Autopilot Introduction

Question 1

What is the purpose of the autopilot system?

Answer 1

To relieve the pilots workload, allowing more time to concentrate on other more pertinent flight details.

Question 2

What are some functions that autopilots can provide?

Answer 2

1) Flight Stabilisation
2) Manœuvre Control (Heading /altitude hold)
3) System Coupling (Following a NAVAID)

Question 3

What are the four classes of autopilot?

Answer 3

1) Single axis
2) Two axis
3) Three axis
4) Four axis

Question 4

What type of autopilot does a single axis provide?

Answer 4

Provides control in roll about the longitudinal axis.

Question 5

What type of autopilot does a two axis system provide?

Answer 5

Control about roll and pitch axes.

Question 6

What do three axis autopilots control ?

Answer 6

Roll pitch and yaw

Question 7

What do four axis autopilots provide?

Answer 7

Control about roll, pitch, yaw and altitude.

Question 8

What are the five general components that make up a typical autopilot system?

Answer 8

1) Autopilot mode Control
2) Signal processing
3) Servos
4) Flight Control Surfaces
5) Sensing systems

Question 9

What does the control function allow the pilot to do?

Answer 9

Allows the autopilot to engage/disengage the autopilot and instruct it to follow selected paths such as:
Heading 
Track
Altitude 
Rate of descent/climb

Question 10

Can the flight direction system still work even if the autopilot function is not engages?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

Draw a picture of the general autopilot layout?

Answer 11

Picture

Question 12

What does the signal processing function of the autopilot do?

Answer 12

Provides requires signals for control into its to Serbia while receiving signals from control feedback and performance feedback signal.

Question 13

What is the function of the servo in the autopilot system?

Answer 13

The servos are either electric or hydraulically assisted and they move the control surfaces.

Question 14

What do the flight control surfaces?

Answer 14

Change the flight path of the aircraft

Question 15

What do the sensing systems do?

Answer 15

They determine the change in flightpath or the aircraft to then feedback to the signal processing for further signal processing.

Question 16

What are the three gyro references that are relevant to autopilot systems?

Answer 16

1) Rate gyro that senses angular movement
2) An attitude gyro which provides pitch and roll attitude
3) A gyro stabilised Heading Reference System

Question 17

What are the two loops used to assist controlling the aircraft using the automated system?

Answer 17

1) Inner loop - detects unwanted changes such as wing drop by turbulence or gust
2) Outer loop - control loop that provides commands to change the aircraft state

Question 18

What is the response to flight path errors from wind gusts or turbulence called? What does high and low gain mean?

Answer 18

Gain

• High gain means the autopilot will reacts aggressively to cancel errors quickly
• Low gain tolerates a degree of error for a limited time in exchange for a smoother ride

Question 19

What are the 4 different systems that are a part of the Auto Flight Control System (AFCS)?

Answer 19

1) Flight Management Computers
2) Flight guidance and envelope systems
3) Auto thrust
4) Autopilot

Question 20

What are the two modes when using the AFCS?

Answer 20

• Managed mode

- Selected mode

Question 21

What is the managed mode of the AFCS?

Answer 21

Receives commands from the FMS or the MC

Question 22

What is the selected mode of the AFCS?

Answer 22

Autopilot follows commands from the pilot.

Question 23

What is the FMS?

Answer 23

The navigation heart of the aircraft.

Question 24

What is the flight guidance computer?

Answer 24

Provides lateral and vertical guidance based on defined targets.
- Uses autopilot , auto thrust and flight directors

Question 25

What does the flight director display?

Answer 25

Guidance orders from the FG computer on the PFD.

Question 26

What are the two types of flight director displays?

Answer 26

1) Inverted V

2) FD bars

Question 27

What is the principle behind children of the magenta line?

Answer 27

Automation dependency and loss of situational awareness that stemmed from it.