the instructions that came with the 737NGX for installation of the

livery using the Livery Manager.

FSX NAVIGATION INFORMATION

FSX stores navigation elements in two domains – firstly the FSX “world” and secondly at Airports and

associated vicinity. These navigation elements – such as waypoints, airports, navaids can be viewed

on the FSX “Map” and referenced in FSX flight planning with stock aircraft.

PMDG 737NGX users will be familiar with the idea that the navigation data for that aircraft is self-

contained, supplied with the aircraft and is AIRAC cycle data. The CDU/FMC is used for flight

planning.

So to a fair extent, there are two parallel sets of data to consider when modifications are being

made. This tutorial is for the most part concerned with augmenting the 737NGX navigation data,

however one step does involve adding a navaid to the FSX airport data. These points may be of

interest to some who are considering following the optional steps of the tutorial.

The flight plan and mission make reference to the so-called Pyramid waypoint; I have therefore

placed the Pyramid waypoint (with concocted code PYRID) into the PMDG nav data using the

coordinates found in the FSX flight file SecretShuttle.FLT1.

1 Note the Mission itself (SecretShuttle.xml) confusingly locates the Pyramid POI several miles further east

(perhaps this may be to assist with following the visual “fly-to” cue) which if used provides a very awkward dogleg to final approach.



MISSION TIPS

Aim

The overall aim here though is to allow you to fly the mission using the FMC along with the

narration. This presents some challenges, but it is mostly doable. Of course you at any point you can

also have a go flying manually or even go “outside” the mission in free flight and experiment with

different FMC flight plans and approaches!

Preparation

When the mission starts, if your engines are running (if that is your default panel state) there is a

voice intro providing background which concludes with obtaining a clearance and requesting that

you taxi to RWY 1L. At this point, you have as much time as you like to set the payload, load up the

FMC and review checklists etc – no need to worry that the mission will perhaps “time out”.

If you follow the steps further into this document to alter the panel state so that the engines are not

running when the mission loads, the voice over will then ask you to start the engines (again, no time

pressure on this) and will wait until that is accomplished. Then you will be asked to taxi out to 1L,

and as per above, you have as much time as you need.

Takeoff and enroute

CMD mode and LNAV can be engaged after passing 400’ AGL, you will need to remove the 4,500’ alt

restriction from the MCP when cleared to do so (“Reset MCP Alt” notification on the CDU and then

Alt Intervention), so as allow the VNAV climb to proceed. The enroute flight should be relatively

uneventful, at least until Mercury.

Descent

The Elevation at Groom Lake KXTA is 4,445 ft (although the narration quotes it at 4,600 ft), making

for a 9,500’ descent from our cruising altitude of 14,000’. Using the standard 3:1 descent rule of

thumb, T/D should be about 30 track miles out and this is approximately where the FMC puts it.

When the narration instructs us to descend we are around 27 track miles out from KXTA. (Around

23 nm DME direct). We therefore will add an altitude restriction until MCY +15 so that the descent

matches the mission; this means that drag will be required so as to maintain the VNAV descent.

Intercepting Final – the intercept is drawn on the ND if you have selected RWY 32 and is very close to

the Pyramid waypoint. Additionally you can tune the Groom Lake MCY VOR/DME2 on 117.5 and

select CRS 333 for a 10 deg lead bearing on the turn to final - this also intersects PYRID as a useful

cross check.

Landing

Plan to disconnect the auto pilot and auto throttle during the final approach leg, use the HUD and

show off your landing ability!

2 If you have followed the optional section on adding the VOR/DME



MODIFICATION ITEM 1 – FLT FILE

Create a new .FLT file so that the mission shows up listing the PMDG 737NGX

In C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Missions\Pilot for

Hire\SecretShuttle, make a copy of the file “SecretShuttle.FLT” and name it

“SecretShuttlePMDG.FLT” or similar.

