San Francisco to Los Angeles in the Bravoairspace 787-9, start to finish. About an hour and a half including taxi, and a perfect first trip.
Before you start
Ready the sim
- Install the 787 from the Marketplace (see the install guide).
- MSFS 2024: enable the MSFS 2020 Asobo 787-10 first, as explained on the 2024 setup page.
- Make a free SimBrief account (a Navigraph account) and note your SimBrief ID.
Step 1
Plan the flight in SimBrief
- Departure
KSFO, arrivalKLAX, alternateKONT. - Aircraft: pick the Bravoairspace 787 airframe so weights match the sim.
- Cruise around FL330. Let SimBrief choose the runways, SID and STAR, then press Generate.
Step 2
Spawn at the gate
- Load the 787-9 at a KSFO gate, cold and dark or turnaround.
- Check the live weather on the METAR decoder (KSFO and KLAX).
Step 3
Power up and program
- Follow card 1 on the 787 quick reference: battery, GPU or APU, lights, fuel pumps.
- EFB: tap the cog, enter your SimBrief ID and load the OFP.
- FMC: uplink the route, then fill PERF and TAKEOFF REF (flaps 5 is usually fine at KSFO).
- MCP: flight directors on, A/T armed, first altitude from the SID, autobrake RTO.
Step 4
Start and taxi
- Beacon on, push back, start engine 2 then 1 (card 2).
- Flaps 5, taxi light on, taxi to the runway SimBrief chose (at KSFO departures usually use 1L or 1R).
Step 5
Takeoff and climb
- Landing and strobe lights on, transponder TA/RA, throttles up and press TO/GA.
- Rotate at VR, positive climb, gear up. LNAV and VNAV on above 400 ft.
- The 787 trims to a speed: trim nose-down gently as you accelerate. Retract flaps on schedule, 250 kt below 10,000 ft.
Step 6
Cruise and plan the descent
- Short cruise down the coast at FL330. Set up the arrival: STAR, approach and the APPROACH REF Vref (flaps 30).
- Use the top-of-descent calculator: 30,000 ft to lose is about 90 nm.
- Autobrake 2 or 3, altimeter to the KLAX QNH.
Step 7
Approach and landing
- Follow the STAR down, then intercept the ILS (24R, 25L or whatever is in use). Arm LOC, then APP.
- Flaps 1, 5, 20, gear down, flaps 30, speedbrake armed. Fly Vref + wind additive.
- Disconnect the autopilot by 500 ft if you want to hand-fly, flare gently and let the autobrake stop you.
Step 8
Taxi in and shut down
- Flaps up, speedbrake down, strobe and landing lights off, APU start.
- At the gate: parking brake set, fuel control switches CUTOFF, beacon off, GPU on. Welcome to Los Angeles.
Where next?
Try a longer trip from the Destinations page, like the 787-9 from Los Angeles to Auckland or the 787-8 from Dallas to London. Stuck? Check troubleshooting.