B737NG BRIEFINGS 

What you should see on the

Electrical Panel

• First indication of loss of both engine driven generators is a

MASTER CAUTION illumination with multiple caution lights
and instruments warnings flags on both panels.
[including TRANSFER BUS OFF, SOURCE OFF and GEN
OFF BUS]

• Caution! Don’t be confused with « loss of both engines ».

To discriminate between the two
situations, advance the thrust levers
and check if engines respond.
Check also if ENG FAIL is displayed
on both EGT indicators.

• STBY AC BUS and STBY DC BUS automatically switch to their back-up source upon loss of both
engine driven generators. The STANDBY PWR OFF amber light should not be illuminated!
If you see this light illuminated, the first check-list to be started [before the LOSS OF BOTH
ENGINE DRIVEN GENERATORS] is the STANDBY POWER OFF NNC

STANDBY PWR OFF Light

Illuminated (amber)
(amber) – one or more of the
following busses are unpowered:
• AC standby bus
• DC standby bus
• Battery bus.

QRH

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What is the purpose of the STANDBY POWER Switch?

AUTO (guarded position)
In flight, or on the ground, and AC transfer
t ransfer busses powered:
powered:
• AC standby bus is powered by AC transfer bus 1
• DC standby bus is powered by TR1, TR2 and TR3

In flight, or on the ground, loss of all AC power 

• AC standby bus is powered by battery through static inverter 
• DC standby bus is powered by battery
• Battery bus is powered by battery.

OFF (center position)

• STANDBY PWR OFF light illuminates
• AC standby bus, static inverter, and DC standby
bus are not powered.

BAT (unguarded position)

• AC standby bus
bus is powered by battery through static
static inverter 
• DC standby bus
bus and battery bus
bus are powered directly by battery.

When placing the Standby Power Switch to BAT, the STANDBY PWR OFF amber light
should extinguish.

CAUTION! If the STANDBY PWR OFF light is illuminated after a loss

of both engine driven generators

1) Unpowered
Unpowered AC Standby bus means, at least (non-exhaustive list):
- ATC 1 [XPDFR] INOP
- Right Igniters INOP [No
[No more igniters!]
- ADF No.1 INOP
- GPS No.1 INOP [No[No more GPS!]
- Fuel Quantity indicators INOP

2) Unpowered
Unpowered DC Standby bus means, at least (non-exhaustive list):
- VHF1 INOP [No[No more VHF!]
- Engine No.1 thrust reverser INOP
- NAV1 INOP [No more NAV capability!]
- EFIS Control panel INOP
- Stick shaker captain INOP
-
3) Unpowered
Unpowered Battery bus means, at least (non-exhaustive list):
- Engine 1 & 2 start lever Chan A+B INOP
- Engine 1 & 2 Fire Protection INOP
- Fuel Engine 1 & 2 HPSOV INOP
- Landing Gear Air Ground relays + Alternate Extend solenoid INOP
- Standby attitude indicator INOP
- N1 & EGT INOP, etc, etc

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Example: B737-800 [Dual battery equipped]

BUS TRANSFER Switch

- AUTO (guarded
(guarded position)
position)
BTBs operate automatically to maintain power 
to AC transfer busses from any operating
generator or external power 
[DC cross tie relay automatically provides
normal or isolated operation
as required].
- OFF
Isolates AC transfer bus 1 from A C transfer bus
2 if one IDG is supplying power to both AC
transfer busses
[DC cross tie relay opens to isolate DC bus 1
from DC bus 2].

The breaker is behind the FO’s seat.

The SPCU (Standby Power Control Unit) uses the
battery & standby power switch position to control
the distribution of AC & DC standby power.

Heading – Enter through CDU

FMC/CDU POS INIT page .......................... Select
Enter the correct heading into the CDU scratch pad then
press lineselect key 5R. Verify entered heading appears
on line 5R. Select HDG on the IRS display selector and
verify that the entered heading is displayed on the
navigation displays.
Heading – Enter through ISDU
IRS display selector .......................................
........................................HDG
.HDG
Press the H key to initiate a heading entry.
Key–in present magnetic heading. Press the ENT key
(the cue lights extinguish). Observe proper heading
displayed on the navigation displays.

Declare MAYDAY
[Note: With only one generator available,
declare PAN-PAN and land at the nearest 
suitable airport].

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Takeoff, Approach and Landing on Standby Power 

Boeing says that « the probability of a total and unrecoverable AC power failure is remote ». Because
of system design, a NNC for accomplishing an approach & landing on standby power is not required.
• Complete all applicable NNCs and approach preparations.
• Refer to Volume 2, Chapter 6 of your Boeing FCOM for a list of significant equipment powered by
standby power.
The following list identifies the significant equipment that operates when the main battery and the
auxiliary battery are the only source of electrical power (all generators INOP) on aircraft:
SECTION OPERATIVE ITEMS REMARKS
• Standby compass light
• White dome lights
• Emergency instrument flood lights - Automatic Passenger
Passenger Oxygen
Airplane General • Flight crew oxygen Control & Release INOP (manual
• Passenger oxygen control is available)
• Standby forward airstair interior/exterior operation
• A/C pack valves - AUTO & ALTN pressurization
pressurization
Air Systems • BLEED TRIP OFF lights modes are INOP. Below 10,000 ft
• Manual pressurization control (or at lower if altitude) select MAN
• Atitude warning horn and open outflow valve to land
• PACK lights unpressurized
Anti-Ice • Captain’s pitot probe heat
• Flight interphone system
Communications • Service interphone system
• Passenger address system
• VHF No. 1
Electrical • STANDBY POWER OFF light
• Upper display unit (N1, N2, fuel flow, EGT, fuel
quantity, oil pressure, oil temperature, oil quantity)
• Thrust reversers
Engines & APU • Starter valves
• Right igniters
• APU operation (start attempts not recommended
above 25,000 feet)
• APU and engine fire extinguisher bottles
Fire Protection • APU and engine fire detection system
• Cargo fire extinguisher bottle
- All TE and LE Flaps indications are
INOP. TE & LE Flaps are available
but without asymmetry protection
(based on the pointers of the Flap
indicator which is itself INOP):
Flight Controls • TE and LE Flaps extend flaps step by step and
monitor control wheel for any roll.
- Electrical trim is INOP
- Takeoff: Keep T/O flap setting +
maneuvering speed: flap position
indicator is INOP and flap retraction
schedule is not available
• Captain’s outboard display unit with PFD
• Captain’s inboard display unit with ND
• Clocks
Flight Instruments • Left EFIS control panel
• Standby instruments (RMI, stdby airspeed/altimeter,
stdby attitude indicator, stdby magnetic compass