Now edit your newly created “SecretShuttlePMDG.FLT” file using notepad as follows:

FLT file modification Part A – Mission Listing

Create the entry that appears on the FSX Missions list screen

Find the section:

[Main]

Title=Secret Shuttle

Change it to read:

Title= Secret Shuttle – PMDG 737 Janet

FLT file modification Part B – Aircraft Change

Change the aircraft from the default 737

Find the section:

[Sim.0]

Sim=Boeing 737-800 Paint6

If you have the PMDG 737NGX-6/700 expansion and the Janet livery, change it to:

Sim=Boeing 737-66NNGX Janet Airlines (URS Federal Services)

If you are using the default PMDG 737NGX -800 aircraft, change it to:

Sim=Boeing 737-800NGX PMDG House

Explanation of Sim entry

Note, this new “Sim” value comes from the “title” of the aircraft you want to use - as specified in the

relevant aircraft.cfg file.

For example, to use the PMDG House 737NGX 600, navigate to:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\

PMDG 737-600NGX and open the aircraft.cfg file where you will see Title=Boeing 737-600NGX

PMDG House.



Check the Result of the Item 1 modification

Save the file and launch FSX and select Missions. The “new” mission should be listed below the

original.

Select and load the mission:

Start of the mission – early morning with the 737NGX in position!



OPTIONAL MODIFICATION ITEM 2 - PANEL STATE

You can create a custom panel state for the mission if desired.

For example, if your default PMDG panel state is to have the engines running, but for this mission

you would like to just have the APU running – you could do the following:

As soon as the mission loads, you can switch to APU power & shut 1 & 2 engines down, then save

(You must have enabled the checkbox at the start of the mission to allow saving).

When saving, use the EXACT filename that matches the .FLT file i.e.:

Assuming you called your modified .FLT file: SecretShuttlePMDG.FLT (PATH C:\Program Files

(x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Missions\Pilot for Hire\SecretShuttle\)

Call the saved flight:

SecretShuttlePMDG

This also saves off in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator

X\PMDG\PMDG 737 NGX\PanelState\

SecretShuttlePMDG.FLT.fmc

SecretShuttlePMDG.FLT.sav

Restart the mission and you should have the state you saved.

(The above action will also create a free-flight SAVED flight; remember to load the mission from the

MISSIONS screen).

This will allow the mission to start with the APU running, but engines shut down - which matches to

the mission scenario and voice over more closely.



OPTIONAL MODIFICATION ITEM 3 – ADD NAV DATA TO THE FMC

Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\PMDG\NAVDATA

Firstly, backup (make copies) of:

A. wpnavapt.txt

B. wpnavaid.txt

C. wpnavfix.txt

D. airports.dat

Now edit the original files3 using a text editor and add the rows of HIGHLIGHTED data into each file -

as per below. Note data must be sequenced within the files in descending latitude order as shown4.

Enable the Groom Lake (Homey) airport KXTA on the ND and in the FMC:

Add to airports.dat (the yellow highlighted row - line 5063 in my file)

RKSW 37.239406 127.007053

KXTA 37.240159 -115.80385

DTTB 37.245447 9.791453

Data file structure:

01-04 Airport ICAO

05-14 ARP Lat

15-25 ARP Long

A. Enable the Groom Lake (Homey) runways on the ND and in the FMC:

Add to wpnavapt.txt (the yellow highlighted rows below – lines 13045, 13046 in my file)

MARDIN LTCR03 08202030 37.214378 40.623122000.0003001650

MARDIN LTCR21 08202210 37.232292 40.640217000.0021001728

HOMEY KXTA14 11975143 37.233147-115.792154968.0014304442

HOMEY KXTA32 11975323 37.250799-115.801535994.0032304442

WILLIAMBURG-JAMESTOWN KJGG13 03204131 37.241394 -76.720839000.0013100048

WILLIAMBURG-JAMESTOWN KJGG31 03204311 37.236944 -76.711342000.0031100022


01-24 Long Name

25-28 Airport ICAO

29-31 RWY ident

32-39 Rwy Length

40-49 Lat Threshold start (on centerline)

50-60 Long Threshold start (on centerline)

61-66 ILS Freq

67-70 Rwy Heading (MAG)

70-74 Threshold alt

3 You may need administrator privileges. EG Right click Notepad and select “Run as Administrator”. 4 If this requirement is not adhered to, the GPWS system will mis-interpret the terrain position information and

annunciate false “TERRAIN” and “PULL UP” alerts. (Confirmed by PMDG support).



B. Enable the Area 51 Pyramid (PYRID) waypoint on the ND and in the FMC:

Add to wpnavfix.dat (the yellow highlighted rows below – line 117065 in my file)

CENGO CENGO 37.065556 28.091111

PYRID PYRID 37.065666-115.733000

JEFFE JEFFE 37.065731 -95.777742

Optionally, you can add the below which is the Pyramid aiming point in the mission xml file.

