Introduction to the B737-NG

Vertical Situation Display (VSD)

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Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)

The purpose
This introduction
of the
toVSD
the VSD
is to covers
present
the
a clear
following
graphical
items
picture
: of the airplane’s
vertical flight path for enhancing
the flight crews’ vertical situation
awareness.

The VSD depicts the vertical situation of

the airplane relative to the terrain
• Altitudes
throughout all phases of flight.
The VSD also depicts the vertical situation
• Waypoints
of the airplane relative to the runway during
final approach.
• Climb / Descent
The VSD complements the increased use of
•constant-angle,
Terrain area navigation and RNP
approaches by providing immediate
•validation
Approach
of the selected approach path
and allowing full-time monitoring of the
•airplane
Failure Flags
position relative
glide path.
to the selected

Slide 2
Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)

1800 VEKIN ARVOL

32000 FL180B
0
2400
0
Altitudes
1600
0
Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)
 Altitudes

The bottom of the

Airplane symbol
indicates the current
airplane altitude
The Altitude with
Reference
7000
reference to the Altitude
Scale is displayed on the
Reference
left side. Scale on the
left. 8000
The scale
(shown changes
here is 4700auto-
feet)
MCP selected
matically when altitude
selecting
is indicated
another
Altimeter
in magenta
horizontal
info comes range.
from 4000
above the Altitude Ref.
ADIRU 1
Scale
For alland displayed
settings up to by
a
80magenta
NM, the dashed line.is
scale ratio 0
fixed, so that a 3 degree
approach will always 0 10 20
appear the same.

The BARO Minimums Pointer The Vertical Flight Path Vector indicates current
displays the barometric minimums flight path angle as aThe Horizontal
function Distance
of vertical speed Scale is displayed
and selecting at the green line
When RADIO,
selected on the EFIS control panel. the bottom
ground speed. The length of theofwhite
the VSD.
line isThe range shown
fixed on the
disappears and only the green pointer
(shown here is 1800 feet) VSD is one
at one half of the horizontal half the rangeremains,
range. selectedaton the EFIS
the BARO altitude.
. control panel. .

VSD display - Altitudes Slide 4

Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)

1800 VEKIN ARVOL

32000 FL180B
0
2400
0
Waypoints
1600
0
Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)
 Waypoints

The active Waypoint ID is displayed in magenta, Different Altitude Constraint Symbols are
all other waypoints from the FMC LEGS Page displayed according to restrictions programmed
within the selected range are displayed white. in the FMC LEGS Page.

18000 VEKIN ARVOL FI25L

FL180B 1410
32000

24000

16000

VSD display - Waypoints Slide 6

Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)
 Waypoints

GS 261 TAS 259 TUE

18:03 Z
1.0 NM During turns, the
swath edge on the
Only waypoints inside of the turn
within the cyan opens in the
dashed Enroute direction of the
Swath lines are DME04 turn.
displayed on the The swath angle
VSD. CI28 increases with the
In this example bank angle.
DME04 is outside TUE
the enroute swath
and therefore not
displayed on the
VSD.

The same goes for

DME04 will now
Terrain profiles. TUE CI28 DME04 show on the VSD
(see further)
The enroute swath
The enroute swath lines are inhibited
is 1 NM on each on takeoff and in
side of the airplane approach when the
actual track line. airplane is within
6 NM of the
runway and less
than 3000 ft above
field elevation.

VSD display - Waypoints Slide 7

Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)

1800 VEKIN ARVOL

32000 FL180B
0
2400
0
Climb / Descent
1600
0
Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)
 Climb / Descent

Note :
The MCP selected vertical speed line may show on one pilot’s VSD
and not on the other pilot’s display, if that F/D side has [G/S] captured.

18000 VEKIN ARVOL

FL180B
32000

24000

16000

0 10 20

The MCP selected Vertical Speed is displayed by a magenta

dotted line. The line appears only when the V/S mode on the MCP 18000 --1600
1200
250
500
is selected.
You can use this line the same way as the “green banana” to
adjust the required rate of climb or rate of descent.

