Hey there, just a quick question after following the FMC tutorial stickied at the top of the forum (thanks for that btw, it's a big help!). I get to the point where i am told to hit to/ga and then EPR, and instead of the engines spinning up to takeoff thrust i just sit on the runway with nothing happening, causing a big traffic jam on the taxiways and in the air. I followed the tutorial to the letter several times and the same problem happened, i also had a look into the manuals but couldn't see what i had done wrong. Anyone out there able to help me? (and the poor souls delayed because of my bird hogging the runway!)

cheers!

Do you have the A/T enabled?

yeah i double checked that every time, a/t on and fd on, although i read in the manual one fd switch on and one off is needed for the auto takeoff if i read it correctly, but when i switch one on they both come on? or have i missed something? i really can't understand where i am going wrong. Thanks for the reply though  :)

This is going to sound dumb, but are you advancing your throttles?  I have never seen an autothrottle that will get you moving from a standing stop, but rather they kick in after you advance the throttles, then control the EPR from there.

I was thinking the same, i remember on another company's md-11 you had to advance them to 70% or something for it to kick in. When i tried advancing the throttles though i am pretty sure i still had full control over thrust, unless on the 757 it caps max thrust on the throttles to the takeoff setting?

Thanks for the replies!

Have you fully completed the pre-flight procedures on the FMS?  Do you have T/O indications in the ADI and EICAS?  Did you complete the EICAS section of the pre-flight checklist (set the computer selector to auto, pushed in the thrust reference selector)?

You said you have auto-throttle enabled.  Did you run the throttles up to 1.1 EPR before pushing the EPR switch?

Just guesses, really.  There are still a few things I can't figure out about the 757, but takeoff has never really been a problem for me.

Also, I think you still do have some control over the throttles.  Another user was explaining de-rated thrust to me and mentioned that advancing the throttles to their stops will override the thrust reference and go to max thrust.

I plugged in 45 degrees in the temperature section for a de-rated thrust (I guessed a number) and noticed a big difference.  Taking off from a high airport like Mexico City's at up a LOT of runway and the engines did not seem to even break into a light sweat.

So, if you're following the manual, it should work.

For the record, I did not advance my throttles all the way.

thanks for the help guys, unfortunately i've still got the problem despite all your wise words so i must be doing something wrong. A/T never seems to take over no matter how many times i try and how much i follow instructions. I also noticed my lnav and vnav does not even try to follow my pink flight path, instead just lazily banking off to the right with several climbs and level-offs. I guess i really need to hunker down and go through the manuals word by word!

Cheers again!

I recommend printing out Part III Normal Procedures in your documentation.  (You may have done this.)  It is a fairly detailed guide.  (You may have done already.)

This is not a simple airplane.  So it is possible that you are missing a step.  It is also possible you have a bad installation.  So the fixes range from filling in a missing step all the way to uninstalling and re-installing FSX.  Without being able to look over your shoulder, it is hard to say what the problem is, unfortunately.

If you could provide a step-by-step description of everything you are doing, that might help, if it were complete enough.  Screen shots would be better.  There's just no easy way to do this, I'm afraid.

It is frustrating that people are experiencing the airplane not following routes when I know darned good and well it can.  I will try to do a quick and dirty tutorial of how I do things, since at least it works for me.

Thanks Tim. A tutorial would be great whenever you have the time, i'm not really used to these modern airliner's procedures! I am starting to think this is more of a FSX or installation issue as i followed the FMC tutorial here on the forums and also followed along the checklists and procedures in the manual as you said, with the same result. A/T didn't kick in at all, even after spooling up to 1.10 EPR before hitting the button. Do i have to own a registered version of FSCUIP for the 757 to run properly? or the latest version or something?

You did Not answered this Question from slarkr007 :Have you fully completed the pre-flight procedures on the FMS?  Do you have T/O indications in the ADI and EICAS?  Did you complete the EICAS section of the pre-flight checklist (set the computer selector to auto, pushed in the thrust reference selector)? Did you have a T/O in the EICAS? Did you set the Computer selector and push the thrust Ref selector down? Those steps are easily missed. Herb

I would view the video tutorials on preflight setup, and make sure I am following all the picky little details.  You do not need a registered copy of anything (well, except the airplane!).

