SN_A32

FMGS BASICS
 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 2 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

Table of Contents
What is the FMGS? .............................................................................................................. 3
MCDU .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Base functions ..................................................................................................................... 6
Setting direct to a waypoint ................................................................................................................ 6
Extending a runway centreline........................................................................................................... 7
Selecting approach type on active flight plan .................................................................................. 8
Enabling the alternate airport ........................................................................................................... 11
Setting up a holding........................................................................................................................... 12
Tuning a NAVAID ............................................................................................................................... 14
Activating the Secondary Flight Plan .............................................................................................. 15
Filling the APP and G/A Performance page ................................................................................... 16

Video lesson
The base functions detailed in this document are supplemented
with a video lesson that you can access on the following link:

FMGS Basics video lesson

https://youtu.be/9aV3k0Dp-X4
 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 3 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

What is the FMGS?

The Flight Management Guidance System (FMGS) is a complex system which computes
performance, flight path, routing, fuel etc. calculations then presents this information to the
pilots and commands the Autopilot, Autothrust, Flight Director and other systems to perform
according to its computations.

It reduces cockpit workload, improves efficiency, and eliminates many routine operations
generally performed by the flight crew.

The “brains” behind the FMGS are 2 Flight Management Guidance Computers (FMGC).
They are working together, communicating to each other. Whatever we tell to one of them will
reach the other one as well.

The FMGCs receive all necessary information from all kinds of sensors and interfaces on the
aircraft. Pilot inputs can be made via the Multipurpose Control and Display Units (MCDU).
On the A320 there are 2 of them (1-1 for the CPT and the F/O), but on larger aircraft there may
even be a 3rd unit!

SENSORS MCDUs
Environmental inputs Pilot inputs

FMGC 1 + FMGC2

AUTOPILOTS AUTOTHRUST FLIGHT DIRECTORS

 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 4 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

MCDU

The pilots use the MCDUs as an interface to communicate with the FMGC. Initial data may be
entered, and present data may be modified. There are mandatory and optional fields to fill in
and there are information fields with data computed by the FMGCs.

The main parts of an MCDU are:

− Line Select Keys (Left and Right from 1 to 6)

− Main display, with:
o Page title
o Functions
o Scratchpad (where we see what we type or automatic messages are shown)
o Brightness setting
− Page Select Keys
− Slew (“sideways scroll”) and Scroll
− Alphanumeric keyboard for typing
 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 5 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

Page Select Keys

− DATA: list for different submenus of functions (position monitoring, a/c status etc.).
− INIT: The initial data for the flight can be set and checked here.
− PERF: The performance data for different flight phases (Take-Off, Climb, Cruise,
Descent, Approach, Go-Around) can be set and checked here.
− PROG: displays dynamic flight information and data related to the primary flight plan.
GPS position accuracy can also be checked here.
− DIR: We can set a direct to a waypoint here or make a runway centerline extension.
− F-PLN: All data of the active flight plan is here and can be modified from here.
− RAD NAV: radio navaids (VOR, DME, ILS, NDB) can be set up here to see their raw
data indication on the screen.
− FUEL PRED: All fuel related calculations will be shown here.
− SEC F-PLAN: We can create a secondary flight plan here as a spare one (either by
copying and modifying the primary or creating a new one). In case it is needed, it can
be activated here.
− ATC COMM: Calls up the ATC applications if available, else shows MCDU MENU.
− MCDU MENU: Displays the subsystems that are addressed via the MCDU.
− AIRPORT: cycle the Flight Plan page between departure, destination, and alternate
airports. You can quickly jump to the top or the bottom of the Flight Plan by using this
button.

Pages where not all information can be displayed at the same time may be scrolled. This is
indicated with an arrow in the bottom right corner of the display.

Subpages can be accessed with the slew keys. This is indicated with arrows in the top right
corner of the display. Some further subfunctions may be accessible with Line Select Keys.

Entering data

On almost all Pages, there is information to be entered. Use the keyboard buttons to type in
the desired text or value and then push the Line Select Key next to the field you want to
populate.

