ND - Navigation Display
The Nav Display (ND) serves several purposes, but its primary use is to show you where you're going (i.e. what route you've chosen to fly). The display can operate in five different modes (ILS, VOR, Nav, Arc and Plan), and each mode has two styles (A and B). The style you select is entirely a matter of personal preference, and both are shown below.
The screenshots below are all taken from a paused simulator session departing KDFW so they all depict exactly the same situation, which is:
- Ground speed: 227 kts.
- True airspeed: 232 kts.
- Current heading: 203 degrees.
- Heading bug: 195 degrees (coupled to FMC).
- Wind direction/speed: 215 degrees at 5 kts (slight headwind).
- VOR1 tuned to 116.60 (a VOR that is not in range).
- VOR2 tuned to the FUZ VOR, which is 7.4 nm away.
- Next waypoint: BPARK 3.8 nm at 198 degrees, ETO of 2142 UTC.
- VORs, NDBs and nearby aircraft traffic (TFC) are displayed.
The ND mode can be chosen in different ways:
- Put the keyboard focus on the ND window and use the Alt-M and Shift-Alt-M keys to cycle through the modes.
- Select a mode from the FCU.
With most of the ND modes you can choose the range to be displayed:
- Scroll the mousewheel in the ND window.
- Select a range from the FCU.
VOR Mode
This mode simply functions as a conventional VOR compass rose which can display two frequencies. Either frequency can be a VOR/DME or ADF/NDB.The VOR/NDB pointers will move randomly because of noise and radio interferences, the amount of movement depends on the distance to the station.
VOR Style A | VOR Style B |
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Nav Mode
Nav mode shows you where you're going. The route programmed into the MCDU is displayed along with the waypoints on it. The route will be shown as a solid line when the AP is in lateral NAV mode and as a dashed line when the AP is in HDG mode.
If you change the route while airborne, the proposed new route will be shown as a dashed line until you confirm it as the new route in the MCDU.
If you use the Direct-To function of the MCDU, the current position will be shown as "T-P".
Nav Style A | Nav Style B |
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Arc Mode
This mode is essentially the same as Nav mode, but displayed as a partial compass arc instead of the entire compass rose.
Arc Style A | Arc Style B |
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In this style you can change whether the current heading (HDG) or the current track (TRK) is shown at the top. Toggle the display with the "W" key (uppercase). |
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Plan Mode
Plan mode shows the current route with North pointing to the top. Both Nav and Arc modes show the current heading at the top. This is especially useful when choosing a SID or STAR as it enables you to see the general direction of the SID/STAR.
Plan Style A | Plan Style B |
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ILS Mode
Similar to the VOR mode, ILS mode functions as a normal ILS gauge. The screenshots below are of necessity from a different situation than those above.
ILS Style A | ILS Style B |
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Climb & Descent
One of the more useful features of the ND is showing you where you'll reach a certain altitude at the current V/S and ground speed. This is crucial for observing altitude crossing restrictions. The various altitude reach indicators are shown in the Arc mode.
Top of Climb (TOC)
The TOC point in the screenshots below is just before the IMPOR waypoint.
TOC Style A | TOC Style B |
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TOC is shown with a bent arrow pointing to the current route. The tail of the arrow points down to distinguish it from the BOD arrow. |
TOC is shown as an arc. |
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Top of Descent (TOD)
TOD in the screenshots below is about 15 nm ahead of the JAWBN waypoint. Note that the STAR requires a speed of 280 KIAS and a minimum of 16,000 ft MSL. These restrictions are shown when CSTR is enabled on the FCU.
The distance to TOD is based on the current altitude and destination airport elevation using a 3° angle of descent. vasFMC considers "at" and "at or below" altitude restructions for TOD calculation.
TOD Style A | TOD Style B |
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TOD is shown as a bent arrow pointing away from the current route. |
TOD is shown as a small circle on the route with "T/D" beside it. |
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Bottom of Descent (BOD)
BOD in the screenshots below is between JAWBN and DIGGN. As with TOC, the BOD indicators are shown whether or not the FMC is coupled.
BOD Style A | BOD Style B |
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BOD is shown as a bent arrow pointing to the current route. The tail of the arrow points up to distinguish it from the TOC arrow. |
BOD is shown as an arc. The arc is always present since the target altitude does not depend on the route (i.e. you are still descending even if you're off course). |
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