IRHIV IRHIV 37.198511 -83.805353

PYRXM PYRXM 37.198875-115.624800

NEKUE NEKUE 37.198953 -81.577828


01-24 Long Name

25-29 IDENT

30-39 Lat

40-50 Long

C. Enable the Area 51 Navaids on the ND and in the FMC:

Add to wpnavaid.dat (the yellow highlighted rows – lines 8464 and 8814 in my file)

IFK IFK ILS 37.240803 140.428617110.50T

GROOM LAKE MCY VORD 37.242559-115.792300117.50T

IBDR IBDR ILS 37.246458 27.684747109.30T

And

CLARKSVILLE CKV VORD 36.621983 -87.412664110.60T

MERCURY MCY NDB 36.627455-116.027532326.00N

POINT LOOKOUT/DCMSND PLK NDB 36.627561 -93.229903204.00N


01-24 Long Name

25-29 IDENT

30-33 Facility type

34-44 Lat

45-54 Long

55-60 Frequency

61-62 Facility Class

Note the two navaids we are adding both have ident MCY but are NOT co-located geographically.

The NDB is at the Desert Rock airport, and the VOR-DME is at the Groom Lake airport. This mirrors

the real-life setup.

If the above entries are not made, then the MCY lookup will not return these navaids. However it is

interesting to note that the MCY NDB can be tuned regardless by the ADF on freq 326.0 because it

exists in the FSX world data. The VOR/DME however cannot be tuned without following the

modification in the next section because it does not exist in the FSX data.



CDU displaying the new data

Mercury & Groom Lake navaids (top two entries - both share Ident “MCY”) are now selectable via

the CDU

Pyramid (PYRID) is now also selectable.

MCY & PYRID route segments entered in the CDU



OPTIONAL ITEM 4 – ADD THE VOR/DME TO GROOM LAKE AIRPORT

In the previous step, the navigation data was augmented so that additional elements such as the

Groom Lake VOR/DME became visible on the ND and could be looked up in the FMC.

However the VOR/DME at this point is not tunable by the Nav radios.

In an RNAV aircraft such as the 737NGX this is surely no big deal - as we could use the FIX/Radial

capability of the FMC5. Nevertheless, for completeness we will make a change to the Groom Lake

airport that makes the VOR/DME tunable AND creates the visible ground transmitter equipment.

In ADE9X, open up AR51 stock airport.

Firstly the radio facility is added as shown; right click a blank area of the airport and select Add -

VOR/DME. Enter the details as shown, including the co-ordinates.

Type: Terminal, Frequency 117.5, Range 27, Lat 37.242559, Lon -115.7923

This creates the actual functional system, but no visuals.

Use the co-ordinates previously added to wpnavaid.txt

5 If Item 2 Step C has been completed.



Secondly, to add the visual object, on the diagram, right click the newly-placed VOR/DME and select

Add-Library Object, then category Airport Object.

Both elements no co-exist:

The co-located VOR-DME (Blue symbol) and the Scenery object (Yellow box) just east of the

windsock

Although not covered in this tutorial, the ILS facility and approach could be added to RWY 32R using

ADE9X .



FLIGHT PLANNING

Route overview

The VFR mission routing from RWY 01L



FLIGHT DISPATCH



GROOM LAKE AIRPORT DIAGRAM

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AIRPORT DIAGRAMGROOM LAKE AFB (KXTA / AR51)

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143°

RAMP

AIRPORT DIAGRAM GROOM LAKE AFB (KXTA / AR51)RACHEL, NEVADA

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RADAR

ARRAY

BASE OPS

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FIELD

ELEV

4445

FIRE STN

HELI APRON

Tower 120.10

ATIS 123.00

Nellis Control 126.65

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Unauthorised entry into this

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AIRPORT INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE FLIGHT

Las Vegas McCarran International KLAS

Lat/Long: 36.0800° N, 115.1522° W

Las Vegas VOR 116.9 (Located at McCarran International Airport, IDENT LAS)

Elevation: 2181 ft. / 664.8 m (surveyed)

