Avionics - Autopilot, Flight Director & Autothrottle Flashcards
When the flight compartment or cabin temperatures are in excess of 40°C, what is the ground operation limitation of the DUs? (AFM Limitations)
Operation for more than 30 minutes is prohibited
What is the minimum autopilot engagement height on takeoff? (AFM Limitations)
400ft AGL
What is the minimum height for autopilot use on an approach? (AFM)
80ft AGL
What is the steepest angle for approaches? (AFM Limitations)
- Up to 3.5° without AFM supplement 8
- 3.5° - 4.5° with AFM supplement 8
What will the autopilot do in the ROLL mode?
- If bank angle is less than 5° the flight director will command a heading hold
- Will command a ROLL hold if current bank is more than 5°, limited to 30°
- If above the bank limit (30°) will command a reduction of bank to 30°
If you press the CPL pushbutton on the FCP, what happens to the active flight director modes?
- The FD modes revert to ROLL and FPA
- An amber FD MODE CHANGE message appears
- The pilot must manually re-select the desired modes
Do the green indicator lights on the FCP indicate that the adjacent mode is currently active?
- No, they only indicate selection
- The crew must confirm mode status/operation from the flight mode annunciator (FMA)
How are active/armed flight director and autothrottle modes indicated on the FMA?
- Active modes displayed in green
- Armed modes displayed in white
If the FD is off and the AP button is pushed, which modes will become active?
Basic modes: Roll (ROLL) and Flight Path Angle (FPA)
What ways can the AP be manually disengaged?
- 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.
When does the autopilot automatically disengage?
- Reversion to direct mode
- Invalid Data
- AP monitor fault detection (a disagreement between autopilots)
- Stick shaker activation
When is use of the FMS as a primary lateral navigation source beyond the FAF for instrument approaches prohibited? (AFM Limitations)
Localizer-based approaches (ILS, LOC, LOC-BC, LDA, SDF, IGS)
When will NAV-to-NAV transfer occur?
- Localizer-based approach is loaded in the FMS
- Lateral mode is FMS or HDG
- APPR Mode is selected on FCP
- LOC is captured
When is the ILS frequency automatically tuned by the FMS?
- Localizer-based approach is loaded in the FMS
- Within 31nm direct distance from the destination airport
When does the independent ILS approach mode occur?
- 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
What pitch angle does the FD command for a normal takeoff and an engine inoperative takeoff? (FCOM2)
- 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.
During a go-around, what are the lateral and vertical commands during climb-out when TOGA is selected?
- 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
How is the TO lateral and vertical mode cleared?
- By selecting another vertical mode
- With VNAV armed, capturing a VNAV altitude
How is the GA lateral mode cleared?
- NAV is automatically selected climbing through 400ft on an instrument approach
- If on a visual approach, the crew must select another mode
What is the bank angle for ½ bank?
17°
At what altitude will the AFCS automatically switch to half bank?
35,000ft
In what lateral modes is ½ bank available?
- 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.
How do you fly in half-bank mode on a published departure or missed approach procedure with the autopilot engaged?
- 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.
When does Emergency Descent Mode (EDM) automatically activate?
Autopilot is engaged
Aircraft altitude is above FL250
Cabin altitude has exceeded 14,500ft
What will occur upon automatic activation of EDM?
- 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.
How does the crew cancel the EDM mode?
Disengage the AP
What will occur upon manual activation of EDM?
- 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
If the autothrottles are armed prior to takeoff, when do they engage?
- 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.
When is the autothrottle HOLD mode activated?
On the ground above 60KT until the airplane climbs to 400ft AGL
What happens to the AP, AT and FD modes during a windshear warning?
- 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.
When will the autothrottles transition to the RETARD mode?
- Radio altitude of 50ft (15m) during landing
Note: this requires flaps full and gear down
What does an amber LIM in the FMA indicate?
- The selected airspeed requires an engine thrust above or below the N1 limit shown on the EICAS
