744 Forum

Apron => Hangar 7 => Topic started by: simonijs on Wed, 22 May 2019 14:03

Title: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: simonijs on Wed, 22 May 2019 14:03
Hi Hardy,

Now that we have established that MMO is indicated on the speed tape as a fixed CAS at one and the same Flight Level, independent of temperature changes, I wonder if you are able to calculate the corresponding TAS from this CAS, and hence the Mach-number.

From what I have seen (with two formulas now being in agreement) is, that the CAS number in PSX produces a Mach-number of ± 0,92. So: at FL380 in PSX, VMO is shown on the speed tape as 297 kts, the amber band starts at ± 290 kts. This corresponds to M0,92 and M0,9 respectively. I had the aircraft go to 290 kts yesterday, and it started to make noises as if things were about to fall off.

Below, I included two screenshots taken from the E6B (iPhone) app, confirming my Excel findings. This happens at all FL's (tested between FL300 and FL400 in 1000 ft steps).

(http://www.hoppie.nl/forum/var/297_CAS_FL380.PNG) (http://www.hoppie.nl/forum/var/290_CAS_FL380)

Also on the Low Speed Side, the numbers seem to be too high: some 5-6 kts at the lower flight levels up to ± 20 kts at the higher flight levels. If you like, I can send you a table with all results between FL300 & FL400.

Regards,
Simon

Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Wed, 22 May 2019 17:35
Hi Simon,

I'm sorry, I don't understand your text. What parameter exactly do you think is wrong in PSX? Or is it just about the noise? These vibrations start at such high Mach numbers intentionally; the same happens in the big sims. It's similar to the low speed buffet vibration noise which starts before the stick shaker activates.


Cheers,

|-|ardy


I just did a PSX test re your 290 KCAS screenshot. My result:

290 current KCAS (PFD)
38000 ft current altitude (PFD)
-14°C current TAT (EICAS)
1013.25 hPa current QNH (PFD and weather model)
524 current KTAS (ND)
0.901 current Mach (PFD)
-50°C current SAT (EICAS)

Perfect agreement with your E6B output.
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: simonijs on Thu, 23 May 2019 08:14
In the two screen shots that I posted earlier, 290 kts (at FL380) is where in PSX the amber band starts and where manoeuvre margin should still exist before actually getting to MMO. 297 kts (at FL380) in PSX is where the "barber pole" starts.

The bottom of the barber pole indicates maximum airspeed, so the point where - with flaps up - VMO/MMO is reached for the first time: i.e. 365 kts or M0,9 for the 747. In PSX and at FL380, however, the barber pole starts at a CAS value of 297 kts, resulting in a TAS that corresponds with M0,92. The PSX amber band CAS value of 290 kts results in a TAS that corresponds with M0,9 which is the value for MMO. Since I heard buffet noise at 290 kts, and since we now have both established that at 290 kts a TAS - consistent with M0,9 is reached - it looks like the aerodynamic behavior is modelled correctly, but the indications on the speed tape not.
I think, that the barber pole should start at 290 kts instead of at 297 kts. With the amber band extending down from 290 kts to ± 284 kts. At...: FL380 only. Other values of course for other Flight Levels, as shown below.

In the following PSX screen shot, at FL370 the barber pole sits at 304 kts; the amber band starts at ± 298 kts (SAT = -58 C).

(http://www.hoppie.nl/forum/var/PFD_at_FL370_(1).png)

At 304 kts CAS, the Mach-number equals M0,92; at 296,45 kts CAS the Mach-number would read exactly M0,9. So in this scenario: I think the barber pole should start here at ± 296 kts with the amber band extending down to ± 289 kts CAS.

This is the case at all flight levels between FL300 and FL400: the number that I read as VMO on the speed tape, produces a TAS that is equivalent to ± M0,92. At which point the aircraft in real life is well inside the high speed buffet region.

Regards,
Simon

PS - I just looked at a picture of the PFD in the FCOM; here, at FL310 the barber pole starts at ± 338 kts, the amber band extends down to 330 kts. In PSX, the barber pole at FL310 starts at 348 kts...
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Thu, 23 May 2019 10:14
Quote from: Simonijs on Thu, 23 May 2019 08:14
PS - I just looked at a picture of the PFD in the FCOM; here, at FL310 the barber pole starts at ± 338 kts, the amber band extends down to 330 kts. In PSX, the barber pole at FL310 starts at 348 kts...

I think you can't compare KIAS values when M0.92 is setting the barber pole. Can you see the Mach numbers and temperatures in your comparison?

In general, I don't see why you're making it so complicated with CAS/TAS/Mach calculations. I thought those fixed reference values from the books are understood now -- as discussed in the first thread (Part 1):

http://aerowinx.com/board/index.php?topic=5256.msg56579#msg56579

5th engine carriage mode:
330 kt or M0.85

Normal mode:
365 kt or M0.92

It's always this fixed KIAS or this fixed Mach of the pair -- whichever is lower on the tape.


