Align the Airbus A310 IRS in Microsoft Flight Simulator using the correct overhead and MCDU sequence, timing, and failed-alignment fixes.
There is no Boeing 310 in Microsoft Flight Simulator; the aircraft usually meant is the Airbus A310-300. To align its IRS, power the aircraft, keep it stationary, turn all three IRS mode selectors from OFF to NAV, initialise the position through the MCDU, and wait for the ALIGN indications to clear before taxiing.
Is the Boeing 310 actually an Airbus A310?
The A310-300 is an Airbus aircraft, despite the common “Boeing 310” search wording. Its overhead controls and MCDU procedure differ from those in Boeing airliners.
If you meant a 737, 747 or another Boeing add-on, follow our PMDG Boeing IRS alignment sequence instead. Do not apply the A310 steps to a Boeing CDU without checking that aircraft's documentation.
How to align the A310 IRS in Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Keep the aircraft stationary. Set the parking brake and finish any repositioning before starting. Slewing, pushback or taxiing during alignment can interrupt it or leave the calculated position inaccurate.
- Establish stable electrical power. Switch on the aircraft batteries and connect external power or start the APU as appropriate. Do not disconnect the active supply until the IRS alignment has finished.
- Select all three IRS units to NAV. Find the three mode selectors on the overhead panel and turn each one from OFF to NAV. Do not select ATT; that is a degraded attitude mode rather than normal navigation alignment.
- Open the MCDU INIT pages. Enter the route origin and destination in the FROM/TO field, then select the IRS INIT or ALIGN IRS prompt shown by the aircraft. The precise prompt depends on the page and existing aircraft state.
- Confirm the present position. Check the displayed latitude and longitude against the aircraft's actual airport or stand position. Use the aircraft's present-position coordinates when available; airport reference coordinates will be less precise than the parking stand.
- Wait for alignment to complete. Leave the mode selectors in NAV and do not move the aircraft. Alignment is complete when the ALIGN indications extinguish, navigation warnings clear and normal attitude and position information appears on the flight displays.
- Check the result before pushback. Confirm that the navigation display places the aircraft at the correct airport and that all three IRS units are available. A completed timer does not compensate for an incorrect position entry.
The IRS is only one part of preparing an airliner from an unpowered state. Our cold-and-dark navigation set-up sequence explains how electrical power, position initialisation and navigation checks fit together.
How long does A310 IRS alignment take?
A realistic A310 alignment takes several minutes and may approach ten minutes, with latitude and the aircraft's realism configuration affecting the delay. Accelerated or instant alignment options can reduce that time considerably.
Use the cockpit indications rather than a stopwatch. Do not begin pushback merely because the expected time has elapsed; wait until the ALIGN lights and associated navigation warnings have cleared.
Why will the A310 IRS not align?
A failed A310 IRS alignment normally comes from movement, missing position data or interrupted electrical power. The symptom usually points to the cause:
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| ALIGN indications keep flashing | The present position is missing, invalid or entered in the wrong format | Return to the MCDU IRS initialisation page and verify the latitude, longitude and hemisphere letters |
| Alignment restarts during pushback | The aircraft moved before completion | Stop the aircraft, return the affected selectors to OFF, wait for their indications to extinguish, then restart the alignment |
| IRS panel is blank | The units lack stable electrical power | Check the batteries and active external-power or APU-generator supply |
| One unit remains unavailable | Its selector was not fully set to NAV or its power was interrupted | Reset that unit from OFF to NAV while the aircraft remains stationary, then initialise it again if prompted |
| Navigation display shows the wrong location | Airport-centre coordinates or a mistyped position were entered | Realign before moving and enter coordinates matching the actual stand as closely as possible |
| No alignment prompt appears | The aircraft loaded in a powered or ready-to-fly state | Check whether the IRS is already aligned before switching anything off |
A mistake we see constantly is cycling the selectors repeatedly while alignment is in progress. That restarts the process. If a genuine reset is needed, select OFF, allow the indications to clear, and only then return the unit to NAV.
What should I do after the IRS aligns?
Once the IRS is aligned, finish the flight plan, departure procedure and performance entries before moving the aircraft. IRS alignment establishes attitude and position; it does not create a usable route by itself.
For the remaining programming sequence, see our MSFS airliner FMC workflow covering routes, procedures and performance data. Keep the three A310 IRS selectors in NAV throughout the flight unless a checklist specifically directs otherwise.