Introduction 

FOMS 400 Menus 

This topic covers the FOMS 400 menus. 

We estimate that this will take 16 minutes to complete.

Detailed Explanation 

FOMS Menu 400 (Dispatch Menu)

FOMS Menu 400 is the Dispatch. It is the gateway to the daily functions and weather/NOTAMs programs, daily reports, and other miscellaneous programs.

FOMS Menu 410 - Flight Status Program

The purpose of this program is to provide a means by which data pertaining to a particular flight can be entered, edited, and stored by the system, thus permitting anyone to review the status of any flight whether it is in the planning, execution, or post-flight stages.

The modes available are:

• Add
• Edit
• Delete
• Video
• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Quit.

FOMS Menu 420 - Aircraft Assignment

The purpose of this program is to create a flight number and assign a specific type of aircraft to it, along with defining the route and departure/arrival times. This program eliminates the need to assign an aircraft type for each individual flight, saving time and effort each day.

The modes available are:

• Edit
• Quit.

FOMS Menu 425 - Aircraft MEL/CDL Status Program

Use this program to assign outstanding maintenance (MEL/CDL) items against a particular airframe so that whenever that aircraft is used by the Flight Plan program, the list with its corresponding descriptions will be displayed for the Dispatcher. When an aircraft is scheduled for a flight, the Dispatcher can review the list to see if there are any operational restrictions that may have an impact on flight planning. For instance, some defects may impose a limit on the maximum altitude to which the aircraft may be flown, and this should, of course, prompt the Dispatcher to cap the flight level used by the Flight Plan.

The program automatically sorts the codes that are operational to the top of the list, and keeps track of the dates of all such entries so the age of any item is always available.

The modes available are:

• Add
• Edit
• Delete
• Video
• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Quit.

HINT 

This functionality is also available via webFOMS. There are other topics that outline this functionality in more detail. 

FOMS Menu 428 - MDL/CDL Codes

Use this program to create and maintain the data file of Minimum Equipment List (MEL) and Configuration Deviation List (CDL) code numbers and their corresponding explanations and descriptions. The descriptions are limited to either 50 or 60 characters depending on the classification of the item: operational or non-operational respectively. The descriptions are not intended to be definitive; the objective is to make them detailed enough to alert Dispatchers to any restrictions that may affect flight planning. Up to 10 lines of comment may be added to each item to more fully describe it. These comments are attached to the flight plan and will thus be available to the flight crew.

Note: Effects can be applied on the second page of this menu.

The modes available are:

• Add
• Edit
• Delete
• Video
• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Quit.

HINT 

This functionality is also available via webFOMS. There are other topics that outline this functionality in more detail. 

FOMS Menu 436 - Minimum Time Track Airways

Given any two Airports or waypoints, this program will determine the least-time airways link between them using forecast winds at the specified flight level and time of departure, assuming of course, that there is in fact an airways link between the points in question.

To be properly effective, some restrictions must be taken into consideration:

• The program looks for a route that lies in a reasonable proximity to the great circle track between the points.  Thus, it will not find a route that requires a turn of more than 85 degrees.
• A complete airways link must exist. Thus, it is not possible to find an MTTA in areas where there are no airways, nor any direct legs that are stored in the Direct Legs data file.
• This program does not take into account the climb and descent portions of the flight. 

FOMS Menu 445 - Navigation Solutions

This program is intended to provide an easily accessible way of solving most navigation problems that the Dispatcher may encounter in day to day operations. When the program is selected, the screen will display the various types of calculations which can be made with this program.

From the Command Line, select the type of calculation which you wish to perform.

• Great Circle Navigation, enter G
• Rhumb Line Navigation, enter R
• Dead Reckoning Navigation, enter D
• Intersection point calculation, enter I

FOMS Menu 445 continued - Great Circle Navigation 

The program will calculate the Great Circle distance and the initial true track between any two points on Earth. Initial Magnetic track angle will also be displayed, based on the magnetic variation at the Origin. Given any intermediate longitude, it will calculate the latitude of the track at that point, or conversely, given any intermediate latitude, it will determine the longitude of the track at that point.

If the Great Circle track cuts the given latitude in more than one place, then both intersections will be reported.

FOMS Menu 445 continued - Rhumb Line Navigation 

This routine will calculate the single heading true and magnetic track between any two locations, and the actual distance along the rhumb line between the two locations.

There are some minor restrictions which must be observed:

• The track may not cross either of the poles.
• Accuracy is degraded near the poles and on very short tracks.

FOMS Menu 445 continued - Dead-Reckoning Navigation 

Given a starting point, an initial course angle (True or Magnetic), and a distance, this routine will calculate the final position coordinates for either a Great Circle or Rhumb line track..

There are some minor restrictions which must be observed:

• The track may not cross either of the poles.
• Accuracy is degraded near the poles and on very short tracks.

FOMS Menu 445 continued - Intersection point calculation

This routine takes two points, draws a line in a specified direction from each, and finds the intersection point. "Direction from" can be given in either True or Magnetic Degrees. 

Points can be defined using:

• an airport ICAO code, 
• waypoint ID, 
• or Latitude/Longitude coordinates. 

FOMS Menu 446 - TAS/Mach, Sunrise, Wind-TO/Lnd Program

This program enables the user to perform various different calculations.

