Automatic Flight Flashcards
What do the three FCCs control?
Three separately hydraulically powered autopilot control servos to operate the flight controls
What flight controls does the autopilot control under normal conditions and during multiple autopilot approach?
Just the aileron and elevator under normal conditions and the rudder and nose wheel steering (during rollout) on multiple autopilot approach
Do the FCCs get separate electrical power sources during a multiple autopilot ILS approach?
Yes
What do the FCCs provide the AFDS inputs to for the ADI? (2)
Operating modes to display and also the flight director commands
How can the localiser and glideslope modes be deactivated after capture? (2)
- Disengage autopilot and turn both flight directors off
2. Select G/A mode
Two normal ways to disengage autopilot?
Either control wheel autopilot disengage switch or the MCP autopilot disengage bar
If an active AFDS mode fails what happens and is shown (4)
- autopilot remains engaged in an attitude stabilising mode
- amber line drawn through the mode annunciation
- Autopilot light illuminates
- EICAS caution message AUTOPILOT displays
When does F/D steering indication appear if the related F/D switch is off?
When the G/A switch is pushed, the airspeed is greater than 80kts, and the flaps are not retracted
What do the following ASA indications mean?
- LAND 3
- LAND 2
- NO LAND 3
- NO AUTOLAND
- LAND 3 - 3 autopilots engaged and operating normally for an autoland
- LAND 2 - AFDS redundancy reduced, in some cases only two autopilots available
- NO LAND 3 - indicates a fault condition exists which results in LAND 2 condition
- NO AUTOLAND - AFDS unable to make an automatic landing
Difference between fail operational and fail passive (LAND 3 vs LAND 2)
- LAND 3 means the level of redundancy is such that a single fault cannot prevent the autopilot system from making an autoland (fail operational)
- LAND 2 means the level of redundancy is such that a single fault cannot cause a significant deviation from the flight path (fail passive)
What happens to ASA below 200ft AGL and what does this mean?
The ASA cannot change to anything other than NO AUTOLAND. Faults not requiring crew action or awareness are annunciated after touchdown.
What thrust does autothrottle give during G/A? Also when both F/Ds and A/P are off?
2000ft per min ROC, or G/A reference thrust subject to flap and VMO limits
What distance within track does arming LNAV give immediate activation?
2.5nm
What heading does HDG HOLD hold?
Holds present heading or if in a turn it holds heading reached after rolling out.
Within how many degrees does the aFDS capture the LLZ?
120deg
When does G/A mode armed (2) and how can you tell it has armed?
Armed when flaps greater than up or at G/S capture. You can tell because thrust reference goes to G/A
What lateral guidance does the G/A mode give?
Maintain ground track and time of engagement
When does rollout arm and when is it active?
Armed below 1500ft AGL and activates below 5ft
When does rollout activate and what does it sue for lateral guidance?
Activates after touchdown and uses the LLZ for centreline control
How many degrees nose up does T/O mode give?
8 deg
After takeoff what does the T/O pitch bar provide? (3)
- Pitch command of greater than V2+15 or lift off speed +15
- If current airspeed remains above target speed for 5 seconds, target speed resents to current airspeed, to a maximum of V2+25
- IF IAS/MACH window speed is changed to a speed greater than target speed
Where does AFDS get V2 speed prior to takeoff for F/D T/O pitch bar?
IAS/MACH speed window
What speed is commanded on pitch bar once G/A initiated and when does it change?
- Commanded speed is either the MCP IAS/MACH window or current speed, whichever is higher
- If airspeed increases above target speed for greater than 5 seconds then it is reset to current speed up to IAS/MACH window +25kts
- If airspeed was already greater than IAS/MACH +25kts then that higher speed is maintained
When does VNAV ALT occur?
When there is a discrepancy between the NAV profile and the MCP altitude
When does VNAV SPD display?
When off VNAV path and gets its speed from either the ADI or CDU CLIMB or DESCENT pages. Also during speed intervention when MCP IAS/MACH manually sets the speed
When does RESET MPC ALTITUDE display?
When approaching TOD and MCP altitude set to current cruise altitude
When does FLARE arm, activate, and disengage?
Arms below 1500ft AGL during autoland, activates at 45ft radalt, deactivates at touchdown and the nose wheel smoothly lowers to the runway
Two systems in the automatic flight control system
- AFDS - Autopilot flight director system
2. A/T - Autothrottle
Is there sufficient gust protection from the autothrottles when at land flap and VREF+5?
Yes