Start a Boeing 777 cold and dark with the correct power, ADIRU, APU, fuel, engine-start and after-start sequence for flight simulators.
To start a Boeing 777 cold and dark in a flight simulator, establish battery and external or APU power, switch on the ADIRU, configure fuel, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, start each engine with its start selector and fuel control, then complete the after-start flow. Exact switch logic depends on the 777 add-on.
This is a general Boeing 777 procedure rather than a replacement for the checklist supplied with a particular aircraft. PMDG users should follow our PMDG 777 power-up and engine-start sequence, which covers that add-on's state loading and system logic. Our guide to preparing a cold-and-dark aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator explains the broader cockpit workflow.
Boeing 777 cold-and-dark startup sequence
- Secure and load the aircraft. Set the parking brake or fit wheel chocks, confirm that fuel and payload are loaded, and disable unintended failures. If the add-on is loading a saved panel state, let it finish before touching switches; otherwise controls can jump back or systems can initialise incorrectly.
- Establish electrical power. Switch the battery on and place standby power in its normal automatic position. If ground power shows available, connect it. Without ground power, move the APU selector to ON and then START, wait for the APU to become available, and connect its generator if the aircraft does not do so automatically. Check the electrical synoptic rather than assuming the buses are powered.
- Configure the cockpit. Arm the emergency lights and set passenger signs and exterior lights for the operating conditions. Complete fire, warning and display checks required by the add-on's checklist.
- Switch on and initialise the ADIRU. The 777 uses an ADIRU control rather than the three rotary IRS selectors found on a 737. Enter or confirm the aircraft position on the CDU position-initialisation page and allow alignment to continue.
- Prepare the FMC and take-off data. Enter the route, departure runway, performance data, reserves, speeds and take-off trim. None of this is normally required merely to start an engine, but it should be complete and checked before taxi.
- Set fuel, hydraulics and pneumatics. Turn on the main-tank fuel pumps and use the centre-tank pumps only when the fuel load and checklist require them. Put hydraulic pump controls in their normal or AUTO positions, set the APU bleed on, and leave packs and isolation controls in the add-on's prescribed normal configuration. A correctly modelled 777 normally manages pneumatic load shedding during engine start, so do not switch packs off merely because that is familiar from an older aircraft.
- Prepare for pushback or start. Once APU power and bleed air are stable, disconnect external power and ground equipment if required. Close the doors, switch on the anti-collision beacon and obtain any simulated pushback or start clearance.
- Start the first engine. Turn its engine start selector to START, then move the corresponding fuel control switch from CUTOFF to RUN. A full-fidelity 777 uses autostart to control ignition and fuel scheduling, so it does not normally require the pilot to wait for a manually chosen N2 percentage. Follow the on-screen checklist if a simplified model uses different logic.
- Monitor the start. Watch N2, fuel flow, oil pressure and EGT on EICAS. The starter should cut out and the engine should settle at idle without an abnormal message. Start the other engine using the same sequence.
- Complete the after-start flow. Confirm both engine generators are supplying power, return pneumatic and hydraulic controls to their normal configuration, and shut down the APU only after engine power and bleed sources are stable. Set anti-ice as required, then configure flaps, stabiliser trim, flight controls and taxi lights.
How do you know a 777 engine has started correctly?
A successful start produces a stable idle indication, normal oil pressure, controlled EGT, steady fuel flow and no persistent engine-start warning on EICAS. The electrical synoptic should also show the engine generator supplying its bus.
Exact idle values and temperature limits vary with the engine variant and add-on. Use the limits displayed by that aircraft rather than copying numbers from a different 777 model.
Why will the Boeing 777 engines not start?
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Cockpit remains dark | No battery or external/APU source | Check the battery, standby power, ground-power availability and whether the saved panel state is still loading. |
| Starter does not turn | No pneumatic pressure | Confirm that the APU is fully running, APU bleed is on and the pneumatic controls are in their normal positions. |
| N2 rises but the engine does not light | No fuel or ignition command | Check fuel quantity, fuel pumps and that the correct fuel control switch has been moved to RUN. |
| Start aborts or EGT rises abnormally | Insufficient air, an active failure or an incorrect sequence | Move the fuel control to CUTOFF, stop the start and investigate before trying again. Repeated attempts can preserve an overheated or failed state in detailed add-ons. |
| Engine runs but its bus is unpowered | Generator not connected | Check the electrical synoptic and generator controls. Keep the APU online until engine-generated power is confirmed. |
| Navigation warnings remain | ADIRU alignment or position entry is incomplete | Complete position initialisation and wait for alignment; this usually does not indicate an engine-start fault. |
Do you have to wait for ADIRU alignment before engine start?
No. The engines can normally be started while the ADIRU is aligning, but alignment and FMC position initialisation must be complete before the aircraft relies on inertial navigation and begins taxiing. Accelerated-alignment options in some simulators shorten the wait without changing the engine-start sequence.
Which Boeing 777 engine should you start first?
Follow the operator procedure represented by the add-on; starting engine 2 first is common during a conventional pushback, but it is not a universal rule. Ground equipment, pushback direction, air supply and local procedures can alter the order. The aircraft will start either engine when the required electrical, pneumatic and fuel conditions are available.
Can you use the simulator's automatic-start command?
An automatic-start command may start a simplified 777, but detailed add-ons often ignore it or leave the aircraft in an inconsistent state. Use it only when the aircraft documentation explicitly supports it. For a full cold-and-dark simulation, the overhead controls, fuel-control switches and after-start checks should be completed manually.