The calculations available are:

• Calculate true air speed for any given Mach and vice-versa
• Calculate the GMT (UTC) for sunrise and sunset at any latitude/longitude for any day of the year
• Calculate the effective crosswind and headwind components at the take-off distance required with these conditions

The modes available are:

• TAS/Mach Calculation, enter <1>
• Sunrise/Sunset, enter <2>
• Wind Effect on T/O or Landing, enter <3>
• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Quit

FOMS Menu 446 continued - TAS/Mach Calculations

Given the flight level and air temperature, this program calculates the true air speed for any given Mach number or vice versa.  

Flight level: Enter the appropriate flight level.
ISA Deviation: Enter the deviation from ISA temperature, if known. If not, press <Enter> and input the Actual outside air temperature. In either case, the value not entered will be computed and displayed.
Mach Number/TAS: Enter the known value, and the equivalent other value will be displayed. Mach numbers must be entered without the decimal point. 

FOMS Menu 446 continued - Sunrise and Sunset Program

Use this program to calculate the GMT (UTC) for sunrise and sunset at any latitude and longitude position for any day of the year. You can convert to any local time if you know the difference from GMT.

Month: Enter the month of the year in number form from 1 to 12, e.g., enter <3> for March.
Day: Enter the day of the month in number form from 1 to 31
Location: Enter the location an airport, waypoint, or latitude/longitude coordinates.

 Once the last entry has been made, the program will calculate and display the times for sunrise and sunset.

FOMS Menu 446 continued - Wind Effect on Takeoff or Landing Program

Use this program to calculate the effective crosswind and headwind components and the takeoff or landing distance that will be required with these conditions.

Runway Magnetic Heading: Enter the magnetic heading of the runway in use.
Wind Direction (Magnetic): Enter the wind direction in degrees magnetic.
Wind Speed (Knots): Enter the wind velocity in knots.
Corrected Zero-Wind Distance: Enter the chart zero-wind takeoff distance in feet adjusted for temperature and pressure altitude.
Corrected Airspeed (Knots): Enter the chart airspeed adjusted for temperature and pressure altitude.

FOMS Menu 447 Conversions/Density Altitude Program

Use this program to perform various conversions as well as density altitude calculation.

The modes available are:

• Temperature, enter <1>
• Distance, enter <2>
• Pressure, enter <3>
• Density, enter <4>
• Weight, enter <5>
• Speed, enter <6>
• Volume, enter <7>
• Density Altitude, enter <8>
• Report
• Quit.

Conversions

This program is used to convert readings in one unit of measure to those in another. Select one of the conversions from the list (1-7) and enter the quantity to be converted, followed by the original units. The options will be displayed on the command line. You may enter the abbreviation, or enter.

Density Altitude

Use this program to calculate the density altitude.

You must enter the following:

• field elevation in feet above MSL
• barometric pressure in inches of mercury or millibar
• temperature in degrees Celsius

When the last entry has been made, the program will complete the calculations and display the result as feet above MSL.

FOMS Menu 460 - Weather Reports Program

Use this program to obtain detailed information on Weather, Tracks, and NOTAMs for any given flight. You can view information on Screen or can print to Hardcopy.

The modes available are:

• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Transmit
• Quit.

FOMS Menu 462 - Pilot Weather Briefing Program

Use this program to obtain detailed information on Weather, Tracks, and NOTAMs for any given route. You can view information on Screen or can print to Hardcopy.

The modes available are:

• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Quit.

FOMS Menu 463 - High Level Winds Program

Use this program to see the forecast wind, temperature and turbulence values stored in the system for any location, for each forecast time period, and each millibar level. Location may be specified as an airport, a waypoint, or as Lat/Long coordinates. Historical winds can be viewed by specifying the month or season in the source field.

Turbulence values are available from the EFH/ERP weather source only.

FOMS Menu 465 - Station/FIR NOTAMs Program

This is a display-only program that lets you view NOTAMs that come in to the system electronically. You can generate Hardcopy reports as necessary.

The modes available are:

• Video
• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Quit.

FOMS Menu 466 - Company NOTAMs Program

Use this program to add, edit, delete or view company NOTAMs.

The modes available are:

• Add
• Edit
• Delete
• Video
• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Rename - webFOMS only
• Copy
• Quit.

HINT 

This functionality is also available via webFOMS. There are other topics that outline this functionality in more detail.

FOMS Menu 468 - Group Alert Monitor Program

Use this program to add stations to the Weather Alert Monitor list. This allows the user to monitor added stations, even if they are not associated with a flight.

The modes available are:

• Add
• Edit
• Delete
• Video
• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Copy - webFOMS only
• Quit.

HINT 

This functionality is also available via webFOMS. 

FOMS Menu 470 - Flight Status Report Program

Use this program to generate a Flight Status report for any particular day.

The modes available are:

• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Quit.

FOMS Menu 472 - Aircraft Routing Report Program

Use this program to generate a report that lists all of the flights an aircraft has been assigned to. You can choose to generate a report for a single day or specify ALL for any period within a seven-day range. Note: The range is calculated from the current day, plus/minus seven days. 

Additionally, you can select a specific aircraft or include ALL aircraft. 

The modes available are:

• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Quit.

FOMS Menu 474 - Work Report Program

Use this program to generate a report of the details of all flight plans in flight status.

The modes available are:

• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Quit. 

FOMS Menu 480 - Delay Report Program

Use this program to generate a report of all flights in the requested period, showing whether the flight was on schedule or delayed. The report shows the reason for any delayed flight. All flights in the period specified are sorted by the aircraft ID followed by Departure time. The valid date range is five days back to current date.

The modes available are:

• Screen
• Hardcopy
• Quit.