Basic Autopilot

Question 1

It refers to a system of automatic controls which holds the aircraft on any selected magnetic heading and returns the aircraft to that heading when it is displaced from it.

Answer 1

Automatic Pilot

Question 2

keeps the aircraft stabilized around its horizontal and lateral axes

Answer 2

Automatic Pilot

Question 3

________ provide for one, two, or three stabilized planes.

Answer 3

Autopilot systems

Question 4

Movement within each plane is _______, rather centered on axis.

Answer 4

about an axis

Question 5

three principal axes

Answer 5

longitudinal, lateral, vertical

Question 6

runs nose to tail through the CG

Answer 6

longitudinal axis

Question 7

runs parallel with a line from wing tip to wing tip and intersects the x-axis at the CG

Answer 7

lateral axis

Question 8

runs perpendicular to the other two axes intersecting them at the CG

Answer 8

vertical axis

Question 9

axis on the x-axis

Answer 9

longitudinal

Question 10

axis on the y-axis

Answer 10

lateral

Question 11

axis on the z-axis

Answer 11

vertical

Question 12

On ________, the power to move the control surfaces is provided by the muscles in the pilot’s arms and legs.

Answer 12

small light aircraft

Question 13

The control column is physically connected to the control surfaces by ________.

Answer 13

cables

Question 14

On __________, it is physically impossible to move the control surfaces by muscle alone.

Answer 14

larger aircraft

Question 15

Wide bodied aircraft will corporate some form of _________ to move control surfaces.

Answer 15

power assistance

Question 16

The __________ is provided by actuators or servo and these devices can operate from either mechanical input or electrical output.

Answer 16

power assistance

Question 17

It detects the movement of the aircraft about its three flight axes and the rate of movement.

Answer 17

detecting element

Question 18

It is considered to be internal controls or inner loop of the system.

Answer 18

detecting element

Question 19

It is considered to be external controls or outer loop of the system.

Answer 19

command element

Question 20

It computes, amplifies, and processes the signal from the detecting and command elements and directs the output element to respond to the pilot’s and or system requirements.

Answer 20

computer amplifier

Question 21

This element consists of units, which move the control surfaces of the aircraft in response to the computer demands.

Answer 21

output elements

Question 22

These are servo units, electric motors, electromagnetic solenoid valves controlling hydraulic actuators.

Answer 22

output elements

Question 23

fifth element of many advanced autopilot systems

Answer 23

feedback or follow-up

Question 24

This refers to signals sent as corrections are being made by the output elements to advise the autopilot of the progress being made.

Answer 24

feedback or follow-up

Question 25

This is the basis for autopilot system operation.

Answer 25

error correction

Question 26

When an aircraft fails to meet the conditions selected, an _____ is said to have occurred.

Answer 26

error

Question 27

Two basic ways modern autopilot systems do for error correction

Answer 27

position-based autopilot, rate-based autopilot

Question 28

A _____________ manipulates the aircraft’s controls so that any deviation from the desired attitude of the aircraft is corrected.

Answer 28

position-based autopilot

Question 29

_________ is done by memorizing the desired aircraft attitude and moving the control surfaces so that the aircraft returns to that attitude.

Answer 29

position-based autopilot

Question 30

A _________ uses information about the rate of movement of the aircraft, and move control surfaces to counter the rate of change that causes the error.

Answer 30

rate-based autopilot

Question 31

What type of autopilot system do most large aircrafts use?

Answer 31

rate-based autopilot

Question 32

Its basis is “Gyro, accelerometers, and others and other sensor equipment can detect the uncommand attitude changes far more accurately and then provide an electrical output to an actuator or servo.”

Answer 32

Fly-By-Wire Principle

Question 33

When the pilot moves the control column or rudder pedals, an electrical signal from the stick or ________ is transmitted to an electrically operated actuator and the control surface is deflected by pilot’s input.

Answer 33

pedals transducer

Question 34

When the pilot moves the control column or rudder pedals (a commanded attitude change), an electrical signal from the stick or pedals transducer is transmitted to an electrically operated actuator and the control surface is deflected by pilot’s input. In this electrically operated system, it is _________, not _________, which control the actuator or servo operation.

Answer 34

electrical signals, mechanical inputs

Question 35

The _________ of the aircraft provide the flight control computer with inputs of heading, attitude, waypoints, etc.

Answer 35

avionics system

Question 36

The ____________ repositions the actuator with electrical signals to maintain the aircraft on the programmed flight path.

Answer 36

flight control computer

Question 37

The avionics system of the aircraft provide the flight control computer with inputs of heading, attitude, waypoints, etc. and the flight control computer repositions the actuator with electrical signals to maintain the aircraft on the programmed flight path. What is this called?

Answer 37

autopilot

Question 38

Give at least one advantage of fly-by-wire principle

Answer 38

• improved reliability
• damage tolerance
• more effective control of a necessary highly maneuverable plane

Question 39

Give at least one disadvantage of fly-by-wire principle

Answer 39

• redundancy (airline operator)
• complexity
• cost

Question 40

The automatic pilot system flies the aircraft by using electrical signals developed in ___________.

Answer 40

gyro-sensing units

Question 41

Gyro-sensing units are connected to flight instruments that indicate _______, _______, ______, or _____.

Answer 41

direction, rate of turn, bank, pitch

Question 42

If the flight attitude or magnetic heading is changed, _____________ are developed in the gyros.

Answer 42

electrical signals

Question 43

The electrical signals developed in the gyros when the flight attitude or magnetic heading is changed are sent to the autopilot computer/amplifier and are used to control the operation of _________.

Answer 43

servo units

Question 44

A servo for each of the three control channels converts electrical signals into ________, which moves the control surface in response to corrective signals or pilot commands.

Answer 44

mechanical force