Whats the best way to learn how to program Flight Management Systems? Is it best to use a training cd, read a guide on how to use it, or just learn on the job? Just curious, thanks!

If you get hired by a 121 operatior, you will have time in ground school and/or the sim sessions to learn the basics. You can pickup the more advance stuff while flying the line.

If you hired by a 135 oerator and they have internal training, you can typically learn "on the job" while at cruise. If you goto school (like FS or Simi, Pan Am, etc.), then you can pickup "how to" there.

It is really not that complex of a device if you can operator a computer. You just have to think in the lodgic that the engineers used to write the FMS software.

Just my 2 cents.

Advanced data entry.

atp

The turbine pilots flight manuel. They have a decent review of it. Doesn't seem to be too hard to use. I once flew on a DAL flight and the FA was a fellow CFI (we worked together @ the same school) and she got me up front before we boarded and the capt let me program the FMS. He took me through it step by step. We got all the pre push back checklist complete and set it up to go to BOS. I think it would just take some practice and some ground school to learn it. Also they let me call up the clearance and it felt soooo good to say "Delta 1984" as opposed to "warrior". I'll never forgot it one of the better aviation experiences I have had. The 757 is awesome