Automatic Flight System

Question 1

On the ground, how do you arm the flight director TOGA mode?

Answer 1

Turn the FD on. Either switch will arm the mode

Question 2

In flight, with the autopilot and flight directors off, you flip a FD switch on. What does the FD do for vertical and lateral modes? (AKA what are the default FD modes)

Answer 2

Pitch mode: V/S
Roll mode:
Bank less than 5 degrees: HDG HOLD
Bank greater than 5 degrees: Attitude hold (ATT)

Question 3

Can you have the autopilot engages but flight directors off?

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

You are hand flying the approach and see the runway, kill the FD. Then you go around. Do you have to reactivate the FD?

Answer 4

No. This is the one example where the FD will display even with the FD switches selected to OFF. When you press the TOGA switch with airspeed greater than 80 and flaps greater than UP, the FD shows up automatically.

Question 5

What are the default autopilot modes? (When FD off and you engage the AP)

Answer 5

Same exact as default FD modes:

Pitch mode: V/S
Roll mode:
Bank less than 5 degrees: HDG HOLD
Bank greater than 5 degrees: Attitude hold (ATT)

Question 6

What are the 2 basic autothrottle modes?

Answer 6

Thrust or speed

Thrust mode: Maintains speed using thrust

Speed mode: fixed thrust setting, maintains speed using elevator

Question 7

What does the A/T switch do?

Answer 7

It arms the autothrottle. When you select a FD mode it will automatically engage for the appropriate mode.

Thrust mode: Speed switch pushed + ALT mode, V/S, or G/S

Speed mode: VNAV, FLCH, or TOGA witches pushed

ALSO: When A/T is armed but no mode throttle selected, cycling thew A/T switch off and back to armed when in VNAV or FLCH SPD

Question 8

What is the thrust (THR) switch for?

Answer 8

-It is a dual purpose switch. The 2 purposes are 1.) selecting reference (reduced) thrust setting after takeoff or go around. (will not be illuminated) 2.) To tell the autothrottle what mode you want it in (THR REF-will be illuminated)

-Available 400’ after takeoff, when pushed it reduces thrust to CLB thrust (CON if 1 engine inoperative)

Question 9

What is the speed (SPD) switch for?

Answer 9

Operative from 400’ after takeoff, when pushed it illuminates and selects the A/T speed mode to maintain a specific speed using thrust changes.

Question 10

When power is first applied, what speed sets in the IAS/MACH window?

Answer 10

200 knots

Question 11

Does the IAS/MACH window automatically change from IAS to MACH or the other way around?

Answer 11

Yes.

In climb: Changes from IAS-MACH at about .84

In descent: Changes from MACH-IAS around 310 knots

Question 12

If the IAS/MACH window is blank, what does this mean?

Answer 12

That the FMC is controlling the speed

Question 13

What does the IAS/MACH (SEL) switch do?

Answer 13

It changes between IAS and MACH (must be greater than .4 MACH to switch from IAS-MACH)

Question 14

What does the knob directly under the IAS/MACH window do?

Answer 14

it allows you to set desired speed. You can push it when in FMC speed (blank) and it will display a speed that you can select (speed intervention).

Question 15

The LNAV switch is pretty simple, it arms or activates LNAV. What are the only 2 important caveats to remember about LNAV?

Answer 15

1.) You can’t arm LNAV until at least 50’ AGL above the runway
2.) LNAV can be armed outside 2.5 miles, but it won’t engage until within 2.5 miles of the course

Question 16

What are the VNAV modes?

Answer 16

VNAV SPD, VNAV PTH, VNAV ALT

Question 17

When armed, VNAV activates________ after takeoff.

Answer 17

at 400 AGL

Question 18

What does the FLCH switch do?

Answer 18

Selects the FLCH SPD mode
-Opens the IAS/MACH window
-Pitch commands based on speed

Question 19

What does the HDG bank limit dial do?

Answer 19

AUTO: AFDS commands bank within range of 15-25 degrees based on various conditions
5,10, 15, 20, 25: Specific manual bank limits
SEL: Pushing in selects HDG SEL mode (flys that heading) Basically heading mode

Question 20

What does the HOLD button do under the HDG section?