Runway 1L/19R 8985 x 150 ft. / 2739 x 46 m

Groom Lake KXTA / AR51

Lat/Long: 37.2350° N, 115.8111° W

Groom Lake VOR 117.5 (Terminal VOR at Groom Lake, IDENT MCY)

Elevation: 4445 ft. / 1360.0 m (estimated)

Runway 1L/19R 8985 x 150 ft. / 2739 x 46 m

Indian Springs KINS

Lat/Long: 36.5840° N, 115.6802° W

Use LAS VOR r305/39.3 AND MCY NDB 083/16.9

Elevation: 3134.1 ft. / 955 m (estimated)

Runway 8/26 9002 x 150 ft. / 2744 x 46 m

Desert Rock KDRA/NV65

Lat/Long: 36.6194° N, 116.0328° W

Mercury NDB 326.0 (Located at Desert Rock Airport, IDENT MCY)

Elevation: 3314 ft. / 1010.1 m (surveyed)

Runway 2/20 7515 x 100 ft. / 2291 x 30 m

http://airnav.com/cgi-bin/navaid-info?id=LAS&type=VORTAC&name=LAS+VEGAS



FMC PROGRAMMING 6

This section is followed when the mission is loaded. Familiarity with the CDU/FMC is assumed, but

here are the key steps:

(Note, optional modification 3 must be completed to use the FMC in the mission).

Aircraft fuel & payload setup – FS Actions on the CDU

Fuel - Enter 9,200 lbs at LSK 1L.

Payload - Enter 5 First Class, 85 Coach, 3200 lbs fwd cargo and 2800 lbs aft cargo using the

appropriate LSK’s.

This gives us a ZFW of 102,000lbs, a CG of 20.7%7 and a load level of 67.9%

6 The 737-600 is used



Fuel Note

The FMC always overstates the fuel by 200 lbs, but the Engine DU displays the correct figure.

After entry of 9200lbs, the FMC will subsequently show 9400.

CDU/FMC showing fuel load of 9400 (9.4), overstating the entered 9200 by 200lbs.

7 May vary slightly from flight to flight as passengers are loaded into random seat positions



Flight plan entry in the CDU

Menu on the CDU, then FMC, Init Ref – Pos Init page; enter KLAS for Las Vegas at LSK 2L.

Press LSK 6R for the RTE page; line-select Origin KLAS into LSK 1L, then enter Dest KXTA at LSK 1R

and Flt No J356 at LSK 2R.

Leave the Runway blank for now.

Press Next for page 2



Enter MCY into the scratchpad and press LSK 1R “TO”

FMC will prompt to select desired MCY; Select the Mercury NDB at LSK 1R.

Next, enter PYRID for the Pyramid waypoint.

Press Activate and EXEC



Departure and Arrival Runways

Press the DEP/ARR button, select LSK 1L DEP KLAS and then Runway 01L using LSK 1R

The runway is then drawn on the ND. Press Exec.

Press DEP/ARR again, select LSK 2R KXTA ARR and then Runway 32 using LSK2R, end enter 10 into

the RWY EXT field. This will create a 10 nm final waypoint and target altitude. Press Exec.



Perf Init Setup

Press Init Ref to bring up the Perf Init page

Dbl click ZFW at LSK 3L to load the Zero Fuel Weight, enter “3” for reserves at LSK 4L and “33” for

Cost Index at LSK 5L

Next, enter 140 into Trip/Crz Alt at LSK 1R and Press EXEC.

N1 Limit – Press N1 Limit at LSK 6R and then select 20K Derate TO-1 at LSK 3L



Takeoff – Press Takeoff at LSK 6R

Double click LSK 3L to load the calculated CG figure.

Enter Flaps 5 at LSK 1L.

The calculated V-speeds will now appear8. Press LSK’s 1R, 2R, 3R to load them.

Trim and Speed setting

This is a good time to set both the Takeoff trim (5.72 in this example), and the MCP speed to V2 (122

in this example).

Note, on climb out, 15 deg pitch up is selected initially, then the FD pitch and FMC will command

V2+20. The MCP speed window will also be updated automatically to V2+20. (142kts in this case).

8 V-speeds will not be calculated until a departure runway is selected



Alternate – Press the RTE key and select ALTN DEST at LSK 6L

Alternate for today’s flight will be Creech AFB at Indian Springs.