Orange boxes must be filled. Dashes are calculated by the FMSGS when enough data has
been entered. Blue brackets are optional data entry points.

The following buttons have special functionalities:

− OVFY Δ: waypoints with a “Δ” symbol will be overflown when navigation is managed
(corners will not be cut). With this button, we can add this symbol to any waypoint.
− CLR: it has a “backspace” or “erase” function depending on the context:
o When typing in the scratchpad, it will erase the text by one character (or erase
the whole text if held for more then 2 seconds)
o If there is an automatic message in the scratchpad, it will clear it
o If there is nothing in the scratchpad, the letters “CLR” will show and when a Line
Select Key is pressed, it will clear the data in that line
 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 6 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

Basic functions
On the following pages you can see how you can do some of the most common operations on
the MCDU. These are all necessary for the MCC course!

Setting direct to a waypoint

1. Push the DIR key to access the “Direct to” page.

2. Type in the desired waypoint and press LSK L1 or choose from the upcoming waypoints
in the flight plan with LSK L2-L5 (scrolling may be necessary for farther waypoints).
3. Push LSK R6 to activate the direct.

2
Type or select from the
list the desired point
you want to fly to.

3
Push INSERT to
activate the direct.
The aircraft will
turn to the point.
SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 7 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

Extending a runway centreline

1. Push the DIR key to access the “Direct to” page.

2. Type in or choose the desired waypoint on final you want the runway extension from.
3. Enter the opposite direction of the inbound course of the selected approach to LSK R4.
4. Push LSK R6 to activate.
5. The Navigation Display will show a green dashed line from the point selected on the
final, helping us in position awareness during radar vectors given by ATC.

2
Type or select the
desired point on
final where you 3
want the runway Enter the desired
extension from. RADIAL IN.

4
Push INSERT to
activate it.

5
The navigation
display will show a
dashed line to the
runway, helping us
in position
awareness.
 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 8 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

Selecting approach type on active flight plan

After receiving the ATIS information, we must select the active runway and the type of
approach for that runway:

1. Push the F-PLN key to access the “Flight Plan” page.

2. Push LSK 6L to select the destination airport.
3. Push LSK 1R to select Arrival.
4. Select the desired runway and approach type with the LSK L3-L5 buttons (scrolling
may be necessary, the list is in alphabetical order).
5. Select the desired STAR (or NO STAR) the same way.
6. Select the desired VIA (or NO VIA) the same way.
7. Push LSK 6L to go back to the Flight Plan page, now in temporary mode to check the
modifications.
8. Push LSK 6R to accept and activate the modifications.

2
Line select
DEST airport.

3
Line select
ARRIVAL.

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 9 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

4
Line select
the desired
RWY and
APP.

5
Line select
the desired
STAR.

6
Line select
the desired
VIA.

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 10 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

7
After selecting all,
go back to the
Temporary F-PLN
to check it.

8
After checking if
you are satisfied,
push INSERT to
activate the
changes.

The final F-PLN

page should look
like this:
 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 11 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

Enabling the alternate airport

This function is used to initiate a diversion provided an ALTN has been defined. The ENABLE
ALTN function can be accessed from the F-PLN page at any waypoint.

1. Push the F-PLN key to access the “Flight Plan” page.

2. Line select any active waypoint on the left.
3. Push LSK L4 to select ENABLE ALTN.
4. Check the modifications done on the temporary Flight Plan then push LSK R6 to accept
and activate the modifications.

2
Line select any
active waypoint on
the active F-PLN.

3
Select ENABLE ALTN

4
Check the modifications
done on the TMPY F-PLN
then select INSERT to
activate new DEST.

The final F-PLN page

should look like this:
 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 12 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

Setting up a holding

1. Push the F-PLN key to access the “Flight Plan” page.

2. Line select a waypoint on the left where you want to set the holding over.
3. Push LSK L3 to select HOLD.
4. Push LSK R2 to select DATABASE to be able to set up the desired INB CRS and TURN
direction.
5. Type in the desired holding INB CRS and push LSK L1 to enter it. Then type in the
TURN direction (L/R) and push LSK L2 to enter it.
6. Push LSK L6 to go back to the Temporary Flight Plan view.
7. Check the modifications and if satisfied, activate with LSK R6.

