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How To Study The Boeing 787 Manuals

787 Guide • Nov 18, 2020

Got manuals. Will study.

Where do you even begin? I’ve gotten that question a few times now, so let me give you my suggestion how to best study the 787 from scratch.

This assumes that you have gotten the official manuals (FCOM, QRH and FCTM) and maybe also the 787 Guide app.

It also kind of assumes that you have flown some other airliner jet before, but if you haven’t the strategy would be the same, albeit with a much steeper learning curve.

FCOM - Systems Description

Start here. In fact, start with the 787 Guide, but it’s probably a good idea to jump back and forth between the two. Read a systems chapter in the 787 Guide first to get an overview, then do the heavy lifting and read the respective chapter in the FCOM.

I wouldn’t recommend starting on page one and read the FCOM cover to cover since it’s sorted in alphabetical order with no pedagogical thought put into the presentation.

Sure, you might wanna start with Airplane General to get an idea of what the aircraft and flight deck looks like. But even that chapter becomes heavy, real quick.

I recommend the following order:

1. Electrics
Almost everything on this aircraft is electrical, so it makes sense to start here and to understand this system first.

2. Hydraulics
Further building that foundation. Once you know the electrics and hydraulics you are in a pretty good position to better understand the other systems. The hydraulic chapter is also a fairly light chapter which is easy to digest.


    3. Flight Controls
    This is a big chapter, so you might as well get started. The flight controls rely heavily on the hydraulic system, but also the electrical system which is new if you’ve flown other Boeings. The fly-by-wire concept is also quite central to understanding the 787 so pay attention.

    4. Warning Systems
    It might be a good idea to throw this in here, especially if you haven’t flown an aircraft with EICAS before. By now you’ve seen a few references to advisory and caution messages and you probably wonder what’s up with those. This chapter explains the EICAS and all that stuff. Take your time to understand the different message types. It will help you further down the line.

    UPDATE November 2020

    This cannot be stressed enough. I've noticed that many pilots arrive in the simulator with a slightly hazy understanding of the warning systems. And it's clear that those who know exactly how the various warnings work have a nice advantage. Study this chapter in detail. You won't regret it.


    5. All the other systems

    At this point you’ve got the momentum going. Engine/APU, fuel, landing gear, fire protection, etc will be quite straight-forward.



      6. Flight Management and Navigation
      Oh yeah, this one is heavy and therefore worth mentioning. Reading about how to use a computer is probably the worst possible way to learn it. You may have noticed I also have another app, 787 FMC. This isn’t an CDU simulator, but simply a book with a different kind of interface. Instead of looking things up in chapters, you can see descriptions of every detail in the CDU by tapping on them. It might be helpful if you're new to the Boeing style FMCs. But otherwise, don’t stress out over it. You’ll get hands-on experience with the CDU/FMC on the type rating course.

      All those other manuals
      Perhaps you transferred to the 787 within your current airline, or maybe both the airline and the aircraft is new to you. Heck, it could even be that the type of operation is new if you go from short haul to long haul.

      Either way, there will probably be some operations manuals and route manuals to read too. Save those for last, but try to get started as soon as possible. You want to be in a good place before beginning the line training.

      Good luck!
      And one last word of advice: never assume that something works the same as your previous aircraft just because it looks the same, or is called the same. Yes, I’m talking to you Captain When-I-Was-Flying-The-Triple, but this is also true for the ex-737 drivers.

      Pilots transferring from the Airbus often do better because they assume everything is gonna be new, and therefore make sure to really learn the details.

      Did you study your current aircraft in a similar order? Or do you have a better way - comment below!

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