Regards,

|-|ardy


Quote365 kts or M0,9 for the 747

No, it's M0.92.
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: simonijs on Thu, 23 May 2019 10:46
QuoteNo, it's M0.92.

Ehhh...: this is what I see.

(http://www.hoppie.nl/forum/var/Schermafdruk_2019-05-23_11.40.04.png)

I was taking these speeds as a reference. And the note below it.

Regards,
Simon
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Thu, 23 May 2019 10:49
See :-) Just one short sentence would be sufficient to point at the problem. Without any math :-)

Other manuals say 0.92.

Is this 0.90 a typo or a company option? And is it just on the paper or in the FMC as well?


|-|
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: simonijs on Thu, 23 May 2019 11:16
That was taken from KLM's FCOM. This next picture is taken from the AOM, of course showing same numbers...

(http://www.hoppie.nl/forum/var/Schermafdruk_2019-05-23_12.01.37.png)

Will wing design for the 747 differ as an airline option?

Then one last question: with the amber band starting in PSX at 290 kts (FL380), should I be hearing buffet noise in straight and level flight (no maneuvering). My guess would be "No".

Cheers,
Simon

Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Thu, 23 May 2019 18:38
Since PSX version 10.0.6 the buffet noise starts with 0 dB at Mach 0.9, and this dB value smoothly gradually increases with the rising Mach. The KIAS value has no influence on this.

QuoteWill wing design for the 747 differ as an airline option?

No, but airline policies differ. Each authority has a different opinion, as we learn almost daily. -- Aside from that, on your picture the "design" refers to VA, not VMO. VMO is just a straight line set by the office, not by empirical physics.

One difference, however, lies on the hardware side indeed: The 747 freighter upper deck behaves differently to the non-freighter's upper deck in terms of Mach effects. That's why the freighter systems include a Mach trim function in addition to the usual speed trim function. I can't recall if there is a freighter specific VMO though.

By the way, the Mach number of the air flow above the upper deck is higher than the Mach indication from the ADC which refers to the aircraft speed as a whole. That's also the reason the 747 flight deck is so loud.


Cheers,

|-|ardy


P.S.: My questions in this discussion are:

(A) Which airlines use VMO M0.90 and which use M0.92?

(B) Do the systems (FMC, EIU etc.) always use the M0.92 value or can customers program this?

Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: simonijs on Thu, 23 May 2019 20:51
Well..., I just fell off my chair in surprise reading this document (FAA Type certificate data sheet for all 747 models - July 2008): http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/29f8f1f15b2b08b786257479004b50e1/$FILE/A20WE.pdf (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/29f8f1f15b2b08b786257479004b50e1/$FILE/A20WE.pdf), with all eligible KLM serial numbers listed in it (747-406/406F). VMO/MMO: 365/0,92 indeed, and quite misleading to me with KLM documents giving other numbers...

So...: 0,92 it is !

Regards,
Simon (in need of some holidays now).





Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Thu, 23 May 2019 22:48
I guess KLM have decreased it to 0.90 in their internal policy, but their avionics still apply 0.92 probably.


|-|
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Sun, 14 Jul 2019 14:37
MMO 0.90 is now a selectable model option in PSX 10.82:

http://aerowinx.com/board/index.php?topic=4191.0


Regards,

|-|ardy
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: simonijs on Tue, 16 Jul 2019 17:55
A very neat solution, Hardy. Thank you for this one!


Regards,
Simon
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: United744 on Fri, 19 Jul 2019 01:57
M 0.92 is the 747-400 MMO.

M 0.90 MMO is for the 747-8.

If the MMO has been reduced for the -400 it is probably to match the -8 where there are mixed fleets.
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Fri, 19 Jul 2019 07:02
Simon(ijs) did a lot of research on this subject recently across several airlines, and it ended up with a reply from Boeing. It has to do with the time the JAA started to exist and the time certain 744 variants started to exist. Until the date the JAA was founded, all existing 744 types got FAA certifications (0.92). Thereafter, non-US aircraft got JAA certifications (0.90) -- if I understand it correctly. Simon may jump in :-)


|-|ardy


However, what's confusing me now is that the JAA was founded in 1970 and disbanded in 2007:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Aviation_Authorities
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: skelsey on Fri, 19 Jul 2019 08:57
Quote from: Hardy Heinlin on Fri, 19 Jul 2019 07:02
However, what's confusing me now is that the JAA was founded in 1970 and disbanded in 2007:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Aviation_Authorities

JAA was superceded by EASA in the early/mid 2000s, so the JARs became the EASA certification standards, JAR-OPS became EU-OPS etc after that point.

The/a big difference is that the JARs had no direct force in law (they were ratified by individual member states in to each member state's national law) whereas EASA regulations are written in to EU law and therefore legally binding on all member states.
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Fri, 19 Jul 2019 10:54
As the JAA had existed since 1970, why did they apply the 0.90 MMO certificate only to later 744 aircraft long after 1988?

