A320 Multifunction Control Display Unit (MCDU)

A320 Multifunction
Control Display Unit (MCDU)
by jerome meriweather

Inward to ECAM or Switching
Down to Radio Control Panel

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Flight Deck Photos and/or Graphic Representation

The MCDU, Mulifunction Control Display Unit, is the heart of the A320/319.
Everything that the airbus can do, can be controled from this unit.

Direct To
Provides access to the DIR TO page which enables the pilot to proceed Directly from the present position to a designated waypoint.

Progress Pages
Provides access to the PROGRESS page which displays active flight data concerning the flight plan for the phase of flight during which PROG is selected. Allows the crew to update the flight management position and provides bearing and distance to a specified waypoint.

Performance Pages
Provides access to the PERFORMANCE pages which display the performance parameters for the current phase of flight.

Initialization Pages
Provides access to the flight plan initialization INIT A and B pages. Used to initialize the FMGC parameters. The INIT B page is only available on the ground prior to engine start.

Data Index Pages
Provides access to the DATA INDEX page, which enables access to a menu for various pages concerning airplane position and status, runways, waypoints, routes and stored data.

Flight Plan Pages
Provides access to the FLIGHT PLAN pages, which contain a leg-by-leg description of the active flight plan route. Destination and arrival information is also available on applicable flight plan pages.

Radio NAV Page
Provides access to the radio navigation (RADIO NAV) which enables navaids display and tuning.

Fuel Predictions Page
Provides access to the FUEL PRED page for review of fuel and time predictions based on the active flight plan and display of GW / CG and FOB.

Secondary Flight Plan Pages
Provides access to the SEC INDEX page which displays a leg-by-leg description of the secondary flight plan route. Destination and arrival information is also available on applicable flight plan pages.

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Currently BLANK

MCDU Menu Page
Provides access to the MCDU MENU page, which enables access to systems that use the MCDU for display.

Airport Pages
Provides access to the active flight plan page if another page is displayed on the MCDU or, if the F-PLN page is already displayed, the display cycles between the origin and destination.

NEXT Page
Provides access to additional pages of related information when another page is required to complete data display. This capability is indicated by the additional page arrow on the MCDU page title line. The NEXT PAGE function wraps around from the last page to the first page.

Scroll
Used to scroll the display Up or Down when pages are longer than the available space on the CRT (indicated by arrows in the last two spaces of the scratch pad). These keys are also used for changing data (latitude/longitude) by a set amount.

Alphanumeric Keys
Enable entry of letters and numbers into the scratch pad.

OverFly Key - When pushed, a appears in the scratch pad. Line selecting the waypoint to be overflown causes the to appear next to that waypoint designator in the F-PLN, and the lateral flight plan is modified so that the airplane directly overflies the waypoint. The overfly function provides for flight directly over a waypoint while maintaining LNAV.
CLR - When pushed, clears messages and data from the scratch pad or an individual data field.
Slash Key " / " - Used to separate pairs of entries in the same data field.

Screen Formats

Large Font Entry - Represents pilot entries or modifiable data.
Small Font Entry - Represents predicted, defaulted, or FMGC-calculated values.
Line Label - Identifies the data displayed directly under this label line (in small font).
Data Line - Contains box prompts, dashes, brackets and computer-generated data (displayed in small font), or pilot-entered data (displayed in large font).
Box Prompts () - Indicates that data entry is required for minimum FMGS operation. The data is entered via the scratch pad and replaces the box prompts when the associated line select key is pressed. The box prompt entry appears in large font.
Dashes ( - - - - ) - Indicates that data entry is not usually required or that data is being calculated by the FMGC. The calculated data will appear in small font.
Brackets ( [ ] ) - Indicates that data entry is optional.
Vertical Slew Prompts () - Indicates that the latitude/longitude value below the prompts can be increased or decreased.
Asterisk ( * ) - Indicates that pushing the applicable line select key will change the parameters which affect the airplanes active situation.
Page Prompts ( < or > ) - Indicates that another MCDU page is accessible when the associated line select key is pressed.
Overfly Triangle () - Appears next to a waypoint identifier on the F-PLN page to indicate that the airplane must overfly the waypoint.
BLUE - Informs the crew that data entry is allowed. Blue information includes modifiable/selectable data, entry brackets and active alternate flight plan data.
MAGENTA - Identifies constraints. Magenta information includes VNAV altitude/speed/time constraints that will be met and climb/descent speed limits.
GREEN - Is used for FMS-generated data that is not modifiable such as active flight plan data.
AMBER - Signifies that the item being displayed is important and requires immediate attention.
YELLOW - Indicates a temporary flight plan display.
WHITE - Is used to display data that clarifies page operations, including page titles, data field labals, waypoint and predictions, active flight plan destination and predictions and page selection/reversion prompts.