Autopilot Flashcards
What is auto flight
INTRODUCTION
Figure 1
The auto flight consists of an automatic flight control system (AFCS) and an autothrottle system. The auto flight includes the computers and servo systems that compute and automatically control the flightpath of the aircraft. The computers use data from different sources and feedback circuits to control direction, heading, attitude, altitude, and speed.
What’s in the auto flight system
Automatic Flight Control System
The automatic flight control system (AFCS) consists of the flight director, autopilot and yaw damper functions. Flight Director The flight director (FD) supplies the calculated steering commands to: • Electronic flight instrument system (EFIS): The pilot and copilot PFDs display the FD command bars and mode indications • Autopilot: If the autopilot is engaged, it uses the steering commands to fly the aircraft automatically. If the autopilot is not engaged, the pilot uses the FD command bars on the PFD to fly the aircraft manually Mode select pushbuttons on the guidance panel (GP) set the flight director mode of operation. Autopilot The autopilot (AP) operates the flight control surfaces to fly the aircraft automatically. The autopilot uses steering commands from the flight director and operates the servos to make the aircraft fly the correct pitch/roll attitude to follow a specific flightpath.
Yaw Damper
The yaw damper (YD) provides stability augmentation about the yaw axis (Dutch roll) and turn coordination. The yaw damper uses signals from the flight guidance computers (FGCs) and moves the rudder linear actuators (yaw dampers) to control the yaw of the aircraft.
What is auto throttle system
Autothrottle System
The autothrottle (AT) system supplies speed and thrust control through the automatic adjustment of the throttle levers, during the full range of the flight. It also sends the mode of operation and status to the electronic flight instrument system (EFIS). The autothrottle system also provides an electronic engine trim system (EETS). The EETS provides limited authority EPR trim, N1 and N2 synchronization over the full flight regime.
Is the Vision a Vnav aircraft
Yes
Where is FGC
It’s a card in the IAC
When swapping IACs
Dont forget the tray position is indented to the IAC
What is TCS
Touch control steering
On control spectacles
What does Master Disconnect do on control wheel
Press to disconnect everything on autoflight
What does AFCS consist of
The automatic flight control system (AFCS) consists of the flight director (FD), autopilot (AP), including automatic pitch trim and yaw damper (YD) functions. The automatic flight control system (AFCS) is a dual-channel, two axis, Category II flight control system. The major AFCS functions contained in the integrated avionics computer (IAC) work with other AFCS components to perform the necessary actions. The dual system architecture of the AFCS is configured in a active/standby arrangement. The active system provides control functions while the standby system operates in a backup mode as a “hot spare”. In the event that the system in control fails or detects a failure, priority is automatically switched to the other system.
What does Flight Director do
Flight Director
The flight director (FD) supplies computed steering commands to the flight crew and to the autopilot system. The flight crew can manually fly the aircraft from the FD, using indications shown on the electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) displays. If the flight crew engages the autopilot, the autopilot uses the FD commands to fly the aircraft automatically. The flight director is automatically enabled when aircraft is powered and attitude/ altitude data is valid.
What does Yaw Damper do
Yaw Damper
The yaw damper provides stability augmentation about the yaw axis (Dutch roll) and turn coordination. The yaw damper operates independently of the autopilot. The yaw damper uses signals from the flight guidance computers (FGCs) to make small rudder movements and decrease the yaw of the aircraft. The yaw damper is automatically engaged on the ground when the right conditions are met. The yaw damper is always on when the autopilot is engaged. A pushbutton on the guidance panel lets the pilot engage or disconnect the yaw damper.
What does Autopilot do
Autopilot
The autopilot operates the flight control surfaces to make the aircraft fly the correct pitch/roll attitude. When engaged, the autopilot monitors the FD steering commands and operates the servos that keep the aircraft at the necessary pitch and roll attitudes. A pushbutton on the guidance panel lets the pilot engage or disengage the autopilot.
What are PFD controllers
PFD Controllers
The PFD controllers provide independent selection of short-range and long-range navigation sources for display on the PFDs. The flight director uses the selected navigation source data from the coupled PFD to position the command bars.
What are MFD controllers
MFD Controllers The MFD controllers interface with the flight director to select the type of command bars format that is displayed on the PFDs.
The command bars may be displayed as a single cue (SC) or a cross pointer (CP) format. The format may be selected from the MFD menu, using the joystick and the ENT key of the MFD controllers.
What is Flight Director logic
Flight Director Logic
The flight director (FD) is powered on in the standby mode when the aircraft is powered and valid aircraft attitude/altitude data is received. Sensor Management Flight director (FD) modes utilize coupled side PFD sensor data for references. The FD utilizes onside and/or cross-side sensor data for calculations and monitoring. A sensor voting method is used to average the data to select the “good” data for use in the case of a single flagged failure. Flight Director Data Management Each FD can utilize either onside or cross-side short-range NAV and long-range NAV (FMS) data. Both FDs use the NAV data displayed on the coupled side PFD. Both FDs use the coupled side ADC input as the reference for all vertical modes (except glideslope). The altitude hold target, airspeed target, vertical speed target, and selected altitude are all computed in the IACs. Flight Director Couple Switching The flight directors (FDs) for pilot and copilot are coupled to the same PFD. Pressing the CPL pushbutton switches the coupled PFD and resets all selected FD modes to basic roll hold and pitch hold modes. The pilot must then reengage the FD modes he wants active.