Enter KINS into the scratchpad and line-select it to LSK 1L. This will default to the “Direct” planning

“Via D” on the CDU showing 39 nm DTG.

Press LSK 1R to bring up the detail, then Press LSK 5L to select via MISSED APP.

We can now see that KXTA to KINS is 40nm.



LEGS Review and Amendments to suit the mission

LEGS Page - MCY/15 Waypoint FL140 restriction.

Again, this is to assist following the mission narrative. (The mission’s T/D is 15 nm beyond Mercury,

while the FMC would naturally calculate a T/D about 10 nm beyond Mercury).

Press the LEGS key on the CDU.

Press LSK 1L to copy MCY to the scratchpad. Then type /15 so the scratchpad entry reads “MCY/15”.

Line-select it over PYRID at LSK 2Lto insert the new MCY01 waypoint and press Exec.



Now enter 140 into the scratchpad and then press LSK 2R to enter the altitude restriction.

Press Exec.

Finally, clear the route discontinuity by pressing LSK 5L to copy RX32 to the scratchpad. Then line-

select it over the discontinuity using LSK 4L.



The discontinuity is now cleared

Press Exec.



Descent page – speed restriction

Enter 250kts into the scratchpad then press LSK 2L to set it as our desired descent speed

(overwriting the calculated value of around 276kt) – this is to assist with following the mission

narrative.

Press Exec.

Ok, we’re all set on the FMC.



THE MISSION FLIGHT

This section includes Boeing Normal Checklists for convenience. Note that these are “check done”

items rather than “do now” items; i.e. they are designed to be done after the memorized “flows”

that precede them.

See the PMDG FCOM or PMDG 737NGX Tutorial #2 for the flows or amplified procedures.

Load up the Mission if you have not already done so

“Okay, this flight’s a shuttle to the base at Groom Lake. It’s all VFR to avoid a paper trail, but along

the way we have to pass through the Las Vegas Class Bravo airspace, as well as a bunch of Restricted

Airspace owned by Nellis Control. I’ll handle all radio communication, you do the flying. We’ll take

off and fly runway heading to 4,000, then turn left and fly direct to the Mercury NDB at Desert Rock.

We usually file to Desert Rock, but when nobody’s looking we turn north and follow the Emigrant

Valley to Groom Lake. Ready? I’ll get our clearance out of here”

CLEARANCE, PRE-FLIGHT and STARTUP

“Clearance, Janet 356, VFR to Desert Rock, with information Charlie.”

“Janet 356, you’re cleared into the Las Vegas Class Bravo airspace. Fly runway heading, maintain 4500.

Departure frequency will be 125.9, squawk 4211.”

Alright, start the engines and we can get the show on the road.

PREFLIGHT Checklist

Oxygen .............................................................................................................Tested, 100%

NAVIGATION transfer and DISPLAY switches ............................................... NORMAL, AUTO

Window heat ................................................................................................................... On

Pressurization mode selector ...................................................................................... AUTO

Flight instruments ....................................................................... Heading___, Altimeter___

Parking brake .................................................................................................................. Set

Engine start levers.................................................................................................... CUTOFF

Load up the FMC now as outlined in the previous section

BEFORE START Checklist

Flight deck door ....................................................................................... Closed and locked

Fuel ............................................................................................... ___ LBS/KGS, PUMPS ON

Passenger signs ............................................................................................................... ___

Windows ....................................................................................................................Locked

MCP ................................................................................................V2___, HDG___, ALT___

Takeoff speeds .................................................................................... V1___, VR___, V2___

CDU preflight ...................................................................................................... Completed

Rudder and aileron trim ...................................................................................... Free and 0

Taxi and takeoff briefing ..................................................................................... Completed

ANTI COLLISION light ....................................................................................................... ON



MCP setup for Departure

Set the MCP as above

Set Trim to 5.72

Set the Transponder to 4211, TA only

Tune the Nav1 Active to LAS on 116.9 with STBY set to MCY (Groom Lake) on 117.5

Tune the ADF to MCY NDB (Desert Rock) on 326.0

Set the Pressurization to 14000 with a Land Alt of 4450

Set the HGS to VMC

Set the ND map range to 10 using the EFIS control panel Range knob

Start the Engines as per the normal procedure

Set Flaps to 5

“Las Vegas Ground, Janet 356, ready to taxi, VFR to Desert Rock, with Charlie.”

