Autoflight V-Prep Flashcards
How does the FMGS compute the aircrafts position?
Through the Air Data and Inertial Reference system (ADIRS) (both horizontally and vertically) and
Radio navaids
How does the FMGS know where the aircraft wants to go and how its going to get there?
By utilizing the Flight Management and Guidance Computer (FMGC)
How is the FMGC programmed?
Though the Multipurpose Control and Display Unit (MCDU)
What does the FMGC command to guide the aircraft?
The Autopilot and Flight Director
Under normal conditions, Which FMGC is controlling AP1 and FD1?
FMGC 1
Under normal conditions, Which FMGC is controlling AP2 and FD2?
FMGC2
Which system controls the speed and thrust required by the FMGC (or selected on the FCU by the pilots)?
The Auto Thrust System (A/THR)
In all cases the automatic flight controls can be disengaged and the aircraft can be manually flown using the sidestick and manual thrust. True/False?
True
When is A/THR automatically engaged on take-off?
When the thrust levers are set to the FLX/MCT gate or TOGA
What position are the thrust levers set for climb, cruise and descent?
CLB gate
Is auto thrust active when flying on one engine with the thrust lever in the MCT gate?
Yes
When auto thrust is active do the thrust levers move with thrust changes?
No
What does setting idle thrust above 50ft RA do to auto thrust?
Disconnects it
What can happen if thrust levers are not in the correct position?
Speed or thrust requirements may not be met
What does selecting reverse thrust do to the auto thrust?
Disconnects it
What is the procedure for disconnecting auto thrust manually?
- Move thrust levers out of CLB gate
- Align thrust with blue doughnut (TLA)
- Press instinctive disconnect
Which window is always displayed (not dashed lines) on the FCU?
The altitude window
After what time will the FCU selection remain in Managed if the pilot does not pull the:
a) HDG knob?
b) SPD knob?
a) 45sec
b) 10sec
What must be chencged prior to selecting V/S?
Altitude
When, after take-off, can the autopilot be engaged?
5 sec or 100ft
When, prior to landing, must the autopilot be disengaged?
DH, or
Rollout on an autoland
Only when can both autopilots be engaged?
When on an ILS approach
How is the AP normally disengaged?
Red pb switch on sidestick
If the pilot does not wish to follow the FD commands, why should both FD’s be switched off?
To allow the A/THR to command the aircraft in speed mode and not take orders from the FMGC
What controls the information on the ND?
- EFIS control panel
- TERRAIN pb
- Weather radar
- Transponder
How many ADIRU’s are there?
3
ADIRU’s supply information to….?
- FMGC’s
- PFD’s
- ND’s
- Flight Control Computers
- Pressurisation system
a) ADIRU 1 normally supplies information to….?
b) ADIRU 2 normally supplies information to…..?
c) ADIRU 3 ?
a) Captains instruments
b) FO’s instruments
c) Standby system. Backup for Captains or FO’s instruments in the event of a failure
The ADIRU’s have two separate components. What are they?
The Air Data Reference Unit (ADR)
The Inertial Referece System (IRS)
Can the ADR and the IRS work independently of the other in case of a failure?
Yes
(eg. ADR1 Fault, IR 1 still operational
What information do the ADR’s supply to the displays?
Altitude
Airspeed
Angle of attack
Temperature
Each ADR system has its own set of heated probes on the forward section of the fuselage. How many:
a) static?
b) pitot?
c) angle of attack?
d) TAT?
a) 6 static
b) 3 pitot
c) 3 angle of attack
d) Only 2 TAT. Captains TAT supplies ADR 1 and 3
Angle of attack probes feed information directly into the ADR’s. T/F?
True
Where does the analogue information from Static, pitot and TAT probes go to be converted to digital information?
To the 8 Air Data Modules (ADM’s),
and then to the ADR’s for processing.
What information do the IRS supply?
Acceleration Attitude Vertical acceleration Direction (FPV, Track, Hdg and rotational rates around all 3 axis) Ground speed Position
What type of gyroscope does each IRS have?
A laser ring gyroscope which has no moving parts.
Do the IRS receive information from GPS receivers?
Yes
On the ADIRU panel are the Tracks/Wind/HDG with reference to magnetic north or true north?
True North
a) When will the ON BATT light illuminate on the ADIRU panel?
b) What also accompanies the ON BATT light when on the ground?
a) Briefly at the beginning of alignment, and
When any IRS is supplied from the aircraft battery only
b) An external horn and the ADIRU & AVNCS light illuminate on the external power panel.
What does IR FAULT light on the overhead panel indicate?
The IRS is lost
What does a flashing IR FAULT light indicate?
Attitude and heading information may be recovered in the ATT mode
When will the IRS ALIGN light illumitate?
While the IRS is in alignment
When will the IRS ALIGN light go out?
When alignment is complete
When will the ALIGN light on the overhead panel flash?
If no airfield position is inserted in the MCDU after 10mins, or
If there is a fault detected in the IRS, or if the airfield position entered and the shutdown position remembered by the IRS is greater than 1deg of latitude or longuitude.
How long does full alignment take?
10 minutes
What does the ATT position do?
supplies attitude and heading information if the system loses its ability to navigate
When will the ADR FAULT light illluminate?
If a fault is detected in any part of the ADR
How often does heading information need to be entered into the ADIRU (or MCDU if this function is available) when operating in the ATT mode
Every 10 mins
How can the pilot access ADIRU 3 information should ADR or IRS fail?
By using the Switching Panel
