For aircraft that do not have a GPS, the initial position is also required. It will include altitudes including the initial cruise altitude. This can include performance information such as gross weight, fuel weight and center of gravity. It is entered into the FMS either by typing it in, selecting it from a saved library of common routes (Company Routes) or via an ACARS datalink with the airline dispatch center.ĭuring preflight, other information relevant to managing the flight plan is entered. The flight plan is generally determined on the ground, before departure either by the pilot for smaller aircraft or a professional dispatcher for airliners. a VOR, NDB, ILS, airport or waypoint/intersection). Waypoints can also be defined by the pilot(s) along the route or by reference to other waypoints with entry of a place in the form of a waypoint (e.g. Holding patterns (only as part of IAPs-although can be entered by command of ATC or at pilot's discretion).Radio navigation aids including distance measuring equipment (DME), VHF omnidirectional range (VOR), non-directional beacons (NDBs) and instrument landing systems (ILSs).

The NDB contains all of the information required for building a flight plan, consisting of: Each FMS contains only a subset of the ARINC / AIRAC data, relevant to the capabilities of the FMS. The navigation database (NDB) is normally updated every 28 days, in order to ensure that its contents are current.

These are defined via the ARINC 424 standard. The navigation database contains the elements from which the flight plan is constructed. However certain characteristics are common to all FMSs.Īll FMSs contain a navigation database. In its evolution an FMS has had many different sizes, capabilities and controls. Now, systems similar to FMS exist on aircraft as small as the Cessna 182. The modern FMS was introduced on the Boeing 767, though earlier navigation computers did exist. The FMS can be summarised as being a dual system consisting of the Flight Management Computer (FMC), CDU and a cross talk bus. The FMS sends the flight plan for display to the Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS), Navigation Display (ND), or Multifunction Display (MFD). From the cockpit, the FMS is normally controlled through a Control Display Unit (CDU) which incorporates a small screen and keyboard or touchscreen. Using various sensors (such as GPS and INS often backed up by radio navigation) to determine the aircraft's position, the FMS can guide the aircraft along the flight plan.

A primary function is in-flight management of the flight plan. An FMS is a specialized computer system that automates a wide variety of in-flight tasks, reducing the workload on the flight crew to the point that modern civilian aircraft no longer carry flight engineers or navigators. Example of a FMS Control Display Unit used on a Boeing 737-300Ī flight management system ( FMS) is a fundamental component of a modern airliner's avionics.

Honeywell nav database loding