Engine Start and Taxi

This guide will explain the correct procedures to carry out a pushback with engine start and perform a safe taxi to the departure runway.

Disclaimer

This is for simulation purposes only.

The level of detail in this guide is meant to get an Airbus A380 beginner safely from the terminal to the runway hold short point.

A beginner is defined as someone familiar with flying a GA aircraft or different types of airliners. Aviation terminology and know-how is a requirement to fly any airliner, even in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Prerequisites

IFR clearance obtained
The aircraft is secure
APU MASTER SW - Set to ON and the APU is available

At this time, we may request for clearance to push and start from ATC.

Download FlyByWire Checklist

Chapters / Phases

This guide will cover these chapters:

Before Pushback and Start
Pushback Clearance and Preparation
Pushback
Engine Start
After Engine Start
Flight Controls Check
Taxi
General Resources

Before Pushback and Start

Once all passengers have boarded and secured, we are ready to begin pushback.

What and Why

Before pushback the flight crew need to ensure the external power is not used any more so the ground crew can safely disconnect the aircraft from the ground power. The same goes for the low-pressure ground carts as keeping them connected during engine start could cause faulty triggers.

EXTERNAL POWER (1, 2, 3, 4).....................DISCONNECT and CHECK AVAIL
EXTERNAL POWER DISCONNECTION (GROUND CREW) ....................... REQUEST
LOW PRESSURE GROUND CARTS ............................. CHECK DISCONNECTED

How and Where

These actions are performed on the overhead panel. The external power is disconnected by pressing the respective button on the overhead panel. The external power connections and low-pressure ground carts are disconnected by the ground crew.

Flight Deck Overview

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

External Power

Pushback Clearance and Preparation

What and Why

Contact ground ATC and inform them you are ready to push and start. If you are on a network such as VATSIM, a typical response from ground would give you clearance for your request and a direction to face (or any direction).

PUSHBACK/START UP CLEARANCE ....................................... OBTAIN
WINDOWS AND DOORS ............................................CHECK CLOSED
SLIDES ............................................................. ARMED
BEACON ................................................................ ON
THRUST LEVERS ....................................................... IDLE
PARKING BRAKE ........................................................ OFF

How and Where

At EDDM on gate 208 and runway 08L you could expect the following push and start clearance from ground:

" Your Aircraft Callsign, Ground. You are clear to push and start onto Whiskey 3 facing north."

At th is point, we may begin pushback away from the terminal onto the taxiway Alpha 3.

_{Copyright © 2024 Navigraph / Jeppesen
"Navigraph Charts are intended for flight simulation use only, not for navigational use."}

Windows, Doors and Slides

To check windows, doors and slides, you can use the SD page on the system display. The SD page will show you the status of the doors and slides.

Flight Deck Overview

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

BEFORE START CHECKLIST .......................................... COMPLETE

Before Start Checklist

The Airbus A380 has a built-in checklist system that can be accessed via the Engine Warning Display (EWD).

To activate it you need to press the C/L button on the ECAM Control Panel (ECP).

You can navigate through the checklist by using the UP and DOWN buttons on the ECP. You can check/uncheck items by pressing the buttons with the check mark on the ECP.

Some items are autosensed by the aircraft and will be checked automatically (e.g. Beacon).

Pushback

There are several options available to you in MSFS to achieve a successful pushback.

The flyPad (EFB) ground control screen
MSFS built in ATC pushback controls
Third-party pushback add-ons

This guide assumes that the flyPad's pushback functionality is used.

Click below to learn more about the flyPad and how to use it for pushback.

How to Pushback

How-to Pushback

The FlyByWire A380X has a ground operations page on its built-in flyPad EFB (Electronic Flight Bag). This page allows controlling the pushback of the aircraft and other useful ground operations such as calling the Jetway, baggage or catering, etc.

Although Microsoft Flight Simulator also has some pushback functionality built into the default ATC service, this guide will only cover the A32NX pushback functionality.

After we received clearance to pushback, we will call the pushback tug by pressing the Call Tug button on the flyPad.

If a pushback tug is available at this gate or stand, it will then start attaching itself to the nose wheel.

Some airports / gates / stands do not show a tug. This functionality still works, and you can push back as if a tug is attached. It looks like an invisible tug is pushing the aircraft.

