Autoflight

Question 1

What is the FMGS and what does it do?

Answer 1

1. Flight Management Guidance System

A) Guidance. Controls autopilot, autothrust and FDs

B) Management. Provides information on flight [think about pages of MCDU] (e.g flight plan, fuel predict, nav guidance etc)

Question 2

What are the components of the FMGS?

Answer 2

1. 2 x MCDU
2. 2 x FMGC
3. 1 x FCU (on glareshield)
4. 2 x FAC
5. Flight controls

Question 3

FMGC1 and FMGC2 have two main functions. What are they?

Answer 3

1. Flight Management
   a) controls navigation
   b) auto tuning of nav aids
   c) flight planning
   d) perf
2. Flight Guidance
   a) Autopilot
   b) Flight Directors
   c) Auto thrust

Question 4

What are the 4 operational modes of the FMGC?

Answer 4

1. Dual mode
   a) Each FMGC separately perform their own computations and exchange data on a crosstalk bus
   b) data inserted into MCDU updates both FMGCs
2. Independent modei) where there’s a mismatch of data between the two FMGCs
   a) Each FMGC works independently (stop talking to each other) and control their own onside peripherals
   b) An entry on MCDU1 will only send info to its own FMGC1
   c) summary - no cross talking
3. Single mode
   a) when an FMGC fails
   b) remaining FMGC controls all peripherals
   c) live FMGC updates both MCDUs
4. Back-up Nav mode
   a) if both FMGCs fail
   b) pilots must manually activate this mode

Question 5

FMA. What’s the difference between ALT (blue) and ALT (magenta) during a climb

Answer 5

1. ALT (blue) if targeting FCU selected altitude
2. ALT (magenta) if it is targeting a level off constraint

Question 6

Can you be in a managed vertical mode if not already in a managed lateral mode?

Answer 6

No

Question 7

Does OP CLMB or OP DES take into account constraints?

Answer 7

No (they are not taken into account in selected Modes)

Question 8

What does the EXP pb do on the FCU?

Answer 8

Will climb at Green dot (ie best L/D). Will descend at 340kts

Question 9

How does the FMGC calculate where it is?

Answer 9

1. Gathers data from
   a) IRS1
   b) IRS2
   c) IRS3 (known as the “Mix IRS”)

[GPIRS data - hybrid of IRS and GPS data]

d) GPIRS1
e) GPIRS2
f) GPIRS3

(The best GPIRS is picked and is used to refine the Mix IRS position)

All going well- “GPS PRIMARY” will be shown in MCDU (PROG page). Means all usual navigation performance requirements are met

Additional position determination via:

1. DME/DME
2. VOR/DME
3. Localiser signals

Question 10

NAV accuracy limits- in en route area, terminal area, approach area with GPS and approach area without GPS

Answer 10

En route = 2.0nm
Terminal area = 1.0nm
Approach area (without GPS) = 0.5nm
Approach area (with GPS) = 0.3nm

If outside of limits - PROG page will show accuracy as “LOW”

Question 11

IRS Alignment key facts:

Answer 11

1. IRS alignment must only be done on the ground
2. Takes around 10 mins to align (time remaining shown on E/WD)
3. Alignment is complete when pilot enters a company route or the origin-destination field in MCDU
4. Fast alignment (quickly switch IRS1-3 off and on). Used for stopovers. Takes 30 seconds

Question 12

PFD - 5 FMA columns. What are they from left to right?

Answer 12

1. Auto thrust mode
2. Vertical mode
3. Lateral mode
4. Approach capabilities
5. Autopilot / flight director / autothrust status

Question 13

Flight Directors key facts

Answer 13

Normal

1. FD1 on PFD1 is controlled by FMGC1
2. FD2 on PFD2 is controlled by FMGC2

Failure of an FD or FMGC

1. Remaining FD is supplied on both PFDs
2. FMA indication “1 FD 1” (ie FD2 not engaged)

Question 14

When are the flight directors removed from view?

Answer 14

1. Pitch (above 25 degrees nose up)
2. Pitch (below 13 degrees nose down)
3. Bank angle (over 45 degrees)

Question 15

Autopilot. Which computers receive signals from FCU / FMGC to move control surfaces?

Answer 15

1. They are sent to the various control surface computers as follows:a) 2 x FAC (for rudder and yaw damper)
   b) 2 x ELAC (for elevator and aileron)
   c) 3 x SEC (for spoiler and standby elevator)
   d) 1 x Brake and Steering Control Unit (BCSU) - for control of nosewheel on the ground

Question 16

Autopilot AP1 and AP2 facts

Answer 16

Normal

1. AP1 Only selected (run by FMGC1)
2. AP2 only selected (run by FMGC2)
3. AP1 and AP2 selected (FMGC1 is master and FMGC2 in standby)

Question 17

What happens when press red button on control stick - turn autopilot off

Answer 17

1. Master Warning light (3 seconds)
2. Cavalry charge sound
3. ECAM message

(If press AP red pb again - it switches off the aural sounds / messages)

Question 18

Methods of turning off AP?