VSD display - Climb / Descent Slide 9

Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)

1800 VEKIN ARVOL

32000 FL180B
0
2400
0
Terrain
1600
0
Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)
 Terrain

VSD terrain uses the same color coding that is used to

depict EGPWS terrain on the lateral map :
• green: terrain 250-500 ft or more below the airplane
• amber: terrain from 250-500 ft below to 2000 ft
above the airplane
• red: terrain more than 2000 ft above the airplane

37000
The VSD will always
20000 show terrain profile,
regardless TERR has
been pressed on the
16000 EFIS control panel.
This allows the pilot
to select WXR on the
12000 ND and still have
terrain profile on the
VSD !
0 80 160

Terrain behind the airplane is drawn equal The Terrain Profile line represents the
to the terrain at the current position. highest terrain within the enroute swath.

VSD Display - Terrain Slide 11

Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)

1800 VEKIN ARVOL

32000 FL180B
0
2400
0
Approach
1600
0
Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)
 Approach

The Range to Target Speed Dot (RTSD) indicates where the airplane will achieve
the FMC or MCP target speed, both during acceleration and deceleration.
The dot is blanked when the actual speed is within 5 knots of the target speed.

6000 CF34 FI34 RW34

1280 136

8000

4000

0
0 10 20

The solid dot is replaced with an unfilled

In this example, the airplane will reach dot if target speed will not be achieved within
the target speed (270 knots) in 6 NM. length of the vertical flight path vector line.

VSD Display - Approach Slide 13

Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)
 Approach

The BARO minimums pointer and line turn amber

when airplane descends below the selected
minimum altitude. Reset with the RST switch
on the EFIS control panel.
Two Decision Gates
are displayed, the first
2500 FI25L RW25L one (white) at 1000 ft,
the second one
1410 218
(amber) at 500 ft
above field elevation.
2000
The gates indicate
suggested points
1000 where the airplane
should be path and
speed stable on
0 approach.

0 2.5 5

The magenta FMC Approach Glidepath For approaches

Angle that do not
Line is displayed for have
approachesDecision gate(s) that
that include a designated approach angle.a designated FMC approach angle, are below the missed
a cyan dashed 3-Degree Reference approach altitude are
The line extends 10 NM for situational awareness and is anchored to the missed
Line is displayed. not displayed…
approach waypoint, not the runway.

VSD Display - Approach Slide 14

Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)

1800 VEKIN ARVOL

32000 FL180B
0
2400
0
Failure Flags
1600
0
Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)
 Failure Flags

MAP RANGE DISAGREE

Indicates selected range on the EFIS control panel is different than the MAP display range.
TERR RANGE DISAGREE
Indicates selected range on the EFIS control panel is different than the Terrain display range.
MAP/TERR RANGE DISAGREE
Indicates selected range on the EFIS control panel is different than the MAP and Terrain display ranges.

MOD RTE
Route Waypoints
Modification
Annunciation ;
MAP / TERR RANGE DISAGREE FMC active route is
being modified. Only
VSD the active waypoint is
displayed.

RWY DATA VSDINHIBIT

TERR
VSD TERR

FMC runway data is not available. EGPWS terrain data Annunciation

VSD feature has is replaced with VSD
is not available. TERR INHIBIT
failed, the VSD when GPWS
cannotcontrol panel TERR INHIBIT
be displayed.
switch is in the inhibit position.

VSD Display - Failure Flags Slide 16

Introduction to the B737-NG Vertical Situation Display (VSD)

That’s all,
folks

About :
This presentation is not copyright protected.
Training Captains may use this presentation and make changes
for unlimited use within your airline.
Pat BOONE is captain on Boeing 737-767 and author of
B737MRG.net - the pilot guide for B737 non-normals.

Slide 17