ctb6161_EGCC_EBBR.page

Training Flight CTB6161

EGCC - EBBR
(Manchester England to Brussels Belgium aboard Dreamflight sixty one sixty one - Aircraft OO-CTA, Boeing 767-33A)

A Report

I Flew this flight for the European Virtual Airline I currently belong to, Citybird Virtual. I am currently a Trainee (Second Officer) in the 767-300 series. The flight was a training flight conducted in Citybird's 767-33A aircraft,
OO-CTA. The one in the eye-catching Green livery (shown right)

The Aircraft I used in the simulator is a merge which I created myself. Using the visual model for an aircraft originally built for Flight Simulator 2000 as a repaint of the POSKY 767-300 for Flightsim 2000, I have merged this aircraft with the flight dynamics designed for the Flight Simulator 2002 apparation of the Wilco Publishing 767 Pilot in Command software. Also from the 767PIC is the panel and it's amazingly accurate Flight Management Computer and overall systems operations simulation, and the very believable and accurate sounding sound environment. The result is an aircraft which flies like a dream, operates very closley to a real 767 as far as cockpit operations go, and is painted in the livery of my Virtual Airline's aircraft OO-CTA.
At 11:47 UTC, Preflight was complete. As this flight was conducted on Vatsim, this included connecting FS to Squawkbox and Squawkbox to the Vatsim Server and sending the flightplan. The flightplan for this route was as follows:

EGCC HON UB71 BIG UG1 KONAN UL607 KOK

With cockpit preperations under way, including aligning the INS setting the route into the FMC, establishing power to the aircraft and starting the APU, I called up the ATIS information and noted the runway in use, weather information, and ATIS information designatior before calling Clearance Delivery for airways clearance. Being a training only flight, the aircraft was operating without passengers, and was parked at the apron rather than at a gate..

"Manchester Delivery, Dreamflight 6161 with information Lima on the aviation apron, Request clearance to Brussels as filed"
"Dreamflight 6161, Cleared to Brussles as filed, Flight level 310, Climb to and maintain 5000, HON 1-Yankee Departure Runway 06 Right, Squawk code 2200.When ready contact Ground on 122.15"

With clearance now recieved it was time to start engines and request taxi clearance.

"Manchester Ground, Dreamflight 6161 for runway 24 Left, on the apron, request engine start and forwarding taxi clearance if available?"
"Dreamflight 6161, ground, Engine start approved, cleared taxi to runway 06 right hold short"

After starting engine one and two, and shutting down the APU, checking the controlls and reading through the pre taxi briefing, Dreamflight 6161 taxied to the runway. Advising Ground on approaching the holding point, we switched to tower frequency.

"Manchester Tower, Dreamflight 6161 holding short zero six right, ready for takeoff."
"Dreamflight 6161, Runway 06 right, winds calm, cleared for takeoff."
"Cleared takeoff Six Right, sixtyone sixtyone"

And very soon thereafter OO-CTA once again stretched it's wings and gracefully and powerfully took to the sky.

Soon after takeoff the aircraft was set into V-NAV/L-NAV mode and was soon cruising steadily at 31,000 feet, or Flight Level 310, initially with London South Controll, then over the English Channel into Belgian Airspace. This time was used to gather arrival information for the approach into Brussels National Airport, including weather information, runway in use, and arrival route which was the KOK3A STAR. Following the checklists, and recieving clearance, the crew of OO-CTA began their descent, first to Flight Level 200, then Flight Level 120, then lower as they closed toward Brussels. More checklists and the aircraft was slowed to 250 knots at Flight Level 100 as it continued its descent to Flight Level 070, switching to Brussels Approach.

The aircraft was at this time well and truly into it's approach. Flight Management Computer still coupled to an L-NAV activated autopilot. The approach was to be conducted onto runway 25 Right in a low overcast. Contacting the Tower controller, we were cleared to land and due to the visibility excecuted an autoland. As OO-CTA is currently not being employed in the Citybird regular schedule, this Autolanding was required for the aircraft also for it to keep it's CAT III Rating. All in all a very plesant and productive flight.
Vacating the runway, OO-CTA was taxied to the Citybird apron and shut down. OO-CTA will be employed in Citybird's Summer Schedule and this training flight served also to fly the aircraft before it flys scheduled services again. It was a joy to fly this flight for Citybird Virtual.

I intend to fly trans-atlantic flights for Citybird Virtual in the future with this aircraft and it's albino sibling OO-CTR in the future on the Vatsim network under the Dreamflight Callsign. I hope you enjoyed this report.