After the tug is attached to the nose wheel, we can start pushing back by using the control buttons or the rudder and elevator controls.

See the flyPad documentation for more details: flyPad Pushback

Engine Start

Once we are clear of the terminal and/or the ground crew has notified the flight crew it is clear to start engines, we can proceed with the following steps.

ENGINE START selector .......................................... IGN START

ENGINE START Selector

The engine page on the system display should appear. It's recommended to wait 10 seconds before setting the engine masters lever to the ON position. This waiting time ensures a series of tests conducted to the engines in order to detect a fault.

START ENGINES 1 and 2 ........................................... ANNOUNCE
ENGINE MASTER 1 then 2................................................. ON

ENGINE START

Any engine can be started first, at the pilots discretion.

WHEN AVAIL: ENGINE IDLE PARAMETERS .......................... CHECK NORMAL

ENGNIE IDLE PARAMETERS

The engine idle parameters are displayed on the engine page on the system display. The engine idle parameters should be checked to ensure the engines are starting normally.

ENG reported AVAIL
THR (thrust) is at roughly 4.2%
N1 is at roughly 21%
EGT settles at about 367°C
N2 is at roughly 63.8%
N3 is at roughly 63.1%
FF is at roughly 670kg/h

START ENGINES 3 and 4 ........................................... ANNOUNCE
ENGINE MASTER 3 then 4................................................. ON
WHEN AVAIL: ENGINE IDLE PARAMETERS .......................... CHECK NORMAL

How and Where

Flight Deck Overview

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

Note: Bleed Air

The A380 needs pressurized air to start the engines. This pressurized air is usually generated by the APU for the start of the engines. This is called bleed air, as it is a byproduct of a running jet engine where pressurized air is taken from the engine to be used on other systems.

To start the engines, you need to have the APU available and the APU Bleed ON - see Cockpit Preparation.

You can also use a so called Ground Air Starter Unit (ASU) to start the engines which you can connect to the aircraft using the Ground Services page of the flyPad.

You can start the second engine with bleed air (X-Bleed) from the first engine. It would usually not be used at the gate as the APU would be running anyway, but it is used during single engine taxi when the second engine is started while rolling to the runway.

Please refer to the A32NX Crossbleed Engine Start Guide for more information on how to start the engines using crossbleed on the A380 as the procedure is similar.

After Engine Start

What and Why

After the engines have been started, the flight crew need to ensure that all systems are functioning correctly and that the aircraft is ready for taxi.

ENGINE START selector ............................................... NORM
APU BLEED ............................................................ OFF
ENGINE ANTI_ICE .............................................. AS REQUIRED

ENGINE ANTI_ICE

It is recommended to set the engine anti-ice to ON when icing conditions are expected, standing water/slush/ice/snow is on the taxiway or on the runway when the outside air temperature is less than 10°C.

APU .................................................................. OFF
GROUND SPOILERS ...................................................... ARM
RUDDER TRIM ......................................................... ZERO
FLAPS T.O POSITION.................................................... SET
PITCH TRIM ......................................................... CHECK

ENGINE ANTI_ICE

Verify that the pitch trim is set to the takeoff trim position. It is displayed on the primary flight display (PFD).

ECAM STATUS ........................................................ CHECK
CLEAR TO DISCONNECT AND HAND SIGNALS ............................ ANNOUNCE
N/W STEERING DISC MEMO ............................... CHECK NOT DISPLAYED
FLIGHT CONTROLS .................................................... CHECK

FLIGHT CONTROLS

It is recommended to perform the flight control verification when the flaps are set to the takeoff configuration. To perform the test, the captain remain silent, while the first officer announces call-outs. It is recommended to start with the pitch, then roll, then yaw. The captain must ensure to maintain the sidestick to the position to give enough time to the control to reach the full position. The first officer monitors the flight control page of the system display and announces “FULL UP”, “FULL DOWN”, “NEUTRAL”, “FULL LEFT”, “FULL RIGHT”, “NEUTRAL”. For the rudder, the captain must press the PEDAL DISC pushbutton to disconnect the nosewheel steering, then apply the left and right position of the rudder.

