Automatic Flight AUTO Flashcards
What are the FMGCs and how many?
Flight Management Guidance Computers
2
System configuration of the FMGCs
FMGC1: autopilot 1
Captains flight director
Autothrust
FMGC2: autopilot 2
FOs flight director
Autothrust
Autopilot off: FMCG is master, 2 is backup
Autopilot 1: FMGC1 is master, 2 is backup
Autopilot 2: FMGC2 is master, 2 is backup
What’s the function of the FMA(Flight Mode Annunciator)
It’s the primary tool used to monitor the status and performance of the autoflight systems
Colors of the FMA
Green: engaged mode
Blue: armed mode
Magenta: altitude constraints(if vertical path includes a level segment)
White: approach capabilities, certain autothrust modes, autoflight system status
Amber: thrust and/or flight control system caution messages
Red: significant flight control system degradation
How do you engage or disengage the autopilot
To engage: Select either AP1 or AP2 push buttons on the FCU(Flight Control Unit)
To disengage:
- Autopilot disconnect pb on either side stick(preferred)
- Pressing illuminated AP1 or AP2 pb on FCU
- Displacing either sidestick or displacing the rudder pedals
How do you engage and disengage the autothrust?
Engage: normally it’s armed for takeoff when the thrust levers are in either TOGA or FLX positions
If not already engaged, by selecting the A/THR pb on the FCU and then placing thrust levers into the CLB detention
Disengage: the Instinctive Disconnect pb on the thrust levers which will result in thrust surging to current thrust lever position
Moving thrust to idle
Pressing illuminated A/THR pb on FCU
The two operating modes of the autothrust system?
1. Thrust mode - constant thrust
Output is maintained and
Airspeed controlled by
Pitch
Used for most climbs and descents
When no rate is required
- Speed mode - thrust varies to maintain
Target speed
Used mostly during level flight, or
During climbs/descents with a specific
Rate requirement
What are the FMA column 1 indications of thrust and speed modes?
1. Thrust - MAN TOGA
MAN FLX
THR CLB
MCT
2. Speed - SPEED
MACH(at the higher altitudes)What are the Autothrust systems Alpha Floor feature?
The SPEED Mode, Annunciator as SPEED or MACH on the FMA
What is the Autothrust’s Systems ALPHA FLoor feature?
- Automatically commands TOGA when a predetermined angle of attack is exceeded
- Available from liftoff down to 100 ft. RA
- Functions regardless of thrust lever position or autothrust status.
If off, autothrust will self activate
AC must be in normal law with a
Functional autothrust system
Working - Once condition is resolved, thrust remains at TOGA (TOGA LK) until Pilot intervention
What is MANAGED guidance of the Autoflight system?
- Allows autoflight system to follow FMA
(It will follow lateral and vertical and target speeds defined by the FMCGs entered flight plan or pilot constraints) - MANAGED guidance is engaged or armed momentarily by pushing the respective knob on the FCU.
(Using the V/S / FPA knob will not activate MANAGED mode. It will immediately level the aircraft V/S 0
When does SRS become active?
- At takeoff with thrust levers in FLX or TOGA
2 during go-around when thrust in TOGA AND flaps 1 or greater
What does a white box represent on the FMA?
It appears around an indication she something has changed
It only appears for a brief time
What is the order of the FMA?
Pic
- Column 1 - autothrust
- Column 2 - auto flight vertical mode
- Column 3 - autoflight lateral mode
- Column 4 - approach capabilities and minimums
- Column 5 - autoflight status
What are the various autopilot related indications displayed on the TOP line of column 5 of the FMA?
(Pic)
- With AP disengaged it will be blank
- AP1 - AP 1 engaged
- AP2 - AP 2 engaged
- AP1+2 - both APs engaged
How do you engage and disengage the flight directors?
Pic
- The FD System is automatically engaged (powered) when electrical power is established
- A respective FD pb, located on each EFIS Control Panel, can be used to manually engage or disengage its respective FD. A green light in the pb indicates the FD is engaged
What are the various FD related indications displays on the SRCOND line of Column 5 on the FMA?
(Pic)
- Blank - both FDs off
- 1FD2 - bothe FDs on
- 1FD - captains on, FOs off
- FD2 - FOs on, Captain’s off
- 2FD2 - FMGC 1 failed
- 1FD1 - FMCG 2 failed
What are the 3 status configurations of the Autothrust System?
(Pic)
- OFF:
A. Thrust controlled by manual positioning of thrust levers
B. FMA Column 1 and the bottom row of Column 5 are blank - ARMED:
A. On the ground:
1. With FDs ON and thrust levers are
Placed in either the FLX or TOGA
Position, eng thrust is fixed to the
Corresponding power selection.
2. MAN FLX or MAN TOGA appears
In Column 1 and A/THR (blue) in
Column 5 of the FMA.
B. In flight:
1. When thrust levers in TOGA, eng.
Thrust is fixed at TOGA power
A. If in Flaps 1 or greater, this will also
Activate the FMSs go around
Phase and Speed Ref. System SRS
Guidance is displayed. - ACTIVE:
A. When thrust levers in active range:
1. Active range for 2 eng. Ops is any
Position between CLB detention and
Just above idle stop
2. During single eng ops, active range
Increases to include the MCT detention
B. AT sys can auto change from one thrust
Mode to another in order to meet
Aircraft performance requirements
C. FMA Column 1 will Display the
Appropriate AT Mode and Column 5
Displays A/THR(white)
How does the pilots made aware of the AT Mode?
Pic
They must ALWAYS reference the FMA because the levers do not and cannot automatically move regardless of status
What are the indications associated with the Alpha Floor?
Pic
- A. FLOOR (green) surrounded by an amber box in Column 1 of the FMA
- A. FLOOR (Amber) above the N1 displays on the E/WD
- Engine thrust automatically accelerated to TOGA
Once the condition which caused Alpha Floor no longer exists
- TOGA lock engages
- TOGA LK (green) replaces the A. Floor indications on FMA
Explain VLS
Pic
- Defined as the “Lower Selectable Speed”
- An airspeed calculated by the FACs based on aircraft gross weight and configuration
- Intended to advise the pilot of the lowest speed that should be selected in the current configuration
Can a pilot select a speed lower than the VLS?
Pic
Yes, but I believe it will be ignored based off of a future question
Where is the VLS displayed?
Pic
On the airspeed indicator in the form of an Amber hook(a bar on the speed tape)
It is displayed regardless of flight control law or the status of autothrust
What is the relationship between VLS and AT System?
Pic
- When AT active and plane in Normal Law, thrust will auto increase to prevent airspeed from decreasing below VLS
- Pilot selected airspeed, if lower than VLS, will be ignored
- Unlike Alpha Floor Protection, AT will not self activate, if OFF, to provide lowest safe speed protection
What is SELECTED guidance of the Autoflight system?
Pic
- Pulling SPD/MACH knob selects specific target airspeed
- Pulling HDG/TRK knob selects a specific heading
- Pulling the altitude knob engages an open climb or open descent
- Pulling the V/S /FPA knob selects a specific vertical speed or flight path angle climb or descent
What takes priority - SELECTED guidance or MANAGED guidance?
Pic
SELECTED always does
