General Engine Start & Cold-and-Dark Questions & Answers

Starting a complex aircraft from cold and dark is less about memorising switches than understanding power, fuel, air and ignition in the right sequence. This hub covers simulator start-up procedures for the Boeing 737, 747 and 777, as well as the very different Douglas DC-3, including the checks that are commonly missed.

Guides explain battery and external power, APU use, fuel pumps, hydraulics, bleed-air configuration, engine start switches and post-start actions. They also distinguish simplified simulator shortcuts from aircraft-specific flows, since cockpit logic and add-on fidelity vary widely. The Fly Away team writes and tests these answers to help diagnose hung starts, no ignition, engines that will not stabilise, and systems that remain unpowered after start.