The MD-11 FCOM Bulletin provides information concerning technical /
operational issues resulting from in-service experience.
Additionally, instructions may be provided to handle long-lasting
deficiencies in the fleet or on specific aircraft until the problem has
been resolved or appropriate procedures have been established.
The Bulletin is required reading matter and must be filed in
FCOM Volume II after the bulletins TAB until it has been cancelled.
MD-11 FCOM Bulletin
Page: 1 Issued by: SPL/NJ - MD-11 Date: 1 AUG 10
021 METS DESCENT TRIAL (RE-ISSUE)
Introduction
MetS (Meteorological Service) is an automated weather-information service application
designed to provide cockpit crew with more accurate and recent wind and temperature
information. MetS will deliver more accurate and for your particular flight tailor-made weather
information. The updated weather information will result in an improved flight performance
(and thereby fuel efficiency).
MetS monitors your aircraft while in-flight and analyzes the flight deck system’s settings
and currently loaded weather information. MetS will send descent wind information if
certain criteria are met (estimated difference in fuel burn of 50 pounds or 60 seconds ETA
for example). Pilots are requested to accept the descent forecast wind data into the FMC.
The FMC will calculate a new TOD and descent path.
Trial information
The first MD11 trial for the MetS project will focus on the descent phase at Schiphol.
The descent uplink for this trial is sent automatically, pilots are only required to accept the
weather uplink and it is not required to operate differently.
Boeing estimated savings are 35-50 kg per descent for a B777 and 25 kg for a B737. Fleet
wide savings are calculated to be 2 million Euros for inbound traffic only, annually. Precise
analyses will follow.
The next phase will be en route weather updates (first North Atlantic, at the end of 2010
global). The request functionality and RTE DATA and DES FORECASTS uplinks will be
enabled for route changes early next year.
IMPORTANT - Although it is possible to request an uplink via the FMC, you will NOT
receive a response as the functionality is not yet activated. It will be in 2011. So do not
request an uplink to limit communication costs.
-oOo-
Notes
¾ Data is retrieved through a secured link with KLM post office and only accessible to KLM and Boeing.
¾ During the trial, flights with and without MetS data uplinks will be analyzed and compared. To
accommodate this, it randomly occurs that no data will be sent by MetS although applicable.
¾ MetS automatically takes into account the published ATC speed and altitude restrictions at Schiphol.
¾ MetS provides weather information on variable flight levels depending on your flight’s specific
circumstances. This might include flight level(s) higher than actual cruising level. This is required to let
the FMC correctly calculate the optimal TOD and descent path, for more information see URL posted
below.
¾ For more information contact
[email protected] or
[email protected]