Every phase for the Boeing 747-400, as flown in a flight simulator — panel scans marked as flows, read-and-respond cards marked as checklists. Open the interactive version to tick lines off, fill in your speeds and keep your place between sessions.
-400 — Passenger, upper deck seating. Nose gear sits ~10 m behind the flight deck — turn late, keep the cockpit past the centreline.
-400ER — Higher weights and an optional body fuel tank; performance numbers change, procedures do not.
-400F — Freighter with a nose door and no upper deck cabin. CG shifts a long way with loading — check the trim setting twice.
Power Up Flow · from memory
BATTERYON
STANDBY POWERAUTO
EXT PWR 1–4 / APUON
EMERGENCY LIGHTSARMED
IRS L / C / RNAV
CDUPOS INIT · ROUTE · PERF INIT
PARKING BRAKESET
Preflight Scan Flow · from memory
OXYGENTESTED — 100%
WINDOW HEATON
PROBE HEATAUTO
HYDRAULICS 1–4DEMAND PUMPS AUTO
PACKS 1–3AUTO
BLEEDS 1–4ON
ISOLATION VALVESAUTO
PRESSURIZATIONLAND ALT SET
FUELMAIN & CENTER PUMPS AS REQUIRED
Feed from the centre wing tank first, then mains. The horizontal stabiliser tank transfers forward automatically.
FUEL CONTROL SWITCHES 1–4CUTOFF
SPEEDBRAKEDOWN DETENT
FLAPSUP
TAKEOFF DATAN1 · V-SPEEDS · STAB TRIM SET
Before Start Checklist · read & respond
NAVIGATIONSET
SIGNSON
IRSNAV
FUEL____ KG — SET
FMCSET
FLIGHT INSTRUMENTSSET & CROSSCHECKED
GROUND PROXIMITYCHECKED
DOORSCLOSED — ARMED
PARKING BRAKESET
BEACONON
MAIN DECK CARGO DOOR-400FCLOSED AND LOCKED
LOAD & RESTRAINT-400FSECURED — LOADSHEET CHECKED
A freighter's CG range is wider than the passenger version's and the load is not self-loading. Check the trim setting against the load sheet, not against habit.
Engine Start Flow · from memory
PUSHBACK / START CLEARANCEOBTAINED
ENGINE START SWITCH 4GRD
FUEL CONTROL SWITCH 4RUN AT 25% N2
Order varies by operator — 4-3-2-1 and 1-2-3-4 are both flown. Start one at a time on APU bleed and follow your add-on's checklist.
ENGINE 3START
ENGINE 2START
ENGINE 1START
APU BLEEDOFF
ENGINE PARAMETERS 1–4STABILISED
Before Taxi Checklist · read & respond
ANTI-ICEAS REQUIRED
HYDRAULIC PUMPSON
RECALLCHECKED
AUTOBRAKERTO
FLIGHT CONTROLSCHECKED
BODY GEAR STEERINGCHECKED
The body gear steers with the nose wheel below 20 kt — it is what keeps the mains on the pavement in a tight turn.
GROUND EQUIPMENTCLEAR
Before Takeoff Checklist · read & respond
FLAPS____ — GREEN LIGHT
STABILIZER TRIM____ UNITS
TAKEOFF BRIEFINGREVIEWED
CABINSECURE
Line-up items
TRANSPONDERTA/RA
STROBES & LANDING LIGHTSON
TAKEOFF CLEARANCERECEIVED
MAIN DECK FIRE SUPPRESSION-400FARMED
SUPERNUMERARIES-400FBRIEFED
After Takeoff Checklist · read & respond
LANDING GEARUP AND OFF
FLAPSUP — NO LIGHTS
PACKSAUTO
ALTIMETERSSET
Cruise / Fuel Check Flow · from memory
FUEL ON BOARDCHECKED vs FLIGHT PLAN
TANK-TO-ENGINE / CROSSFEEDAS REQUIRED
FUEL BALANCEWITHIN LIMITS
STEP CLIMBAS PLANNED
POSITIONCROSSCHECKED
DESCENT PREPARRIVAL · APPROACH · MINIMUMS IN CDU
Descent Checklist · read & respond
PRESSURIZATIONLAND ALT ____
RECALLCHECKED
AUTOBRAKE____ SET
LANDING DATAVREF ____ · MINIMUMS ____
APPROACH BRIEFINGCOMPLETED
Approach Checklist · read & respond
ALTIMETERS____ SET
SEAT BELTSON
Landing Checklist · read & respond
SPEEDBRAKEARMED — GREEN LIGHT
LANDING GEARDOWN — 5 GREEN
FLAPS____ — GREEN LIGHT
Eye height at touchdown is about 10 m. Flare on the runway's far end and the aiming point, not the ground rush.