GROUND EQUIPMENT ................................................... CLEAR

How and Where

Flight Deck Overview

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

AFTER START CHECKLIST ........................................... COMPLETE

After Start Checklist

The Airbus A380 has a built-in checklist system that can be accessed via the Engine Warning Display (EWD).

To activate it you need to press the C/L button on the ECAM Control Panel (ECP).

You can navigate through the checklist by using the UP and DOWN buttons on the ECP. You can check/uncheck items by pressing the buttons with the check mark on the ECP.

Some items are autosensed by the aircraft and will be checked automatically (e.g. Beacon).

Taxi

Make sure you have charts or diagrams of the airport you are currently in as this will help you navigate efficiently and safely. There are many free and paid-for resources and applications available online that you can use.

For additional information on signs and markings on the ground, please see General Resources.

TAXI CLEARANCE .................................................... OBTAIN

TAXI CLEARANCE

After having successfully started the engines, we can contact ATC to request taxi clearance. As per our routing in the Preparing FMS Guide, we should be expecting a takeoff from runway 08L. As such, a sample taxi clearance may be as follows:

"Your Aircraft Callsign, ground. Runway 08L, taxi via Whiskey 2, hold short of November 3, continue via November to Alpha 3, hold short Alpha 3."

Referencing the airport chart below, the aircraft should be sitting near the A3 holding point.

_{Copyright © 2021 Navigraph / Jeppesen

"Navigraph Charts are intended for flight simulation use only, not for navigational use."}

Make sure to pay attention to any warnings or notices on the respective taxi chart beforehand, so you are aware of any important information while performing your taxi.

Once we have the routing from ATC and have read back the taxi clearance, we are now free to taxi to the runway.

TAXI (ETACS) (INOP)............................................AS REQUIRED

TAXI (ETACS)

The External and Taxiing Aid Camera System (ETACS) helps the flight crew to navigate the aircraft on the ground by showing outside video feeds on the lower ECAM display.

This is currently not available or possible to implement in the simulator.

NAVIGATION DISPLAY RANGE selector .................... ZOOM AS APPROPRIATE

NAVIGATION DISPLAY RANGE - OANS

At the pilot’s discretion, zoom as necessary to activate the onbard airport navigation system (OANS). Then, at the pilot’s discretion, select either ARC, ROSE, or PLAN mode.

OANS Guide

A separate guide for the OANS systems will follow soon.

NOSE LIGHTS ......................................................... TAXI
RWY TURN OFF & CAMERA ........................................ AS REQUIRED

RWY TURN OFF & CAMERA

The RWY TURN OFF lights are used to illuminate the taxiway and runway during taxi. The camera is used to help the flight crew navigate the aircraft on the ground by showing outside video feeds on the lower ECAM display.

The camera is currently not available or possible to implement in the simulator.

PARKING BRAKE ........................................................ OFF
THRUST LEVERS ............................................. .. AS REQUIRED

THRUST LEVERS

The aircraft doesn't need too much power to move. Not more than 10% of the engine thrust is needed at heavy weight in an uphill taxi slope. Excessive thrust can damage airport signalisation. If need of higher thrust, it is recommended to add the thrust on the outer engines to prevent ingestion of foreign object debris. Please note that when the engine anti-ice is on, the ground idle thrust is higher.

BRAKES ............................................................. CHECK
NOSEWHEEL STEERING ........................................... AS REQUIRED
ATC CLEARANCE .................................................... CONFIRM

How and Where

Flight Deck Overview

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

At this point, the aircraft may start rolling. Depending on the weight of the aircraft, we may need to add a little power to the engines to get going.

It is recommended to verify the brakes by pressing smoothly the brake pedals and release. It is recommended to have a taxi speed between 10 and 20 knots in a straight line. If the speed is exceeded, brake until it reaches 10 knots, then let the aircraft accelerate again. It is recommended to be between 8 and 10 knots in a sharp turn.

If it is required to perform a sharp turn immediately, we may need a bit more thrust. Try not to perform the brake check while in a turn, as we don't want to come to a complete stop while turning.

Taxi Limitations

It is generally recommended that pilots only taxi on taxiways large enough to support the aircraft. Because of how wide the wingspan of the A380 is, we need large taxiways available to use. Appropriate taxiways are commonly found at large, international airports, such as EGLL, EDDM, KJFK, CYYV, etc.

