1 Introduction
FOMS 400 Menus
This topic covers the FOMS 400 menus.
We estimate that this will take 10 minutes to complete.
2 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. It also acts as a control file from which other
processes such as route analysis are activated and a database
for the generation of a variety of reports, such as work
summaries, aircraft routing, and delays, which can be generated
on either a request or automatic basis.
The modes available are:
■ Add
■ Edit
■ Delete
■ Video
■ Screen
■ Hardcopy
■ 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.
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
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 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 different conversions as well 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
Use this program 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 the details of weather, Tracks, and flight plan
information for a given flight from a single source. You can
view information on the screen, or to print the information for
a crew’s flight package.
The modes available are:
■ Screen
■ Hardcopy
■ Transmit
■ Quit.
FOMS Menu 462 - Pilot Weather Briefing Program
Use this program to
obtain the details of weather, Tracks, and flight plan
information for a given flight from a single source. You can
view information on the screen, or to print the information for
a crew’s flight package.
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.
Turbulence values are available from the Telvent weather
source only.
FOMS Menu 465 - Station/FIR NOTAMs Program
This is a view-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 report of the Flight Status for any particular time
period which can be defined to the minute.
The modes available are:
■ Screen
■ Hardcopy
■ Quit.
FOMS Menu 472 - Aircraft Routing Report Program
Use this program to generate a
report which shows all of the flights that an aircraft has been assigned
to fly. You can chose to call up a
report for a single day, or all days within the range of the
current day minus seven days to the current day plus seven days,
and you can select a single aircraft or 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.
