It cuts the chuff and gets users in the air as soon as possible: Virtual Cockpit Jared Smith has written an excellent tutorial as well. There are also a number of YouTube videos available which walk viewers step-by-step through sample flights. PMDG provides extensive documentation to familiarize pilots with all the systems and controls. Users unfamiliar with the 747-400 may attempt to fly the aircraft without thorough knowledge of the FMC. The scratch pad allows the pilot to put in the desired data before entering it into the proper text line. The display consists of three sections: the title part (where it indicates “menu”), the second section consisting of 6 text lines in the middle, and the third section is the scratch pad at the bottom. The FMC displays 14 different lines which can accept 24 characters. Pilots should be fully grounded in the FMC (Flight Management Computer) system before attempting any runs with the 747-400. Runways and jetways seem smaller and moving around seems slow. Landing and taxiing is a new experience-like driving a building around. The 747-400 is one large aircraft! In the air, you don’t notice its size as much as on the ground.
Northwest Airlines put the first 747-400 into regular service in early 1989.
Likewise, the flight engineer panel was removed and replaced by a fully automated overhead panel.
Instead of a 3-person crew, the 747-400 eliminated the flight engineer position. Boeing introduced the 747-400 to address many of the drawbacks of earlier versions.