Free A320 MCDU Trainer

How to use this MCDU trainer

Scratchpad: Type characters using the on-screen alphanumeric keys or your physical keyboard. Text appears in the scratchpad at the bottom of the MCDU display — just like the real Airbus A320.

Line Select Keys (LSKs): Press an LSK button to transfer scratchpad content into the corresponding field. Left LSKs (1L–6L) interact with left-side fields, right LSKs (1R–6R) with right-side fields.

Page keys: Use the dedicated page buttons to navigate between MCDU pages — INIT, F-PLN, PERF, RAD NAV, and more.

Example: Type EGLL/LFPG then press 1R to enter your route on the INIT page.

What is the MCDU?

The MCDU (Multipurpose Control and Display Unit) is the primary interface for programming the Airbus A320's Flight Management System (FMS). Pilots use it to enter routes, set performance parameters, configure approaches, and manage the aircraft's navigation throughout every phase of flight.

Learning MCDU programming is one of the biggest challenges for new Airbus pilots in flight simulators like MSFS 2024 and X-Plane. This trainer lets you practise the key workflows — INIT page setup, flight plan entry, and performance configuration — without needing to load the full simulator.

Guided scenarios

Each scenario walks you through a real-world route step by step. Start with beginner scenarios covering the INIT page basics, then progress to full flight plan programming with SIDs, airways, STARs, and performance setup. Available in English, Russian, German, French, and Spanish.

• INIT Page Basics· beginner · 2 min
• London Heathrow to Paris CDG· beginner · 5 min
• Route Correction· intermediate · 3 min
• Diversion to Alternate· intermediate · 4 min
• Performance Data Entry· intermediate · 3 min
• Radio Navigation Setup· intermediate · 3 min
• Step Climb Mid-Cruise· advanced · 5 min
• Cost Index — What Does It Do?· beginner · 3 min
• MCDU Pages Tour· beginner · 3 min
• FLEX Temp — Reduced Thrust Takeoff· beginner · 3 min
• AIRWAYS Entry & the "NOT IN DATABASE" Fix· intermediate · 5 min
• Closing an F-PLN Discontinuity· beginner · 4 min
• Speed & Altitude Constraints (VERT REV)· intermediate · 4 min
• Entering a Holding Pattern (HOLD)· intermediate · 4 min

Browse all A320 MCDU scenarios →

Want to go deeper?

This trainer covers the fundamentals of MCDU programming. Take your skills further with our related guides:

• Boeing 737 CDU trainer — the same scenario format on the PMDG 737's CDU
• iniBuilds A320 V2 complete flight tutorial — cold and dark through landing in the default MSFS 2024 airliner
• Fenix A320 cold and dark startup — full startup checklist for the Fenix add-on
• FMC programming guide — how to programme the Boeing FMC from scratch
• SimBrief to cockpit workflow — generate a flight plan and load it into the MCDU/FMC
• MSFS 2024 autopilot guide — every autopilot mode explained for GA and airliners
• How to fly an ILS approach — from setup to touchdown in the PMDG 737 and Fenix A320

If you learn better with a human instructor watching your screen, our flight sim tutors can walk you through MCDU programming, departure procedures, and approach setup in a live one-on-one session.

New to MSFS 2024?

If you came here while learning the Airbus and you're still finding your way around MSFS 2024 in general, start here:

• MSFS 2024 career mode guide — licences, the early-game money trap, and how the progression actually works
• Best aircraft to buy in career mode — tier list ranked by profitability, when to upgrade to a jet
• EFB tutorial — flight planning, charts, and weather in the in-sim Electronic Flight Bag
• Graphics settings guide — every setting explained, smooth FPS without losing eye candy