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[Continuing]

SECTION OPERATIVE ITEMS REMARKS

[EI-DPF through EI-DPV]
• left FMC
[EI-CSA through EI-DPE]
• FMC
----------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------
---------
Flight Management • Left CDU
Navigation • Heading/track indications
• VHF NAV No. 1
• ILS No. 1
• Left IRS
• Left GPS
• Marker beacon
• ADF No. 1
• DME No. 1
• Crossfeed valve - All fuel pumps are INOP:
INOP: possible
Fuel • Engine fuel shutoff valves thrust deterioration or engine
• Spar fuel shutoff valve flameout at high altitude!
• FUEL VALVE CLOSED lights - Fuel contained in Center tank is no
• Fuel quantity indicators longer available. (check possible
overweight landing)
• Engine hydraulic shutoff valves
Hydraulic Power  • Standby rudder shutoff valves
• Inboard antiskid system - Outboard Antiskid INOP [verify
Landing Gear  • ANTISKID INOP light QRH Performance Inflight Advisory
• Parking brake Information for landing distance!]
• Air/ground system - Autobrakes INOP
• Landing gear indicator lights
• Stall warning system
Warnings • Aural warnings
• Master caution light Recall

Basic Equipment Operating – Captain Instrument Panel [ aircraft]

The standby power system utilizes the battery as a source of power to supply the below depicted
flight instruments. All of the Captain’s instruments that are powered by standby power are integrally
lighted on standby power 

Left Hand Seat (LHS)

pilot is always PF

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• After takeoff, climb to MSA and stay below 10,000 ASL because aircraft is unpressurized!

• Be careful: No altitude alert for level

level off!

• Check MCP: in certain circumstances

circumstances Reversion to Standby
Standby power may cause the Barometric
Barometric
setting to revert to Standard. Altitude window could have switched to 50.000ft, MCP speed window
to 110kt. Reset as necessary!

• Ask for vectors if available.

• Consider CAT I landing only to land back.

• If both primary attitude displays are INOP (see QRH), the IRS drifts like a conventional gyro: you
need to update a heading entry every 15 minutes and before commencing the approach. Before
entering the magnetic compass reading, correct the value for deviation thru t he compass deviation
card.
Always take your time for this process! PNF should have a good crosscheck with the PF before
entering and executing any value into the ISDU or the CDU. Any wrong value entered by mistake
could result in a space disorientation!
disorientation!

• Should your remaining FMC be INOP, remember that you will have to set reference airspeed bugs
for approach via the SPD REF knob [see Boeing Supplementary Procedures / Flight Instruments,
displays]:
Speed reference selector (outer) ....................................................WT
[Default weight of 32,000 kgs / 70,000 lbs is displayed].
Speed reference selector (inner) .................. Set current gross weight
[Flaps up maneuver speed bug is displayed].
Speed reference selector
selector (outer) ................. ...............................VREF
[Default speed of 80 knots is displayed].
Speed reference selector
selector (inner) ...............................Set
....................... ........Set VREF speed
The green VREF bug and white VREF +20 bug are shown when a speed greater 
than 80 knots is set.

Note: If V1 or VR i s selected in flight, INVALID ENTRY is displayed.

To set the spare bug, if desired:

Speed reference selector
selector (outer) ................. ....................... Spare bug
[Default speed of 60 knots is displayed].
Speed reference selector (inner) ................................................... Set
[Set speed as desired].
Speed reference selector (outer) ...................................................SET
[Digital readout is removed].

• Fly the approach on speed.

• Because outboard anti-skid is not available, and with the higher approach speed, any excess
speed is undesirable.
undesirable.

• Bear in mind that auto speedbrake is INOP upon landing: extend speedbrake manually.

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• Never abort your takeoff above 80 kt in case of loss of both engine driven generators because:
- Antiskid is INOP
- RTO mode is INOP
- Speedbrakes
Speedbrakes automatic extension is INOP

• Do not retract flaps after take off if possible (no severe icing conditions): flap position indicator is
INOP and flap retraction schedule is not available

• In cruise, do not stay above 25,000 ft if the actual MORA permits it. Again, remember that APU
start attempts are not recommended above 25,000 feet. Because of the loss of the engine fuel
pumps, thrust deterioration or engine flameout is also a critical factor.

• Avoid Multiple start attempts

attempts which would deplete the battery and
and would reduce standby
standby power 
capacity: battery endurance would be definitely affected

• Avoid LNAV & VNAV selection before complete FMC pages check!

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