2 engine taxi

There are several scenarios where taxiing can be limited. If, for example, the pilot opts for a 2-engine taxi, the engines must be symmetrical. Symmetrical engines are engines on either wing symmetrical to another engine on the opposite wing. For example, if we were to 2-engine taxi to the runway, we would use either ENG 2+3 OR ENG 1+4. In situations where tight turns are involved, it's recommended to use ENG 2+3 to reduce the chance of FOD (foreign object debris) ingest.

For taxi on outer engines only:

ENGINE 1 AND 4 ................................................. START
AFTER START SOP .............................................. PERFORM

For taxi on inner engines only:

ENGINE 2 AND 3 ................................................. START
AFTER START SOP .............................................. PERFORM

In such a case that 2 engine taxi is performed, delay the AFTER START CL until all 4 engines are running.

During Taxi

Use the tiller or rudder pedals to steer the aircraft.
Please refer to the A32NX Nose Wheel and Tiller Operation guide for more information on how to use the tiller for the A380 as the system is similar.
Maintaining Center Line
We can use the gray vertical bar in between the PFD and ND as a reference point and keep the taxi line in between the two screens.
Turning
Using the same bar mentioned above, try to "over steer" (keep the nose wheel slightly ahead of the line while we turn). This helps keep the aircraft centered while performing a turn.
Slow down while turning!

While underway to the runway, perform the following as part of the taxi flow:

What and Why

It is important to verify and confirm the information in the FMS as we taxi. This is increasingly important if the ATC clearance changes en route to the runway.

Simulator Note

Of course, in the simulator, there usually is no co-pilot. Therefore, you can do this when the aircraft is stopped while holding short of the runway. If you are using an online ATC make sure to not block the taxiway while doing this.

SELECTED RUNWAY AND INPUT DATA ..................................... CHECK
F-PLN (SID, TRANS) ....................................... REVISE OR CHECK
INITIAL CLIMB SPEED AND SPEED LIMIT ...................... MODIFY OR CHECK
CLEARED ALTITUDE ON FCU .............................................. SET
HDG ON FCU ........................................... IF REQUIRED, PRESET
FLIGHT DIRECTOR ........................................ CHECK SELECTED ON
PFD/ND ............................................................. CHECK
MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY (MFD) ........................................ CHECK
V1/VR/V2/THR RATING ......................................... CHECK (BOTH)

TAKEOFF BRIEFING ................................................. CONFIRM

FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS ............................................... CONFIRM
SPLRS ................................................................ ARM
FLAPS ................................................................ T.O
AUTOBRAKE RTO ........................................................ ARM
SIGNS .......................................................... AS NEEDED
T.O CONFIG .......................................................... TEST
T.O MEMO .................................................... NO BLUE LINE
CABIN .............................................................. READY

CABIN READY

The cabin crew should have completed their checks and are ready for takeoff. The cabin should be secure and all passengers seated with their seatbelts fastened.In real life, the cabin crew would have informed the flight crew by sending the CABIN READY signal which would show up on the ECAM.

In the A380X we simulate this by pressing the CALL button on the overhead panel.

How and Where

Flight Deck Overview

Use the Flight Deck Overview to locate the items mentioned above. The Flight Deck Overview is a clickable cockpit that will show you where each item is located.

BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST (TAXI - down to the line)............... COMPLETE

Before Takeoff Checklist - Above the line

The Airbus A380 has a built-in checklist system that can be accessed via the Engine Warning Display (EWD).

To activate it you need to press the C/L button on the ECAM Control Panel (ECP).

You can navigate through the checklist by using the UP and DOWN buttons on the ECP. You can check/uncheck items by pressing the buttons with the check mark on the ECP.

Some items are autosensed by the aircraft and will be checked automatically.

Crossing a Runway

When approved to cross a runway (active or not) perform the following actions:

LANDING LIGHTS ........................................................ ON
STROBE LIGHTS ......................................................... ON

Look out the windows and visually ensure that there are no visible aircraft to the left and right.
Inform ATC we have vacated the runway if required.

Warning

Never cross a runway without express permission from ATC and providing a read back of said instructions. Always ensure maximum safety when crossing.

Airport Signage and Markings

Please see Airport Signage and Markings.

This concludes the Taxi guide.

Continue with Takeoff, climb and cruise