“Janet 356, taxi to runway 1L via H and B.”



TAXI

“Set flaps to 5 for takeoff. Taxi straight ahead, then turn right onto taxiway H. H parallels the

runway, which will be on your left. Taxi to B, which is almost at the end of the taxiway.”

BEFORE TAXI Checklist

Generators ....................................................................................................................... On

Probe heat ....................................................................................................................... On

Anti-ice ........................................................................................................................... ___

Isolation valve ............................................................................................................. AUTO

ENGINE START switches ...............................................................................................CONT

Recall ...................................................................................................................... Checked

Autobrake ...................................................................................................................... RTO

Engine start levers.............................................................................................. IDLE detent

Flight controls ......................................................................................................... Checked

Ground equipment....................................................................................................... Clear

CDU progress page with the route entered and waypoint MCY NDB active

Taxi to the holding point

Switch on both Flight Directors

Engage Auto Throttle

“Turn left here onto taxiway B and hold short of the runway.”

“Las Vegas Tower, Janet 356, ready to go at 1L, VFR to Desert Rock.”



DEPARTURE

BEFORE TAKEOFF Checklist

Flaps ............................................................................................................___, Green light

Stabilizer trim ........................................................................................................ ___ Units

“Janet 356, cleared for takeoff. Fly runway heading, climb and maintain 4,500.”

Takeoff KLAS Runway 01L

Turn the landing lights On

Set the position lights to Strobe and Steady

Perform the takeoff using standard procedure



CLIMB

Follow the Flight Director bars

At 400 AGL engage the autopilot by pressing CMD A

Note the MCP Speed window changes to V2+20 = 142kts

Engage VNAV

Set flaps 1 as the speed passes 160kt

“Janet 356, contact departure.”

“ Janet 356,switching.”

“Departure, Janet 356, with you climbing to 4,500.”

“Janet 356, radar contact, altitude restriction removed, proceed on course.”

“Up to 14,000, own navigation, Janet 356.”

“Okay, turn left and fly direct to the Mercury NDB. Climb and maintain 14,000. I’ll let Operations

know we’re on our way.”

Engage LNAV

Set MCP ALT to 14,000

LNAV will take care of the turn and VNAV will manage the climb. Note, you will need to press

ALT INTV to allow the climb to proceed through 4,500.

Select ADF1 on the EFIS panel if you have not done so

Set the COURSE selector to 293

Company Comms:

“Gold Coast, Janet 356 is airborne”

“Janet 356, Gold Coast, roger. Have a good one.”

Set flaps UP as the speed passes 190kt

Set the Engine Ignition switches to OFF

“Let’s run through the After Takeoff checklist. “

AFTER TAKEOFF Checklist

Engine bleeds .................................................................................................................. On

Packs .......................................................................................................................... AUTO

Landing gear ...................................................................................................... UP and OFF

Flaps ................................................................................................................. UP, no lights

“After Takeoff Checklist complete.”



Approaching T/C

The planned route on the ND; just out of KLAS with T/C about 10 nm ahead

“A thousand to go. Turn the landing lights and the seatbelt sign off. Level off at 14,000 feet, and set

cruise thrust. Let’s get these folks to work as fast as we can…just don’t exceed 330 knots.”

After T/C, the FMC sets around 90.7 N1 in CRZ mode and the gives us around 287kts IAS and a G/S of

351kts.

“Janet 356, contact Nellis Control on 126.65”

“Janet 356, switching.”

“Nellis Control, good morning, Janet 356 with you at 14,000.”

“Janet 356, Nellis Control, you’re loud and clear. Nellis altimeter 29.95.”



ENROUTE – Las Vegas to Mercury

We have nominated Indian Springs as our Alternate in our fictitious flight plan; we’ll pass it enroute.

Transiting abeam Indian Springs (Creech AFB) and HWY 95 enroute to the Mercury NDB



Turning over the Mercury NDB

The turn over MCY to head up the Emigrant Valley; note our MCY01 T/D point.

“We’re crossing the mercury NDB, so turn right to a heading of 010 and we’ll fly up the Emigrant

Valley toward Pyramid. It’s a waypoint located at that pyramid-shaped peak on the horizon up by

Groom Lake.”

