2016 PC Guide - Automation

Question 1

What are the levels of automation?

Answer 1

• FMC Level - FMC is controlling pitch and/or roll
• MCP Level - MCP is controlling pitch and/or roll
• Manual Flight - Pilot is controlling pitch and roll

Levels of automation may be interchanged, meaning it is possible to be in the FMC level of automation in roll, and MCP level in pitch. You must monitor automation to stay aware of the pitch and roll modes to avoid automation confusion.

Question 2

What is our core principal of managing the automation system?

Answer 2

• Verbalize - announce MCP mode changes and FMC inputs
• Verify - confirm these inputs and the appropriate mode annunciation.
• Monitor - Monitor mode annunciators, expected aircraft performance, and compliance with ATC clearances.
• Intervene - If the actual aircraft performance or automation mode intended/expected, resolve the difference and ensure compliance with ATC clearances.

Question 3

At the top of descent, what will the auto throttle do and what will the FMA indicate?

Answer 3

Auto throttle - reduce thrust to idle

FMA will initially display RETARD and then ARM

Question 4

As it pertains to auto throttle, operationally, what does ARM indicate?

Answer 4

ARM indicates that no auto throttle mode is engaged. The pilot can move the thrust levers without interference from the auto throttle. Minimum speed protection is provided.

Question 5

During the descent you notice the the airspeed is slower than the target speed. What can you do to maintain the planned target speed?

Answer 5

If the auto throttles are in the ARM mode, you can manually increase the thrust. When the airspeed returns to the planned target speed, manually reduce thrust to idle.

Question 6

During descent, if you are slow and If you take no action and the airspeed continues to decay, how will the auto throttle behave?

Answer 6

During idle path descent, if the airspeed decays to 15 its below target, the auto throttle will engage and increase airspeed to target minus 10. When this occurs the FMA will change from ARM to FMC SPEED.

Question 7

During an idle path descent you elect to use speed intervention. What do you expect the aircraft to do?

Answer 7

• The MCP speed window will open
• The AFDS will command pitch to follow MCP airspeed
• The auto throttle will command idle thrust
• The FMA will change from VNAV PATH to VNAV SPEED
• Path guidance will not be followed
• The aircraft will not descend below an FMC altitude constraint, but there is no guarantee that it will cross an “at” altitude constraint.

Question 8

Descending with 8000 in MCP Altitude window, what will occur if the Altitude intervention button is pushed?

Answer 8

The highest FMC altitude constraint above 8000 feet will be deleted. With each successive push of the button, the next highest altitude will be deleted until all altitudes above 8000 have been deleted. Altitudes at or below the MCP altitude will not be affected by pushing the altitude intervention button.