737 MAX Flight Crew Operations Manual
Flight Management, Navigation -
Flight Management System
Operation
11.31.24
MN-FLT-OH-201
Cruise
At cruise altitude, the FMC sets cruise speed at the default or pilot entered speed
until reaching the top–of–descent (T/D) point. Alternate cruise speed options are:
• long range (LRC)
• flight crew entered speed.
Cruise thrust is set as required to maintain level flight at the target speed, with the
autothrottle engaged. The FMC uses maximum range cruise speed if cost index is
set to zero.
Fuel and ETA predictions are based on a constant altitude cruise unless a step
climb altitude is entered.
Step Climb
If a step climb altitude is entered in the CRZ page STEP altitude, the FMC
calculates the point where the step climb should begin.
The distance and ETA to the next step point are shown on the CRZ and
PROGRESS pages. The next step point is shown on the map as a green open circle
with the label S/C.
MCP Speed Intervention
The above illustration shows VNAV mode for each phase of flight during speed
intervention.
With VNAV engaged, pushing the speed intervention switch enables speed
intervention. Speed intervention allows the flight crew to change airplane speed
with the IAS/MACH selector.
1B401, 1B801 - 1B806
In a path descent using speed intervention, VNAV PTH changes to VNAV SPD
when the active descent segment is an idle or non-idle thrust segment. In VNAV
PTH, thrust controls speed; in VNAV SPD, pitch controls speed.
Note:
Aircraft equipped with geometric descent path will transition to VNAV
PTH after the first altitude restriction.
VN
AV
S
PD
CRZ
DES
Approa
ch
CL
B
VNAV PTH
VNA
V S
PD
ALTITUDE
VNAV PTH
RESTRICTION
VNAV P
TH
VN
AV
S
PD
CL
B
ALTITUDE
VNAV PTH
RESTRICTION
DES
VNA
V P
TH
SPEED INTERVENTION PITCH MODES
March 1, 2021