Turning over the Mercury NDB. The outbound course is actually about 015.



UFO encounter - just after Mercury

“Janet 356, unidentified fast-moving traffic, 2 o’clock, 10 miles, westbound, altitude unknown. Report traffic in

sight.”

“Janet 356, traffic alert! Traffic now 12 to 1 o’clock, less than a mile, westbound, altitude unknown”

A bit of excitement to introduce us to Area 51



Progress on the CDU

Approaching T/D

Tune NAV1 to the Groom Lake VOR/DME on 117.5 by pressing the TFR button. Select CRS

323 which intersects Pyramid.

Note as it is a Terminal VOR/DME it has a limited range and will not be

received until about 27 DME.



DESCENT AND APPROACH - Mercury to Groom Lake

“Okay, we’re getting close. Let’s run through the Approach Checklist”

“Altimeters? Set to 29.95”

Set the altimeter to 29.95

“Speeds? Set. At our current weight, we’ll want to fly the approach at 140 kts”

Author’s note.

This is fast for our current config in the 737-600; we will use 126kt which is Vref30+5kts.

On the CDU, press Init Ref to bring up the Approach page.

Select the Flaps 30 setting (double click to load it).

“Approach brief. We’ll request the visual approach to runway 32 via Pyramid waypoint. That’s just to

the southeast of Groom Lake, but tower will probably clear us to land before we get there”

APPROACH Checklist

Altimeters ..................................................................................................................... ___

“Approach Checklist complete”

“Reduce our speed to 250 kts now”

This is taken care of by the FMC DESC setting; cross-check and monitor. It should be reducing below

270kt at this point.

[Front panel yellow A/P light & FMC Scratchpad message: RESET MCP Altitude]

Set MCP ALT to 6,000 feet in anticipation for our descent

”Janet 356, contact the tower”

“I’ll call the tower now. Note that we change our callsign here from Janet 356 to Longhorn 27. I

could tell you why, but then I’d have to kill you. Just kidding.”

“Tower, Longhorn 27. Request the visual, runway 32 via Pyramid.”

”Longhorn 27, tower. Cleared visual approach runway 32, via Pyramid.”

“Okay, we’re cleared for the visual approach to runway 32. Descend to 6,000 feet for now and

continue flying to Pyramid waypoint”

The FMC commences the descent.

DESCENT Checklist

Pressurization .............................................................................................. LAND ALT___

Recall .................................................................................................................. Checked

Autobrake ................................................................................................................... ___

Landing data ............................................................................... VREF___, Minimums___

Approach briefing ............................................................................................Completed



[FMC Scratchpad message: DRAG REQUIRED]

Set the Speed Brake to FLIGHT DETENT

Passing 10,000 there is a flow to switch Landing Lights on, Seatbelt signs on.

“Alright, now that we’re descending below 10000 feet, turn the landing lights and the seatbelt sign

on, and keep your speed below 250 knots.”

”Longhorn 27, make straight in runway 32. You’re number 2 to follow a fast mover on final. Wind calm.”

“Straight in 32, looking for the fast mover, Longhorn 27” (Vista 45)

“Reduce thrust and set flaps to 5 to bring your speed back to 180 kts”

Stow the Speed Brake

Set the flaps to 5 after confirming speed is below 250kts. (It should be at around 210kts,

reducing). Continuing speed reduction is taken care of by the FMC; cross-check and monitor.

Note, further use of the speed brake may be required.



LANDING APPROACH

ND showing final approach intercept and the Groom Lake VOR cross-checked against Pyramid.

“We’re approaching Pyramid. The air base is just ahead and to the left. Turn toward it and continue

descending to the runway. Maintain 180kts for now. The runway is the big one on the right. Airport

elevation is 4,600 feet”

“Tower, Granite 31, ready to go on the North Pad, east bound to patrol Tikaboo with Echo.”

(Granite 31 is the slow mover, as yet never sighted)



“Granite 31, cleared for takeoff. Traffic is a fast mover on final for the ramp and a 737 behind him for the runway.”

Fast Mover is “Vista 45” for the ramp.

“Vista 45, wind calm, ramp landing approved. Fire equipment is standing by for spraydown”

Approach Vref flaps 30 is 121kts. The FMC will therefore use Vref+5 = 126kts.

