AIRBUS A320neo CHECKLIST

Checklist version: v1.2-19AUG2020 --- Made for SimVersion: 1.7.12.0

It is based on Chuck’s guide on mudspike.com.

I encourage you to read through the guide before using the checklist especially when you are new to
flight simulators. I made some notes at the end of the document marked by (*1) in the checklist. You
should read them first too, so you know what they mean.

POWER UP THE AIRCRAFT

BAT 1 & 2 ON
(ATC) Ground Power Unit (GPU) Request and wait for "Avail"
EXT PWR ON
PARKING BRAKE ON
NAV & LOGO Light ON
APU MASTER ON
APU START ON
Wait for APU START Green "AVAIL"
APU BLEED ON

MCDU / FMGC Setup (DIFRIP flow (*1))

DATA - Page
Press A/C STATUS
Check if database is correct (AIRAC) (optional because not updatable yet?)

INIT -> Page A (1st page)

Enter FROM/TO XXXX/XXXX
Enter ALTN/CO RTE XXXX
Enter COST INDEX XX (I use 30 (Lufthansa standard))
XXX (E.g. 360 - Temp is automatically
Enter CRZ FL/TEMP calculated)

F-PLN
The easiest way is to create a plan is on the world map in the menus.
If you did this skip to the area marked with “#############” on the next page
Select the departure airport
Press DEPARTURE
Select a RUNWAY
Select a SID
Press TMPY INSERT

1
Select last SID waypoint in the list
Press AIRWAYS
Enter VIA (Airway)
Enter TO (Waypoint)
Repeat VIA and TO until done (Don't enter the STAR yet)
Press TMPY INSERT
Select the arrival airport
Press ARRIVAL
Select an approach
Select a STAR
Press TMPY INSERT

#############
Scroll through the list and delete the TIMECRUISE and TIMEDCENT
Press TMPY INSERT
Now delete all F-PLN DISCONTINUITY

RAD NAV
Enter ILS / FREQ

INIT -> Page B (Arrow left/right to switch)

Enter ZFW/ZFWCG (*2) XX.X/XX.X
Enter BLOCK fuel XX.X
Enter TAXI fuel XX.X
Enter RTE RSV/% fuel XX.X
Enter TRIP WIND average XX.X (-XX.X when headwind)

PERF
Enter FLAP/THS (*3) X/UPX.X (or X/DNX.X)
Press V1 Auto. calculates V1 (Decision speed)
Press VR Auto. calculates VR (Rotation speed)
Press V2 Auto. calculates V2 (TO safety speed)
Enter FLEX TO TEMP XX
Enter TRANS ALT XXXXX (in feet MSL)
Enter THR RED/ACC XXXX/XXXX (in feet AGL)

TO CG/TRIM SET

2
EFIS / FCU SETUP
BARO SET (Hotkey "B")
Flight Director (FD) ON
ND (Navigation Display) mode NAV
ND range scale 10 NM
Initial altitude SET

ENGINE START-UP
BEACON Light ON
(ATC) GPU Disconnect
EXT PWR OFF
All FUEL PUMPS ON
ENGINE MODE IGN/START
ENG 2 MASTER (*4) ON
Wait for engine idle (N1 approx. 20%, N2 approx. 60%)
You should hear something that sounds like a barking dog when it is done. (*5)
ENG 1 MASTER ON
Wait for engine idle (N1 approx. 20%, N2 approx. 60%)
ENGINE MODE NORM

BEFORE TAXI
PROBES/WINDOW HEAT ON
APU BLEED OFF
ANTI ICE (WING & ENGINES) AS REQUIRED (ON when OAT <10°C (*14))
APU MASTER OFF
Set TRANSPONDER FREQUENCY (*6) XXXX (SQUAWK)
TRANSPONDER AUTO
TRANSPONDER ALT RPTG ON
AUTO BRAKE MAX
SPEED BRAKE ARM (Push up)
FLAPS 1 (AS REQUIRED)
A/SKID & N/W STRG ON (UP)

TAXIING
NOSE Light TAXI
RWY TURN OFF Light ON
PARKING BRAKE OFF
Initiate PUSHBACK (*7) HOTKEY or by ATC
Taxi to the runway
Check brakes
Weather Radar SYS / MODE ON and SET

