Automatic Flight

Question 1

Serge Ostrowsky

How many autopilots are installed on the 787 ?

Answer 1

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > AFDS

3

The Autopilot Flight Director System (AFDS) consists of 3 autoflight computing systems and the MCP.

Question 2

Serge Ostrowsky

What does LAND 2 indicate ?

Answer 2

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > AFDS > AFDS Status Annunciation

Fail passive mode :

Automatic landing is possible. The level of redundancy is such that a single fault cannot cause a significant deviation from the flight path.

Question 3

Serge Ostrowsky

After LOC and G/S capture, how can the Approach mode be deselected below 1500 ft ?

Answer 3

FCOM > 4-10 Controls and Indicators > MCP > Autopilot Flight Director Approach Mode Controls

• By selecting TO/GA (TOGA switch) or,
• AP and both F/Ds OFF.

Note 1 : Above 1500 ft, pushing the APP button is enough.

Note 2 : below 1500 ft, if only LOC is captured, pushing HDG/TRK SEL or HDG/TRK HOLD is enough.

Question 4

Serge Ostrowsky

Which mode indicates the autothrottle servos are inhibited ?

Answer 4

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > AFDS > AFDS Flight Mode Annunciations > Autothrottle Modes

HOLD (displayed on the FMA)

The thrust lever autothrottle servos being inhibited, the pilot can set thrust levers manually.

Question 5

Serge Ostrowsky

What does a line through a ROLL or PITCH mode indicate ?

Answer 5

FCOM > 4-10 Controls and Indicators > PFD and HUD Flight Mode Annunciations (FMAs)

A fault is detected, the mode is degraded.

Note : The line is amber on the PFD and green on the HUD.

Question 6

Serge Ostrowsky

After takeoff, with LNAV armed, when will LNAV become active ?

Answer 6

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > Automatic Flight Operations

50 ft RA

Question 7

Serge Ostrowsky

During a Go-around, with an LNAV path available, when will LNAV become active ?

Answer 7

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > Automatic Flight Operations > Automatic Flight Go-around

With the first push of either TO/GA switch, LNAV automatically arms and activates :

• above 50 feet RA with AP OFF, or
• above 200 feet RA with AP ON

Question 8

Serge Ostrowsky

During approach, with flaps out of up or glideslope/glidepath captured, a SINGLE push of either TO/GA switch will command what level of thrust ?

Answer 8

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > Automatic Flight Operations > Automatic Flight - Go–Around

Autothrottle activates in THR mode to establish a minimum climb rate of 2000 ft/min.

Note : With the second push of either TO/GA switch, autothrottle activates in thrust reference (THR REF) at full go–around thrust.

Question 9

Serge Ostrowsky

During a go around, a SECOND push of either TO/GA switch will command what level of thrust ?

Answer 9

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > Automatic Flight Operations > Automatic Flight - Go–Around

Autothrottle activates in THR REF mode at full go-around thrust.

Question 10

Serge Ostrowsky

What is the maximum bank angle allowed under Autopilot ?

Answer 10

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > Flight Envelope Protection

30 °

Question 11

Serge Ostrowsky

After takeoff, with VNAV armed, when does it activate ?

Answer 11

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > Automatic Flight Operations

400 ft RA

Question 12

Serge Ostrowsky

During a Go-around, when does VNAV activate ?

Answer 12

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > Automatic Flight Operations

It does not activate automatically (not armed).

The pilot needs to push VNAV (or FLCH).

Question 13

Serge Ostrowsky

When a higher MCP altitude is set (climb), what thrust will A/T provide when the FLCH switch is pushed ?

Answer 13

FCOM > 4-10 Controls and Indicators > MCP > Autopilot Flight Director Roll and Pitch Controls

• AFDS pitch holds MCP selected speed
• For climbs between 1,000 feet and 12,000 feet of altitude change, the A/T advances the thrust levers to as high as the current thrust limit to provide an approximately 2 minute climb
• Reference thrust limit changes to CLB (or to CON with an engine inoperative)

Question 14

Serge Ostrowsky

When a lower MCP altitude is set (descent), what thrust will A/T provide when the FLCH switch is pushed ?

Answer 14

FCOM > 4-10 Controls and Indicators > MCP > Autopilot Flight Director Roll and Pitch Controls

• AFDS pitch holds MCP selected speed
• For descents between 2,000 feet and 16,000 feet of altitude change, the A/T retards the thrust levers to as low as idle to provide an approximately 2 minute descent. Smaller altitude changes will take less than 2 minutes
• Reference thrust limit changes to CLB (or to CON with an engine inoperative)

Question 15

Serge Ostrowsky

When is TO/GA armed for Go-around ?

Answer 15

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > Automatic Flight Operations > Automatic Flight - Go–Around

• When flaps are not UP or,
• When G/S - G/P is captured.

Note 1 : The thrust limit changes to GA when flaps are not UP, flaps are extended to landing position, or glideslope/glidepath is captured.

Note 2 : The reference thrust limit is locked in GA when flaps are in landing position or glideslope/glidepath is captured.

Question 16

Serge Ostrowsky

What does LAND 3 indicate ?

Answer 16

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > AFDS > AFDS Status Annunciation

Fail Operational mode :

Automatic landing is possible. Auto pilot system level of redundancy is such that a single fault cannot prevent the autopilot system from making an automatic landing.

Question 17

Serge Ostrowsky

Can the Autopilot be engaged if both flight director (F/D) switches are OFF ?

Answer 17

FCOM > 4-10 Controls and Indicators > MCP > Autopilot Flight Director System Controls

YES

The autopilot will engage in :

• HDG/TRK HOLD as the roll mode, or if bank angle is > 5º, attitude hold (ATT).
• V/S or FPA as the pitch mode.

Question 18

Serge Ostrowsky

How can one exit TO/GA mode ?

Answer 18

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > Automatic Flight Operations > Automatic Flight - Go–Around

TO/GA mode termination :

• Below 400 feet RA :
  
  • disengage AP and turn off both F/Ds, or
  • automatic LNAV activation (after automatic LNAV activation, a different roll mode can be selected)
• Above 400 feet RA : select a different roll or pitch mode

Question 19

Serge Ostrowsky

With the flight director switches off, will pushing either TO/GA switch display the flight director bars ?

Answer 19

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > Automatic Flight Operations > Automatic Flight - Go–Around

YES

When the flight director switches are off, pushing either TO/GA switch displays the flight director bars.

Question 20

Serge Ostrowsky

When pushing the Heading/Track Hold (HOLD) switch, while in a turn, will the airplane roll back to the heading/track at which the switch was pushed ?

Answer 20

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > AFDS > AFDS Flight mode Annunciations > Roll modes

NO

When turning, the AFDS holds the heading/track reached after rolling wings level.

Question 21

Serge Ostrowsky

When engaging A/P, when would the ATT roll mode be annunciated ?

Answer 21

FCOM > 4-20 System Description > AFDS > AFDS Flight mode Annunciations > Roll modes

If the aircraft was in a bank between 5° and 30°, the A/P will then maintain that bank angle.

• If bank angle was < 5°, the A/P will roll wings level,
• If bank angle was > 30°, the A/P will return to 30°.