You know you have to hit the EPR button on the panel after you spool up to 1.10 EPR.  Also, are you getting preflight complete?  Be advised that not all the knobs are set up the necessary way when you load.  Again, the videos might be helpful here.

I would suspect something other than an install problem and would not go through the trouble until I was 100% I'm not missing something.

Sorry Herb, yeah i went through all that, although i was missing those steps until he mentioned them! And yes i am hitting EPR after i am at 1.10, the engines remain under my full control so i'm doing something wrong. The FMC pages say complete if that has anything to do with it. That sounds like a good idea, i will check out those video tutorials tonight and see how i go. If i still have problems i'll quickly post a step by step of what i am doing, which would probably reveal a whole bunch of obvious errors ::)

Cheers for the help guys, much appreciated!

If you push your throttles forward, I think you might get control.  I think the last flight I did I pushed them only to 1.10, hit the EPR button, and just forgot the throttles.  In other words, when you hit the EPR button are you giving it a chance to wind up to take off thrust on its own?  Or are you doing something manually with your throttles?

I will pay very close attention to my next flight.  I do know that the knobs on the pedestal are a potential gotcha.  the one on the left has to be set for AUTO, skip the next knob (brightness I think)  and on the double-knob the lower one has three positions, but you can't see them.  So just click back and forth until you are confident you are in the middel (both).  Then click on the upper knob to push it in.

When you take off, you should verify that the correct takeoff thrust is set, and "the captains hand must be on the thrust level until VI."  With brakes on, I slowly advance throttles to 1.10 EPR.  Then don't move them anymore.  With your Auto Thrust on, hit EPR.  Without touching your throttles, your engines should wind up to take off EPR.

I suspect you are messing with your throttles after advancing to 1.10.  Don't.  Just hit EPR and monitor for something weird happening.

Still having the problem despite all your great help. Here's a step by step of what i am doing which might shed some light on this:

1. Load FS
2. Load 757 at EGKK (also tried various other airports and also tried loading the default cessna first)
3. Open overhead set IRS knobs to 'align'
4. Extinguish all overheard amber lights as described in the FMS tutorial and also the 757 manual
5. IRS to nav once lights are out
6. Yaw dampners on
7. Open CDU
8. Pos init page > Route
9. Load company route i created to save time (also tried with manual routes, tutorial route and direct routes)
10. activate > execute
11. enter perf init page
12. enter perf init info
13. Takeoff page. Flaps 15, 60degrees thrust (tried various other numbers) set CG and confirm vspeeds
14. Set trim on pedastal
15. Computer Select to 'auto' Thrust Red to 'both' and pushed in
16. set flaps to 15
17. FD and A/T on
18. Set IAS to VR speed
19. Check A/T, TO and FD show in greenon display
20. Release brakes
21. throttle up to 1.10 EPR
22. Hit EPR button and it illuminates
23. APR displays on screen

At this point the aircraft is slowly rolling, i don't touch the throttles. The EPR remains at 1.10 and airspeed never rises above 60kts. FMC pages all display 'complete' and as far as i can see i have done everything i have been told, although my routine is probably rather shoddy compared to how it's meant to be done. See anything i've done wrong? fingers crossed and thanks for your continued help!  :)

One thing, you don't need to set your IRS to Align first.  Just go all the way to Nav.

Also, don't put anything in the temp.  Anything with dashed lines is optional.  Anything with boxes is mandatory.  Temp is for derated takeoffs.  Don't ask  ;D  In fact, you might want to give it a quick try without putting in anything in temp and just see what difference that makes.

Also, it is hard to put EVERYTHING in your checklist.  I assume you are putting in your initial position.  Printing out 2, 3 and (finally broke down) 5 of the manuals really helped me.

What does your EICAS say as far as your thrust setting?  Where is your little green arrow?

I can promise you that for me, I advance throttles to 1.10, hit EPR, the airplane starts rolling and eventually takes off.

I assume it was EPR showing in your PFD.

Has it ever worked?

BY THE WAY:  Curious as to why the TO/GA button is not ever mentioned in connection with take-off, since TO stands for take-off ??!!

I am assuming it is being done automatically.  I am getting confused with the Maddog, where I seem to remember pushing mode buttons manually.