3
 TAKEOFF
STROBE Light ON
NOSE Light TO
BRAKE PRESS AND HOLD
THRUST LEVER 50% N1 – Check normal
BRAKES RELEASE
THRUST LEVER FLEX/MCT (TOGA for max power)
Hold centerline
At VR SPEED rotate smoothly to 15°
Follow the Flight Director (FD) on the PFD
Positive Climb Check
LANDING GEAR UP
AP1 (Autopilot) ON
Set V/S and activate selected mode (*8) 2500ft/min
When LVR CLB flashes in PFD (At THR (Thrust Reduction Altitude) as set in MCDU)
THRUST LEVERS CL (CLIMB)
At F Speed (Does not appear in Flaps 1 TO) FLAPS 1
S Speed FLAPS 0
SPEED BRAKE Disarm
RWY TURN OFF Light OFF
NOSE Light OFF

CLIMB
Above 5000ft
V/S - Rate of climb 2000ft/min
ND (Navigation Display) mode ARC or NAV
ND range scale AS REQUIRED
At TA (Transition Altitude) (FL180 or other country specific altitude)
BARO STD
Above FL100 (10000 ft)
LANDING Light OFF / RETRACT
ANTI ICE AS REQUIRED
Above FL150 (15000 ft)
V/S - Rate of climb 1400ft/min
ANTI ICE AS REQUIRED
Above FL240 (24000ft)
V/S - Rate of climb 1000ft/min
Initial MACH Initial
Climb Climb Descent Descent
Climb Climb descent
(below (below Cruise (below (below
(below (above (above
FL150) FL240) FL240) FL100)
5000ft) FL240) FL240)
Speed 175kts 290kts 290kts 0.78 Mach 450kts 0.78 Mach 290kts 210kts
RoC +2500 +2000 +1400 +1000 0.79 -1000 -3500 -1500
RoD ft/min ft/min ft/min ft/min Mach ft/min ft/min ft/min

4
 CRUISE
Monitor all displays for faulty systems
Plan the descent (before Top of Descent)
Get the weather data (METAR) (*9)
AUTOBRAKE AS REQ (LO: Long RWY, MED: Short RWY)

MCDU (FMGC) -> PERF

Press NEXT PHASE until you reach APPR Phase. DO NOT ACTIVATE IT YET!
Enter QNH
Enter TEMP
Enter MAG/WIND
Enter TRANS FL (*10) Can be found in the airport charts
Enter MDA or DH Can be found in the airport charts
Check VAPP (Approach speed)
Check LDG CONF CONF3 FULL

DESCENT
When contacted by the ATC follow the orders to sink and change heading
Above FL240
V/S - Rate of descent 1000ft/min
Below FL240
V/S - Rate of descent 3500ft/min
Below TL (Transition Level (*10))
BARO SET (Hotkey "B" or manual)
Below FL100
V/S - Rate of descent 1500ft/min
LANDING Lights ON
While flying the STAR
LS Button (Autopilot panel) ON
ILS (when available) should be visible on the PFD now
You can turn the Navigation Display mode to LS if you want
Initial MACH Initial
Climb Climb Descent Descent
Climb Climb descent
(below (below Cruise (below (below
(below (above (above
FL150) FL240) FL240) FL100)
5000ft) FL240) FL240)
Speed 175kts 290kts 290kts 0.78 Mach 450kts 0.78 Mach 290kts 210kts
RoC +2500 +2000 +1400 +1000 0.79 -1000 -3500 -1500
RoD ft/min ft/min ft/min ft/min Mach ft/min ft/min ft/min

Activate the APPR Phase in the MCDU. Sometimes it is already active.

MCDU (FMGC) -> PERF
Press arrow left key until you see “Activate APPR PHASE”
Press ACTIVATE APPR PHASE
Press CONFIRM

5
While flying toward the final course you will hear something like "Fly straight in" from
the ATC
Wait for "Fly straight in"
APPR Mode (Autopilot panel) ON
AP1 & AP2 (*11) ON
Wait for LOC captured (on PFD) (*12)
FLAPS 1
Wait for G/S captured (on PFD) (*12)
FLAPS 2
When 1500ft AGL (Above ground)
LANDING GEAR DOWN
FLAPS FULL
SPEED BRAKE ARM (Push up)
NOSE Light ON
RWY TURN OFF Light ON

LANDING
Your speed should be around 135-150kts now. Managed by Autothrust (A/THR)
Turn off the Autopilot 500ft above the ground (optional (*13))
Fly manually with only little inputs. Use the PAPI/VASI Lights to stay on the glideslope.
At approx. 30ft FLARE (Pull up nose gently)
THRUST LEVER IDLE
Normally it’s not needed to brake manually with AUTOBRAKE active
THRUST LEVER REVERSE (If required)
Before 20kts AUTOBREAK OFF
Come to a stop or slow down to taxi speed and leave the runway as soon as possible

