Cruise Descent

Cruise descents can be started in the cruise phase when the airplane is more than 50 miles from the T/D point.

A cruise descent can be started by selecting a lower altitude on the MCP, entering the new altitude in the CRZ ALT line and executing. A VNAV cruise descent is commanded at the current cruise speed and approximately 1250 feet per minute rate of descent.

The autothrottles adjust thrust to maintain the target descent rate; pitch maintains the commanded speed. Thrust levers can be manually positioned to adjust the descent rate.

1 During Cruise Descent

VNAV page title shows cruise phase in a descent to a new cruise altitude.

2 End of Cruise Descent

VNAV page title shows cruise phase after level off at new cruise altitude.

Standard | 11.42.35 | Early Descent>