“Longhorn 27, fast mover traffic just south of the ramp now, additional traffic is a slow mover, departing the north

pad, eastbound.

“Longhorn 27, looking. Longhorn 27 has both aircraft in sight.” (Actually – Granite 31 is never sighted!)

“Longhorn 27, wind calm, cleared to land runway 32. Report gear down.”

“Cleared to land 32, Longhorn 27”

After the turn onto final, lower the Gear and set Flaps 15, and then when speed is below

170kt set Flaps 30.



“We’re about 4 miles from the runway now. Lower the landing gear, slowly add full flaps, and reduce

speed to 140kts” (6.0 DME to the VOR).

If you haven’t already, lower the landing gear.

“Longhorn 27 on short final, gear down and locked.”

The visual approach does not have any altitude limits.

We will set Field elevation +500 as a visual approach go/no-go gate.

Set the MCP ALT to 5000

“Longhorn 27 roger, winds calm.”

“Landing checklist. Landing gear? Is down.”

“Flaps? Set to Full.”

Set Flaps 40 if desired to match the narration



LANDING

LANDING Checklist

ENGINE START switches .................................................................................................. CONT

Speedbrake .................................................................................................................. Armed

Landing gear ...................................................................................................................Down

Flaps ............................................................................................................... ___, green light

“Landing Checklist complete”

“Vista 45, spraydown this frequency.”

“Vista 45, roger.”

At the 1,000 AGL callout “One thousand” (5,445 ALT) you should disconnect the A/P so the descent

can be continued below the 5,000 altitude set in the MCP window.

Janet 356 lining up on final

Prior to 500 ft AGL (~5000 ft ALT), confirm we are “go” for the landing. Airspeed should be at 126kt,

rate of descent around 800fpm, on centerline, gear – 3 greens, flap set, speed brake and auto brake

armed.

At the 500 ft AGL callout “Five hundred” (5,060 ALT) you should disconnect the A/T so that you can

retard the throttles at 30 AGL. It will cut 2 sec after touchdown in any case.



Short Final

Vref+5, 126kts set. Well, this bit’s up to you!

Janet 356 touches down on 32R, UFOs “Vista 45” and “Vista 63” are visible on the ramp

“Longhorn 27, turn next taxiway to the left.”

“Roger, Longhorn 27.”

“Taxi in to park next to the other Janet aircraft.”



Start the APU and when stabilized, switch across the A/C.

Turn the landing lights OFF

Set the position lights to Steady

Whilst taxiing in, Vista 63 will depart the ramp.

“Tower, Vista 63, South Ramp, request east departure, with Delta”

“Vista 63, wind calm, east departure approved. Caution 737 on taxiway”

“East departure approved. Vista 63.”



SHUTDOWN

Fuel on arrival – 6,600lbs, as per flight plan.

SHUTDOWN Checklist

Fuel pumps ......................................................................................................................... Off

Probe heat .......................................................................................................................... Off

Hydraulic panel................................................................................................................... Set

Flaps ................................................................................................................................... Up

Engine start levers ...................................................................................................... CUTOFF

Weather radar .................................................................................................................... Off

“Welcome to Dreamland!”



NEXT TUTORIAL PREVIEW –

ADDING AI JANET TRAFFIC TO THE SECRET SHUTTLE MISSION

The Janet base as Las Vegas with two AI aircraft on the ramp whilst the NGX taxis out

End of Mission at KXTA with two AI aircraft on the ramp with the NGX



END NOTE

This document was created for fun and entertainment purposes, and it may contain errors. The

screenshots in this document were captured during different flights and therefore may display some

inconsistencies. It is not an official guide, nor is it endorsed by PMDG.

I had a lot of fun putting this together and I hope you enjoy the results of the modifications outlined.

See you at Groom Lake!

Cheers

Jonathan



CREDITS

Below are some of the other sources for information contained in this document.

b737.org.uk - 737 Technical Site

AvSim.com

FlightAware.com

SkyVector.com

AirNav.com

www.faa.gov

http://www.airportdesigneditor.co.uk/ - Scruffy Duck Software

Microsoft FSInsider

Microsoft MSDN/ESP/SDK

Precisionmanuals.com - PMDG

Boeing

Special Thanks to

Ryan Maziarz at PMDG Support for clarifying some aspects of the Nav Data requirements

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