TAXI
FLAPS 0
SPEED BRAKE DISARM
LANDING Light OFF / RETRACT
NOSE Light TAXI
Weather Radar SYS OFF
Taxi to the gate (Ask the ATC if available to get guidance)
PARKING BRAKE SET
ENG 1 MASTER OFF
ENG 2 MASTER OFF

6
REMARKS and ADDITIONS:

(*1): I use the DIFRIP flow to remember in which order I have to set up the MCDU/FMGC
D = DATA, I = INIT A, F = F-PLN, R = RAD NAV, I = INIT B, P = PERF

(*2): Write down ZFW and ZFWCG while in the menus "weight & balance" screen. Empty all fuel and
write down your "Total weight" in kilograms and the %MAC. That is the best you can get at the
moment. Total weight = ZFW, %MAC = ZFWCG
You might have to use a unit converter from Lbs -> Kg because the A320 uses Kilogram.

(*3): FLAP/THS is based on the “Gross Weight Center of Gravity” (CG%). Write it down while cargo
and fuel is loaded (%MAC). This is also the best you can get now. Then look at the takeoff trim scale
attached below. Use it to read your FLAP/THS value. When your CG% is 26 you got 0.5 on the NOSE
UP side. So your /THS is “UP0.5”. You would have to enter “1/UP0.5” where 1 is the flap setting you
use to takeoff.

(*4): ENG 2 is normally started first because it powers the yellow hydraulic system which pressurizes
the parking brake and some other systems.

(*5): The barking sound is the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) which is performing a self-test.

(*6): Clear the standard frequency with the CLR button. Then type in the SQUAWK you get from the
ATC. Squawk 1200 (USA) and 7000 (Europe) are for VFR flying only. Then there are emergency codes
7500 (hijacking), 7600 (Radio failure) and 7700 (Emergency)

(*7): Set the hotkey for PUSHBACK in the controls menu.

(*8): Use the V/S Mode to stop the aircraft from climbing 6000ft/min. For the recommended values I
used an A320neo performance document which I can’t find anymore…

(*9): To get the weather data you can use the ATIS (ATC) or look them up on the internet when using
live weather. Not 100% correct but should be roughly the same. I use the data that “LittleNavmap”
shows me.

(*10): The “Transition Level” (TL) is different from the “Transition Altitude” (TA) which is used in
climb. You find them in the charts. I use TA+1000ft because I am too lazy most of the time.

(*11): You need to activate AP1 and AP2 for this. This is buggy at the moment. I turn of AP1 and then
press the Hotkey to activate the AP. Both AP will now turn active. Now press APPR again. The aircraft
will guide itself to and on the glideslope of the ILS.

(*12): When localizer is captured LOC will light up in the PFD. You can check by how much you
deviate from it on the Navigation Display. When glide slope is captured it shows G/S in the PFD.

(*13): You should turn off the Autopilot because Autoland is not that good yet. Also, it’s more fun to
fly the last seconds by hand . If you want, you can also disengage the A/THR so you have to apply
manual thrust.

(*14): ANTI ICE should be turned ON if the Outside Air Temperature (OAT) is 10°C/50°F or less and
visible moisture is present in any form (clouds, fog, rain, snow, etc.) or water, snow, ice or slush is
present on the ramps, taxiways or runways.

7
This is a checklist for the Airbus A320neo in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

It's based on a guide of the FSLabs A320 written by Chuck from mudspike.com. I have made this
checklist to help some flight sim newbies and people that never or rarely fly an A320.
There might be some mistakes in it, and it is highly possible that it's not “how you fly a real aircraft”.
It's based on the guide with a flavor of "how I learned it". I hope it helps some people to get the
A320neo flying.

Credits go to Chuck from the Mudspike forums for his awesome guide. Thank you!

Thanks for all the feedback on the checklist thread in the forums!

Version: v1.2-19AUG2020
First version: v1.0-20APR2020 was made by TomMaverick

Updates:
- v1.1-22APR2020: Added a few things and changed the order of some items to match the real A320.
Corrected mistakes. Some layout and visual changes.

- v1.2-19AUG2020: Release for the MSFS Version 1.7.12.0. Some minor changes.