737 MAX Flight Crew Operations Manual
Flight Management, Navigation
Chapter 11
Navigation Systems Description
Section 20
MN-FLT-OH-201
11.20.1
20 Navigation Systems Description
Navigation Systems Description
File Highlight
Introduction
Navigation systems include the flight management system (FMS); global
positioning system (GPS); air data inertial reference system (ADIRS); radio
navigation systems (ADF, DME, ILS, marker beacons, and VOR); ATC
transponder; and weather radar. The FMS is described in the Flight Management
System Description section of this chapter.
Flight Management System
The flight management system (FMS) is comprised of the following components:
• flight management computer system (FMCS)
• autopilot/flight director system (AFDS)
• autothrottle (A/T)
• inertial reference systems (IRS)
• global positioning system (GPS).
Each of these components is an independent system, and each can be used
independently or in various combinations. The term FMS refers to the concept of
joining these independent components together into one integrated system which
provides continuous automatic navigation, guidance, and performance
management.
The integrated FMS provides centralized flight deck control of the airplane’s
flight path and performance parameters. The flight management computer, or
FMC, is the heart of the system, performing navigational and performance
computations and providing control and guidance commands.
The primary flight deck controls are the AFDS MCP, two control display units
(CDU’s), two electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) control panels, and an
FMC source selector switch. The primary displays are the CDUs, outboard display
units, inboard display units, and upper display unit.
The FMC uses crew entered flight plan information, airplane systems data, and
data from the FMC navigation database and performance database to calculate
airplane present position, and pitch, roll, and thrust commands required to fly an
optimum flight profile. The FMC sends these commands to the autothrottle,
autopilot, and flight director. Map and route information are sent to the respective
pilot’s navigation displays. The EFIS control panels are used to select the desired
information for navigation display. The mode control panel is used to select the
autothrottle, autopilot, and flight director operating modes.
March 1, 2021