Maybe I've misunderstood that statement. Perhaps it didn't mean to say the JAA didn't exist but the JAA certificate (0.90) didn't exist. Perhaps the JAA changed their own limit from 0.92 to 0.90 a couple of decades ago.
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers on Fri, 19 Jul 2019 11:59
Or, they simply did not want to mess with all the documentation you need to change if one simple number on the airworthiness certificate changes. It's usually much easier to apply new regulations forward-only.

Hoppie
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Fri, 19 Jul 2019 12:10
Forward-only is it in any case.

I guess by the phrase "the JAA didn't exist" they just meant to say "the JAA certificate re 0.90 didn't exist".

It's like saying "the Hoppie didn't exist in 2008" instead of "Hoppie's PSX Router didn't exist in 2008".


|-|
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: VolleyballCALVA on Sat, 20 Jul 2019 14:54
I think the VMO is still M 0.92
But within RVSM airspace the Maximum Speed is restricted to M 0.90
That's why it said M 0.90 as Maximum operating speed in FCOM ?
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Sat, 20 Jul 2019 15:04
According to Boeing, the MMO is airline specific. That is, airline specific is just the red tape setting on the PFD. The EICAS overspeed message and siren is triggered at 0.92 in all models, even if the red tape starts at 0.90. This has been proven in Lufthansa sims.

MMO is an aerodynamic limit; if you exceed it, the aircraft may break apart.
An RVSM restriction is a strategic limit; if you exceed it, you may collide with another aircraft.


|-|
Title: Re: VMO on the speed tape - Part 2
Post by: simonijs on Sat, 20 Jul 2019 18:50
Sorry for not having replied to this a little earlier (I have been busy for several weeks now with the sad things in life, that at some point we will all have to face). But...:

On the internet the JAA website can still be accessed, although for historical reference only: (https://web.archive.org/web/20110629013950/http://www.jaa.nl/introduction/introduction.html), and I'll insert one quote below with similar quotes available on Skybrary and Wikipedia:

QuoteJAA's functions were:

The JAA's work began in 1970 (when it was known as the Joint Airworthiness Authorities).  Originally its objectives were only to produce common certification codes for large aeroplanes and for engines.  This was in order to meet the needs of European Industry and particularly for products manufactured by international consortia (e.g. Airbus).  Since 1987 its work has been extended to operations, maintenance, licensing and certification/design standards for all classes of aircraft.  With the adoption of the Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (EU) and the subsequent set up of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) a new regulatory framework was created in European aviation.

Before the inception of the Joint Aviation Authorities, each and every (European) country had its own National Aviation Authority. In the UK: Civil Aviation Authority; in The Netherlands: Rijks Luchtvaart Dienst; in Germany: Luftfahrt Bundesamt (also called the Luftfahrt Behinderungsamt). Each country therefor also had its own national Aviation legislation.

The intention of the JAA was to obtain one European set of Aviation "Requirements". Aviation delegations of associated countries were discussing these requirements, but since governments were NOT involved, they did not instantly become regulations (legislation). Only after - mostly - extensive government involvement and discussions, these requirements could be adopted into national legislation to make it "judge-able". Skelsey pointed this out as well.

Flight Crew licensing, for example, was discussed for many years within the JAA, then another number of years within the Dutch government before it became legislated/regulated. My 1995 Dutch national license was converted into a JAA license in 1999 (?). And in 2014 it then became a EU license. My national and later JAA examiner authorization (representing the government during exams) eventually became a EU examiner certificate, basically making me liable for any damage to people and property.
I don't recall when JAA started discussing JAR-OPS, nor when they implemented it, but my guess on start of the discussion is: 1987 (see quote above). Formulated Requirements: several years later. Implementation within national legislation: again many years later! Individual countries, however, could still choose to stick to their own national legislation. If I remember well, Spain - the government - did not adopt JAR-OPS in the Spanish legislation (until EU-OPS became effective, and to which they eventually had to comply).

KLM/Martinair Cargo 747's (PH-CKA/CKB/CKC) are from 2003, hence certification through JAR-OPS (the AFM for these aircraft states 365 kts/M0,90). PH-MPS is a BCF-aircraft, that first (1990) flew for Singapore Airlines. Certification through the FAA. It's AFM states 365/M0,92.

The difference might be based on the definition of critical Mach-number, where one definition is "the speed of the aircraft as measured in undisturbed air, expressed as a Mach-number, where the speed of the air over the wings for the first time locally reaches M = 1". No shock waves yet. Another definition describes the speed, where due to shock waves (buffeting) the drag is rapidly increasing and the behavior of the aircraft is effected in roll and pitch (drag divergence critical mach-number). This obviously is at a higher free stream airspeed and is supposed to occur when "delta CD/delta Mach = 0,10.

I had no time yet to see Hardy's modification, but just saw that the numbers have increased again (thank you for those as well).

Regards,
Simon