Auto Flight System

Question 1

What is the minimum altitude for autopilot engagement and usage?

Answer 1

The autopilot must not be engaged below a minimum engage altitude of 200 feet AGL after takeoff.

Without LAND 2 or LAND 3 annunciated, the autopilot must be disengaged below 200 feet AGL.

Question 2

What does the autopilot disengage bar do besides disengage the autopilot?

Answer 2

Disables bank angle protection.

Question 3

When is the CLB CON switch used?

When is it inhibited?

Answer 3

On the ground and below 400 feet during takeoff, the switch is inoperative.

With two engines operating, changes the engine thrust limit to the FMC selected climb thrust.

With one engine operating, changes the thrust limit to maximum continuous (CON).

Question 4

Once in app mode and below 1500’ with LAND 3 or LAND 2 annunciated, can you de-select app by pushing the switch again?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

What do you have to do to get out of the app mode when below 1500’?

Answer 5

Disconnect the autopilot, turn off both FDs. Then you may re-select whatever you want (AP or FD and the modes you want) or push TOGA button.

Question 6

Who is PF and PM on a CATII or CATIII approach?

Answer 6

Captain is always PF and F/O is always PM.

Question 7

When does the TAC spring into action?

Answer 7

When N1 values vary by 10% or more.

Question 8

When normal brakes are lost do you still have autobrakes?

Answer 8

No

Question 9

Autothrottle Modes
• THR 
• THR REF 
• IDLE
• HOLD
• SPD

Answer 9

THR – autothrottle applies thrust to maintain the climb/descent rate required by the pitch mode

THR REF – thrust set to the reference thrust limit displayed on EICAS

IDLE – displays while the autothrottle moves thrust levers to idle; IDLE mode is followed by HOLD mode

HOLD – thrust lever autothrottle servos are inhibited. The pilot can set thrust levers manually

• SPD – autothrottle maintains command speed. Speed can be set using the MCP IAS/MACH selector or by the FMC, as displayed on the CDU CLIMB, CRUISE, or DESCENT page

In SPD mode, the autothrottle will not exceed the operating speed limits for the airplane configuration or the referenced thrust limits displayed on the EICAS.

Question 10

Roll Modes

• LNAV
• HDG SEL
• HDG HOLD
• TRK SEL
• TRK HOLD
• TO/GA
• ROLLOUT

Answer 10

• LNAV (active) – LNAV activates when above 50 feet and in position to turn onto the active route leg. In flight, selection causes immediate activation if within 2 1/2 nm of the active leg

• HDG SEL (active) – airplane turns to or maintains the heading set in the
MCP heading/track window

• HDG HOLD (active) – AFDS holds present heading. When turning,
AFDS holds the heading reached after rolling wings level

• TRK SEL (active) – airplane turns to or maintains the track set in the
MCP heading/track window

• TRK HOLD (active) – AFDS holds present track. When turning, AFDS
holds the track reached after rolling wings level

TO/GA –
• In flight, TO/GA is armed when flaps are out of up or glideslope is
captured. There is no flight mode annunciation for TO/GA armed.
TO/GA is activated in flight by pushing a TO/GA switch. The roll
steering indication provides guidance to maintain the ground track
present at mode engagement

• ROLLOUT (active) – after touchdown, AFDS uses rudder and
nosewheel steering to steer the airplane on the localizer centerline

Question 11

On acceleration to climb speed when flaps are up, pitch commands an acceleration to VNAV climb speed. VNAV climb speed is the greater of:

Answer 11

• VREF + 80 knots, or

* Speed transition associated with origin airport

Question 12

Pitch Modes

VNAV SPD
VNAV PTH
VNAV ALT
V/S
FPA
FLCH SPD
ALT
G/S
FLARE

Answer 12

VNAV SPD - AFDS maintains the FMC speed displayed on the
PFD, and/or the CDU CLIMB or DESCENT pages. If speed intervention is selected, the MCP IAS/MACH selector is used to manually select the speed

VNAV PTH (active) – AFDS maintains FMC altitude or descent path with pitch commands. If the MCP altitude window remains set to the current cruise altitude and the airplane is within two minutes of the top of descent, the CDU scratchpad message RESET MCP ALT displays

VNAV ALT (active) – when a conflict occurs between the VNAV profile and the MCP altitude, the airplane levels and the pitch flight mode annunciation becomes VNAV ALT. The airplane maintains altitude. To continue the climb or descent, change the MCP altitude and push the altitude selector or change the pitch mode

V/S (active) – pushing the MCP VS/FPA switch opens the vertical speed window to display the current vertical speed. Pitch commands maintain the rate of climb or descent set in the VS/FPA window.

FPA (active) – pushing the MCP VS/FPA switch opens the flight path angle
window to display the current flight path angle. Pitch commands maintain the
flight path angle set in the VS/FPA window.

FLCH SPD (active) – pushing the MCP FLCH switch opens IAS/MACH window (if blanked). Pitch commands maintain IAS/MACH window airspeed or Mach.

ALT (active) – altitude hold mode is activated by:
• pushing the MCP altitude HOLD switch, or
• capturing the selected altitude from a V/S, FPA, or FLCH climb or descent

G/S (active) – AFDS follows the ILS glideslope.

FLARE (active) – during autoland, flare activates between 60 and 40 feet RA.
FLARE deactivates at touchdown and smoothly lowers the nosewheel to the
runway