Answer 18

1. pb on side stick
2. pbs on FCU
3. Moving the THS wheels
4. Pressing rudder pedals

Question 19

Abnormal ways AP disconnected?

Answer 19

1. Over speed
2. Excess AOA
3. Bank angle above 45 degrees

Question 20

A/THR key points

Answer 20

1. Active after take off when select CLB on thrust lever (prior to it is white and armed when select FLEX or TOGA)
2. Armed is blue / active is white on FMA (column 5)
3. Process - FMGC calculates thrust required - sends info to FADEC - FADEC controls FF for desired thrust
4. The thrust lever simply acts as an upper thrust limit

Question 21

What are the 3 Auto Thrust modes?

Answer 21

1. THRUST Mode (sets engine thrust to a specific thrust level)
2. SPEED / MACH MODE
3. RETARD Mode (available only during autoland. 40ft - idle set automatically. 10ft - retard callout reminded pilot to set idle thrust)

Question 22

What is thrust lock?

Answer 22

1. If error with A/THR - ECAM “THR LK” appears
2. Thrust is locked at its current setting and will not change
3. Exit lock by taking manual control of thrust levers by moving out of the CLB detent

Question 23

What’s the difference between FAIL OPERATIONAL and FAIL PASSIVE?

Answer 23

TBC

Question 24

In a climb (managed mode) how is an upcoming constraint at FL200 shown on the FMA? What happens when FL200 is reached?

Answer 24

1. ALT (Magenta)
2. FL200 (Magenta) on altitude tape

When reached:

1. Auto thrust changes to SPEED
2. “ALT CSTR *”
3. “ALR CSTR”

Question 25

What happens if begin DES before T/D

Answer 25

1. Aircraft starts immediate descent
2. Constant vertical speed of 1,000 fpm until it intercepts the computed descent profile

Question 26

What happens if begin DES after T/D

Answer 26

1. “DECELERATE” message on PFD and MCDU
2. DES mode on FMA
3. Immediate descent at Idle Thrust
4. Speed brakes may be needed to regain profile
5. Speed can fluctuate by plus/minus 20kts

Question 27

Does Open DES or Open CLB take into account constraints?

Answer 27

No

Question 28

What is Soft Altitude?

Answer 28

1. Engages mins after cruise altitude reached
2. Allow aircraft to deviate plus or minus 50 feet to maintain cruise Mach (essentially avoids increasing / decreasing thrust which is uncomfortable and saves fuel)

Question 29

What does “EXPED” do?

Answer 29

1. Climb at Green dot speed
2. Descend at 340kts / Mach 0.80

[It is cancelled by pressing Alt knob to engage managed mode (preferred method]

It cannot be cancelled by pressing EXPED a second time

Question 30

Vertical Reversions

Answer 30

A) REVERSION FROM VERTICAL SPEED TO OPEN DESCENT

1. V/S mode normally targets a managed or selected speed
2. V/S mode has priority over the speed mode
3. If V/S causes speed to be excessive - will REVERT to OP DES or near VMA

Question 31

SRS (Speed Reference System) mode key facts:

Answer 31

1. SRS controls pitch after lift off to maintain:
   a) V2 plus 10 (both engine operating)
   b) V2 or current speed (if higher than V2) (engine failure)
2. SRS engages automatically when thrust levers as set to take off position
3. SRS disengages when another vertical mode engages or when reach acceleration altitude

Question 32

ILS miscellaneous

Answer 32

The glideslope cannot be captured before the localiser

Question 33

What is ground speed mini?

Answer 33

1. Takes advantage of aircraft inertia to ensure the aircraft is flown at a safe margin above the stall, in variable or gusty windy conditions
2. When in managed speed, the IAS target speed varies and is displayed in magenta on the PFD scale
3. In summary, any extra wind encountered on the approach is utilised to provide a safe buffer against windshear, while maintaining the same ground speed as that expected at touchdown
4. Ground Speed Mini ensures that thrust levels and speed are maintained at safe levels

Question 34

Go around key points:

Answer 34

1. Thrust levers TOGA
2. SRS mode and Go-Around Track mode activated
3. FMA “SRS” and “GA TRK” in green
4. Go around track disengage when pilot selects another lateral mode above 100 ft

Question 35

What do white and amber messages mean in the MCDU?

Answer 35

White - advisory message (no crew action needed)

Amber cautions (credit action needed)

Question 36

How do you level off in flight?

Answer 36

Push V/S turn knob

Question 37

What do the colours mean when programming the Box?

Answer 37

1. Blue = modifiable
2. Green = cannot modify
3. Amber = mandatory information
4. Magenta = managed (e.g constraints)
5. Yellow = temporary (e.g. flight plan)
6. [missed approach shown in blue]

Question 38

What does “2 FD 2” mean on the FMA?

Answer 38

FD 1 is not in use - both sides now using FD2

Question 39

How can you tell if FLS active on PFD?

Answer 39

Double diamond

Question 40

When can we select Nav after take off?

Answer 40

When we have GPS Primary