Transition and holding procedure manual for

PMDG 777X

This document provides some information about the transition and holding procedures
for flights arriving at Frankfurt airport (EDDF). Furthermore, the handling of add-on aircraft
is explained in more detail especially when it comes to programming the flight
management computer (FMC). During high traffic situations, especially during VATSIM
events, holding procedures will probably be applied. You should be prepared to perform
holding procedures as published in the arrival charts for EDDF (note: charts are absolutely
mandatory if you want to fly to or from EDDF. Freeware charts are provided at the airport
information website: www.vacc-sag.org/airport/EDDF). Your accurate performance and
good preparation helps air traffic control (ATC) to handle high traffic situations easily.

© VATSIM Germany, RG Frankfurt - 2015

General information about transitions at EDDF
First let’s have a look at all transitions at the arrival airspace of EDDF. The following chart
shows the transitions for RWY 25. The procedures for RWY 07 could be transferred. You
will find the current charts at: www.vacc-sag.org/airport/EDDF

© VATSIM Germany, RG Frankfurt - 2015

All arrivals at EDDF should expect transitions to final approach. All aircrafts must be cleared
by ATC for the Transition ( clearance limit, this means you are not allowed to proceed after
UNOKO/ROLIS/KERAX/PSA without clearence). On downwind, expect vectors to final. If you
are cleared for this arrival, you have to follow the lateral path, including all waypoints. Do not
follow the vertical profile mentioned in the chart, just use it at additional information to plan
your descend! Clearances to follow the vertical profile on the transition are normally not
instructed by EDDF ATC. Clearences to descend will be given by the arrival controller.
It’s also possible, that you will be cleared direct to a waypoint into the transition. This
clearance contains the clearance, to fly the following waypoints of the transition.

General information about holdings at EDDF

Normally, holdings will be assigned for the waypoints UNOKO, ROLIS, KERAX, GED and PSA.

Waypoint Inbound-Course Turn(direction) MHA

UNOKO 089 Right FL110
ROLIS 160 Left FL110
KERAX 200 Right 6000ft
GED 181 Right 6000ft
PSA 290 Right 5000ft
CHA (07-only) 285 Right 4000ft (5000ft)

For those who are not yet familiar with the expressions above:
- Holding inbound course describes the direction which you have to fly to reach the
waypoint on which the holding is based.

- The direction of turn in a holding can be left or right. However, every holding has only
one direction of turn which is defined on the respective charts.

- The minimum holding altitude (MHA) should not be crossed below due to obvious
safety reasons.

© VATSIM Germany, RG Frankfurt - 2015

How to Program the PMDG 777X FMC for the PSA Holding Procedure

The next pages will show you how to setup your PMDG 777X FMC for a holding procedure at
waypoint PSA. Therefore, imagine you are flying inbound PSA. You are descending to FL110 as
cleared by the radar controller. Because of many other inbound flights you are instructed to
hold over PSA as published in the charts.

EDGG_E_CTR: “Emirates 45, hold over Spessart as published, FL110. Expect 15 minutes
delay.”

UAE45: “Holding over Spessart at FL110, Emirates 45”

Switch to your PMDG B777 FMC and select the HOLD page. Figure 1 below
shows you how this page should look like if you have already programmed the
PSA25S RNAV transition. Press the Line Select Key (LSK), here LSK1L, next to
PSA in order to enter PSA into the scratchpad. Then press LSK6L to generate a
holding for PSA which you can see in figure 2.

NOTE: In the picture below you can see PSANB instead of PSA. PSANB
Is the short form for PSA NDB and is actually the same waypoint.

Figure 1: Hold Page

© VATSIM Germany, RG Frankfurt - 2015

On this page you can enter the necessary data to define the holding procedure. Enter 290/R
in the scratchpad and press LSK3L to set the inbound course of 290° and a right turn pattern.
You are holding below FL140 (as you are already cleared to FL110) so the leg time should be
one minute. Normally, this value is preset. If not, enter 1 into the scratchpad and press LSK4L.
Recommended speed for the holding is 220kts in FL110. Enter 220/FL110 into the scratchpad
and press LSK1R.

NOTE: You may use the “BEST SPEED” recommended by your FMC, but always enter the
assigned speed by ATC as described above if you need to follow a speed restriction by ATC.

Finally check your settings and confirm them by the EXEC button. Your navigation display
should now look like the example in figure 3.

Figure 2: RTE HOLD Page for PSA

© VATSIM Germany, RG Frankfurt - 2015

 Figure 3: Navigation Display with Holding over PSA

NOTE: As you can see on the Navigation Display we are approaching the inbound leg in an
almost 90° angle. You might expect LNAV to fly weird turns when passing PSANB, but the
aircraft will actually fly a smooth turn to enter the outbound leg directly. The next holding will
be flown as expected.

© VATSIM Germany, RG Frankfurt - 2015

As soon as you are instructed to leave the holding, you need to prepare the FMC first. You can
engage to leave the holding by pressing LSK6R next to EXIT HOLD on your FMC’s HOLD page.
After pressing LSK6R you need to confirm the changes by pressing the EXEC button. The words
EXIT ARMED will appear next to the LSK6R button.

Now the exit of the holding is engaged and you can perform actions to bring the aircraft on
the assigned track. In this example the aircraft would automatically exit the holding pattern
when it crosses PSA the next time and will continue via PSA25 transition to CHA.

Figure 4: Leaving the Holding

© VATSIM Germany, RG Frankfurt - 2015

Another possibility to exit aircrafts from the holding and to establish separation to previous
aircraft by the air traffic controller is to instruct the pilot to maintain the outbound leg a little
bit longer. As soon as the separation to previous aircraft is established the controller will
instruct the pilot to turn to the next waypoint or will provide radar vectors. This procedure
increases the flexibility of air traffic control, explained in figure 5.

EDGG_E_CTR: “Emirates 45, leave Spessart holding, maintain present heading.”

UAE45: “Leaving Spessart holding, maintaining present heading, Emirates 45.”

[…]

EDGG_E_CTR: “Emirates 45, turn right direct Spessart, thereafter cleared PSA25S
transition.”

UAE45: “Turning right direct Spessart and cleared PSA25S Transition, Emirates
45.”

Figure 5: Extended Holding

© VATSIM Germany, RG Frankfurt - 2015