Avionics - Autopilot, Flight Director & Autothrottle

Question 1

When the flight compartment or cabin temperatures are in excess of 40°C, what is the ground
operation limitation of the DUs? (AFM Limitations)

Answer 1

Operation for more than 30 minutes is prohibited

Question 2

What is the minimum autopilot engagement height on takeoff? (AFM Limitations)

Answer 2

400ft AGL

Question 3

What is the minimum height for autopilot use on an approach? (AFM)

Answer 3

80ft AGL

Question 4

What is the steepest angle for approaches? (AFM Limitations)

Answer 4

Up to 3.5° without AFM supplement 8
3.5° - 4.5⁰ with AFM supplement 8

Question 5

What will the autopilot do in the ROLL mode?

Answer 5

If bank angle is less than 5⁰ the flight director will command a heading hold
Will command a ROLL hold if current bank is more than 5⁰, limited to 30⁰
If above the bank limit (30⁰), will command a reduction of bank to 30⁰

Question 6

If you press the CPL pushbutton on the FCP, what happens to the active flight director modes?

Answer 6

The FD modes revert to ROLL and FPA
An amber FD MODE CHANGE message appears
The pilot must manually re-select the desired modes

Question 7

Do the green indicator lights on the FCP indicate that the adjacent mode is currently active?

Answer 7

No, they only indicate selection
The crew must confirm mode status/operation from the flight mode annunciator (FMA)

Question 8

How are active/armed flight director and autothrottle modes indicated on the FMA?

Answer 8

Active modes displayed in green
Armed modes displayed in white

Question 9

If the FD is off and the AP button is pushed, which modes will become active?

Answer 9

Basic modes: Roll (ROLL) and Flight Path Angle (FPA)

Question 10

What ways can the AP be manually disengaged?

Answer 10

Pressing AP/PTY on either sidestick
Pressing the AP pushbutton on the FCP
Pitch Trim switch on either sidestick
Overcoming the resistance on either sidestick

Note: Only the red AP/PTY button will silence the AP disconnect warning.

Question 11

When does the autopilot automatically disengage?

Answer 11

Reversion to direct mode
Invalid Data
AP monitor fault detection (a disagreement between autopilots)
Stick shaker activation

Question 12

When is use of the FMS as a primary lateral navigation source beyond the FAF for instrument
approaches prohibited? (AFM Limitations)

Answer 12

Localizer-based approaches (ILS, LOC, LOC-BC, LDA, SDF, IGS)

Question 13

9 When will NAV-to-NAV transfer occur?

Answer 13

Localizer-based approach is loaded in the FMS
Lateral mode is FMS or HDG
APPR Mode is selected on FCP
LOC is captured

Question 14

When is the ILS frequency automatically tuned by the FMS?

Answer 14

Localizer-based approach is loaded in the FMS
Within 31nm direct distance from the destination airport

Question 15

When does the independent ILS approach mode occur?

Answer 15

At GS capture and landing gear down

Note: the pilot and co-pilot’s PFDs must be displaying LOC data from different navigation
receivers on the two PFD displays

Question 16

What pitch angle does the FD command for a normal takeoff and an engine inoperative takeoff?
(FCOM2)

Answer 16

Normal takeoff: starts at 17.5° for 5 seconds; then adjusts to maintain the selected speed.
OEI takeoff: adjusts to 13° for 5 seconds; then adjusts to maintain the selected speed.

Question 17

During a go-around, what are the lateral and vertical commands during climb-out when TOGA is selected?

Answer 17

Laterally; commands hold heading at TOGA selection, limited to 5° bank until reaching 400ft, then changes to FMS
Vertically; it maintains a pitch from 10° minimum to 20° maximum to maintain active target speed
VNAV is armed if not currently on

Question 18

How is the TO lateral and vertical mode cleared?

Answer 18

By selecting another vertical mode
With VNAV armed, capturing a VNAV altitude

Question 19

How is the GA lateral mode cleared?

Answer 19

NAV is automatically selected climbing through 400ft on an instrument approach
If on a visual approach, the crew must select another mode

Question 20

What is the bank angle for ½ bank?

Answer 20

17°

Question 21

At what altitude will the AFCS automatically switch to half bank?

Answer 21

35,000ft

Question 22

In what lateral modes is ½ bank available?

Answer 22

Below 35,000ft: ROLL, HDG, VOR NAV lateral modes
Above 35,000ft: all lateral modes

Note: the key concept is half bank is not available in FMS NAV below FL350.

Question 23

When does Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) automatically activate?

Answer 23

Autopilot is engaged
Aircraft altitude is above FL250
Cabin altitude has exceeded 14,500ft

Question 23

How do you fly in half-bank mode on a published departure or missed approach procedure with the
autopilot engaged?

Answer 23

Center the heading bug and select HDG
Select ½ BANK
Manually follow the turns

Note: If using half bank: the crew must inform ARTCC and turns should be started earlier to
roll out on course. It may be simpler to just turn off the autopilot and fly at half bank

Question 24

What will occur upon automatic activation of EDM?

Answer 24

FD enters HDG and FLC modes
FD will command a descent to 15,000ft (ALT SEL changes to 15,000ft)
FD will command a turn of 90° left (Using the heading bug)
Autothrottles automatically engage and will target an airspeed of VMO-10 until 15,000ft (or
selected altitude), then 250KT
Transponder code squawks 7700

Note: Once initiated, any of these parameters may be adjusted by the crew

Question 25

How does the crew cancel the EDM mode?

Answer 25

Disengage the AP

Question 26

What will occur upon manual activation of EDM?

Answer 26

The AP and AT engage if not already engaged
FD enters HDG and FLC modes
FD will command a descent to 15,000ft (ALT SEL resets to 15,000ft)
FD will command a turn of 90° left (Using the heading bug)
Autothrottles will target an airspeed of VMO-10 until 15,000ft (or selected altitude), then 250KT

Note: Once initiated, any of these parameters may be adjusted by the crew

Question 27

If the autothrottles are armed prior to takeoff, when do they engage?

Answer 27

When thrust levers are advanced through approximately 60% N1

Note; the engagement is actually a throttle angle value and not the engine rpm. The autothrottles will engage near 60% rpm on a standard day

Question 28

When is the autothrottle HOLD mode activated?

Answer 28

On the ground above 60KT until the airplane climbs to 400ft AGL

Question 29

What happens to the AP, AT and FD modes during a windshear warning?

Answer 29

AP remains in its current state (engaged or disengaged) when WSHR mode is triggered
If the AT is engaged at the time of the windshear warning, it remains engaged
The AT advances to takeoff thrust setting
Escape guidance is automatically provided by the TAWS
The auto-throttle mode and the vertical mode change to a red WSHR.
The lateral mode will not change. If the pilot presses TO/GA then the lateral mode will be GA below 400ft and NAV above 400ft.

Question 30

When will the autothrottles transition to the RETARD mode?

Answer 30

Radio altitude of 50ft (15m) during landing
Note: this requires flaps full and gear down

Question 31

What does an amber LIM in the FMA indicate?

Answer 31

The selected airspeed requires an engine thrust above or below the N1 limit shown on
the EICAS