Answer 20

Selects HDG HOLD mode (holds the heading you are currently on the moment you press the button

Question 21

What does the V/S switch do?

Answer 21

Selects the pitch mode to vertical speed, can manipulate the rate using the dial and window

Question 22

What does the dial beneath the ALT window do?

Answer 22

Spin: That is how you spin to select the altitude in the altitude window
Push: 1.) Deletes any FMC altitude constraints (climb/descend direct)
2.) With no FMC altitude constraints, pushing it changes the cruise altitude to what is in the window
3.) During cruise when you select a higher or lower altitude and you are in VNAV ALT or VNAV PTH, it climbs or descends to the new altitude
4.) Within 50NM of TOD, pushing it activates DES NOW

Question 23

What does the HOLD switch do in the ALT section of the MCP?

Answer 23

Selects ALT mode (holds the current altitude you were at when you pressed the button)

Question 24

What does the LOC switch do?

Answer 24

Arms LOC roll mode

Question 25

You must be within ____ degrees to capture a localizer

Answer 25

120

Question 26

What does the APP switch do?

Answer 26

Arms both the LOC and G/S modes

Question 27

APP mode can’t capture the glideslope until within _____ degrees of localizer course

Answer 27

80

Question 28

You must be below ____ knots on takeoff for the A/T to engage when you press the TOGA switch

Answer 28

50 knots

Question 29

How many flight control computers does the AFDS have?

Answer 29

3

Question 30

What control surfaces does the autopilot control?

Answer 30

Ailerons and elevators. (Multi autopilots control the rudders during an approach)

Question 31

On landing rollout, when does the autothrottle disengage?

Answer 31

Selection of reverse thrust

Question 32

What is the VNAV climb speed after takeoff and once flaps are up?

Answer 32

It selects either VREF+100 or the FMC speed transition

Question 33

When TOGA is pressed and the autothrottle goes into THR mode, what is the minimum FPM rate of climb?

Answer 33

2,000 FPM

Question 34

In a descent, the autothrottle may move to IDLE mode, what follows IDLE mode?

Answer 34

HOLD

Question 35

What is ATT mode?

Answer 35

It is a roll mode. 3 different scenarios:
1.) Bank is between 5-30 degrees- AFDS holds your current bank
2.) Bank is over 30 degrees- AFDS holds 30 degrees
3.) Bank is less than 5 degrees- AFDS goes into HDG HOLD

Question 36

What does the TOGA roll mode do?

Answer 36

Maintains ground track

Question 37

What does the ROLLOUT roll mode do?

Answer 37

Keeps the plane on the localizer during landing rollout. Displays below 1,500’ and activates below 5’

Question 38

What does the TOGA pitch mode do?

Answer 38

TAKEOFF:
1.) On ground- sets FD for 8 degrees
2.) After takeoff, commands pitch to V2+10. If speed remains above this range for 5 seconds, it pitches for current speed to a maximum of V2+25
GO AROUND:
1.) Commands target speed. If exceeded for more than 5 seconds target speed is reset to current speed to a maximum of IAS/MACH window plus 25 knots

Question 39

What does the FLARE pitch mode do?

Answer 39

It enables the aircraft to flare. Displays below 1,500’ and activates between 60-40 RA. Deactivates at touchdown

Question 40

On a go-around, what does the first press of the TOGA switch do?

Answer 40

THR establish minimum climb rate of 2,000 FPM

Question 41

On a go-around, what does a second press of the TOGA switch do?

Answer 41

THR RED at full go around thrust

Question 42

What pitch does the FD command during a windshear escape after TOGA is pressed?

Answer 42

15 degrees, respecting the PLI

Later transitions from pitch to speed control once within a rate of climb of 600-1200FPM

Question 43

What flight envelope protections does the AFDS have?

Answer 43

Stall protection: Prevents speed below minimum maneuvering speed

Overspeed protection: FMC uses a 5 knot margin. (No overspeed protection in V/S or engine failure above max EO ALT