2
Line select the
waypoint you want to
set the holding over.

3
Select HOLD
to enter the
holding page.

4
Select DATABASE
to be able to set up
the desired INB
CRS and TURN
direction.

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 13 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

5
Set the desired
holding INB CRS and
the TURN direction.

6
Push the TMPY
F-PLN key to see
the modified
flight plan.

7
If you are satisfied with
the modifications,
push INSERT.

The final F-PLN page

should look like this:
 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 14 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

Tuning a NAVAID

Normally the FMGC uses the 2 VORs for position updating, tuning them automatically. In case
we need to fixate a given VOR (for approach or RAW data backup), we can manually “hard
tune” it.

The ILS frequency and course are automatically set by the FMGC when selecting an APP, but
these can be set manually as well.

1. Push the RAD NAV key to access the “Radio Navigation” page.
2. Type in a VOR identifier or frequency and select LSK L1 or R1 to hard tune it to channel
1 or 2. For approaches or other reasons, a radial can be set as well to LSK L2 or R2.
3. To see the details (and any selected course) of the tuned VOR on the Navigation
Display, switch VOR on the EFIS to the channel that has been hard tuned.

2
When the NAVAIDs are auto tuned by
the FMGC, the identifiers and
frequencies are in small fonts.
After putting the identifier or frequency
of the desired VOR, ILS or NDB, the
letters or the numbers will be in large
fonts. In this example we have
overwritten TOU in the VOR1 set. Now
the TOU VOR is hard tuned.

3
After switching VOR1 to be seen on
the ND, the VOR identifier, the DME
and the needle will be shown.

A small letter M indicates that this VOR

is manually hard tuned (compare it
with the VOR2 indication!).
 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 15 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

Activating the Secondary Flight Plan

1. Push the SEC F-PLN key to access the “Secondary Flight Plan” page.
2. Push LSK L4 to activate the secondary flight plan.

Note: the “*ACTIVATE SEC” prompt appears only when the Autopilot is in HDG mode. In NAV
mode it is not visible. If not there, and we wish to use the SEC F-PLN, first select HDG on the
AP, then activate the SEC F-PLN.

2
After pushing
*ACTIVATE SEC,
whatever was in the
Secondary Flight Plan
will become active.
 SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 16 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

Filling the APP and G/A Performance page

After receiving the destination airfield data from the ATIS, we prepare the FMGC for the
approach with filling the QNH, Temperature, Wind and the Minimum Descend Altitude fields.

1. Push the PERF key to access the “Performance” page.

2. In this example, the active phase is CRZ (cruise). We do not need to activate the APPR
PHASE yet, so do not push LSK L6. We only need to find the APPR page to populate
its fields: push LSK R6 until you are on the APPR page (CRZ – DES – APPR).
3. On the APPR phase, fill in the fields by typing in their values then pushing their line
select keys.
4. When satisfied, push LSK R6 to get to the GO AROUND phase page. The Thrust
Reduction / Acceleration altitude, and Engine Out Acceleration Altitude fields can be
changed here.

The APPR PHASE may

be activated here from 2
any other active Push NEXT PHASE
phases, but we do not until reaching APPR.
need to use it yet.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

SN_A32 FMGS Basics
Page 17 / 17 – Published 28/07/2022 HU.ATO.0085

3
Populate the APPR page
with information of:
− QNH
− TEMP
− MAG WIND
− MDA or DH
− LDG CONFIG

4
Select NEXT
PHASE to continue
to the GO
AROUND page.

In the ENG OUT ACC field

We normally set put the highest MSA in the
1000 ft AAL for G/A sector. This is just a
THR RED / ACC reminder for us, the
altitude. aircraft will not do anything
with that data.