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A320 Systems > Automatic Flight AUTO > Flashcards

Automatic Flight AUTO Flashcards

1
Q

What are the FMGCs and how many?

A

Flight Management Guidance Computers

2

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2
Q

System configuration of the FMGCs

A

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

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3
Q

What’s the function of the FMA(Flight Mode Annunciator)

A

It’s the primary tool used to monitor the status and performance of the autoflight systems

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4
Q

Colors of the FMA

A

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

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5
Q

How do you engage or disengage the autopilot

A

To engage: Select either AP1 or AP2 push buttons on the FCU(Flight Control Unit)

To disengage:

  1. Autopilot disconnect pb on either side stick(preferred)
  2. Pressing illuminated AP1 or AP2 pb on FCU
  3. Displacing either sidestick or displacing the rudder pedals
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6
Q

How do you engage and disengage the autothrust?

A

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

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7
Q

The two operating modes of the autothrust system?

A 
1. Thrust mode - constant thrust 
             Output is maintained and 
             Airspeed controlled by 
             Pitch
             Used for most climbs and descents
             When no rate is required
  1. Speed mode - thrust varies to maintain
    Target speed
    Used mostly during level flight, or
    During climbs/descents with a specific
    Rate requirement
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8
Q

What are the FMA column 1 indications of thrust and speed modes?

A 
1. Thrust - MAN TOGA
                   MAN FLX
                   THR CLB
                   MCT
2. Speed - SPEED
                   MACH(at the higher altitudes)
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9
Q

What are the Autothrust systems Alpha Floor feature?

A

The SPEED Mode, Annunciator as SPEED or MACH on the FMA

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10
Q

What is the Autothrust’s Systems ALPHA FLoor feature?

A
  1. Automatically commands TOGA when a predetermined angle of attack is exceeded
  2. Available from liftoff down to 100 ft. RA
  3. 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
  4. Once condition is resolved, thrust remains at TOGA (TOGA LK) until Pilot intervention
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11
Q

What is MANAGED guidance of the Autoflight system?

A
  1. 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)
  2. 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
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12
Q

When does SRS become active?

A
  1. At takeoff with thrust levers in FLX or TOGA

2 during go-around when thrust in TOGA AND flaps 1 or greater

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13
Q

What does a white box represent on the FMA?

A

It appears around an indication she something has changed

It only appears for a brief time

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14
Q

What is the order of the FMA?

Pic

A
  1. Column 1 - autothrust
  2. Column 2 - auto flight vertical mode
  3. Column 3 - autoflight lateral mode
  4. Column 4 - approach capabilities and minimums
  5. Column 5 - autoflight status
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15
Q

What are the various autopilot related indications displayed on the TOP line of column 5 of the FMA?
(Pic)

A
  1. With AP disengaged it will be blank
  2. AP1 - AP 1 engaged
  3. AP2 - AP 2 engaged
  4. AP1+2 - both APs engaged
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16
Q

How do you engage and disengage the flight directors?

Pic

A
  1. The FD System is automatically engaged (powered) when electrical power is established
  2. 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
17
Q

What are the various FD related indications displays on the SRCOND line of Column 5 on the FMA?
(Pic)

A
  1. Blank - both FDs off
  2. 1FD2 - bothe FDs on
  3. 1FD - captains on, FOs off
  4. FD2 - FOs on, Captain’s off
  5. 2FD2 - FMGC 1 failed
  6. 1FD1 - FMCG 2 failed
18
Q

What are the 3 status configurations of the Autothrust System?
(Pic)

A
  1. OFF:
    A. Thrust controlled by manual positioning of thrust levers
    B. FMA Column 1 and the bottom row of Column 5 are blank
  2. 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.
  3. 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)
19
Q

How does the pilots made aware of the AT Mode?

Pic

A

They must ALWAYS reference the FMA because the levers do not and cannot automatically move regardless of status

20
Q

What are the indications associated with the Alpha Floor?

Pic

A
  1. A. FLOOR (green) surrounded by an amber box in Column 1 of the FMA
  2. A. FLOOR (Amber) above the N1 displays on the E/WD
  3. Engine thrust automatically accelerated to TOGA

Once the condition which caused Alpha Floor no longer exists

  1. TOGA lock engages
  2. TOGA LK (green) replaces the A. Floor indications on FMA
21
Q

Explain VLS

Pic

A
  1. Defined as the “Lower Selectable Speed”
  2. An airspeed calculated by the FACs based on aircraft gross weight and configuration
  3. Intended to advise the pilot of the lowest speed that should be selected in the current configuration
22
Q

Can a pilot select a speed lower than the VLS?

Pic

A

Yes, but I believe it will be ignored based off of a future question

23
Q

Where is the VLS displayed?

Pic

A

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

24
Q

What is the relationship between VLS and AT System?

Pic

A
  1. When AT active and plane in Normal Law, thrust will auto increase to prevent airspeed from decreasing below VLS
  2. Pilot selected airspeed, if lower than VLS, will be ignored
  3. Unlike Alpha Floor Protection, AT will not self activate, if OFF, to provide lowest safe speed protection
25
Q

What is SELECTED guidance of the Autoflight system?

Pic

A
  1. Pulling SPD/MACH knob selects specific target airspeed
  2. Pulling HDG/TRK knob selects a specific heading
  3. Pulling the altitude knob engages an open climb or open descent
  4. Pulling the V/S /FPA knob selects a specific vertical speed or flight path angle climb or descent
26
Q

What takes priority - SELECTED guidance or MANAGED guidance?

Pic

A

SELECTED always does

A320 Systems (15 decks)

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