Digital Autopilot

Question 1

what is minimum altitude for engagement?

Answer 1

500 AGL provided below 180IAS and one pilot has control wheel

1000 AGL otherwise

Question 2

what flap setting can we use with the AP engaged?

Answer 2

1 or up

Question 3

when is the only time the A/P can be engaged below 1000ft?

Answer 3

coupled approach

or down to 500 AGL with one pilot on control wheel, except for coupled approach

Question 4

what is max airspeed for autopilot operation?

Answer 4

Vmo

Question 5

what is minimum airspeed for autopilot operation?

Answer 5

85IAS in IAS mode or Vmc in any other mode

Question 6

when can we not use altitude hold mode?

Answer 6

in severe turbulence

Question 7

what must we do with the autopilot when flying in non-certificated/icing conditions?

Answer 7

disengage

Question 8

what is the roll command limit?

Answer 8

+- 25 degrees

Question 9

what is the pitch command limit?

Answer 9

+18 degrees -15 degrees

Question 10

what 6 conditions will cause the AP to automatically disengage?

Answer 10

1. electrical power failure
2. AFGS failure
3. AHRS failure
4. STALL warning
5. pitch and/or roll servo failure disengages the AP only
6. yaw servo failure disengages the yaw damper only

Question 11

what is a hardover?

Answer 11

A servo failure, the pilot will recognise that the airplane leaves the intended flight path

Question 12

what action should we take with the yaw damper if the engine fails?

Answer 12

1. disconnect the yaw damper
2. retrim
3. reconnect yaw damper

Question 13

what will we see if we have a DCU failure?

Answer 13

amber boxed DCU indication is displayed on the PFD and all flight guidance info is lost on the pilots and co pilots PFD

Question 14

what signals a trim runaway?

Answer 14

TRIM IN MOTION aural announcement triggered by a 12 second auto trim motion

Question 15

what will stay active if VOR/LOC signal becomes invalid or is lost?

Answer 15

lateral NAV/APPR modes

Question 16

when must the autopilot be disconnected on an ILS coupled approach?

Answer 16

before a descent through 150ft AGL

Question 17

can we operate the autopilot with a DCU failure?

Answer 17

no

Question 18

what will we hear if the AP is switched off then back on within a couple of minutes?

Answer 18

a beep tone

Question 19

what can we expect if flying a coupled approach that doesn’t start from the normal FAP/FAF?

Answer 19

slightly more roll and pitch motion than normal at DA

Question 20

what provides roll, pitch and body acceleration data to the autopilot?

Answer 20

2 AHRS’s on an ARINC 429 bus via 2 AHRS systems installed in the aircraft

Question 21

what provides air data such as altitude, IAS and vertical speed to the autopilot?

Answer 21

2 ADC’s

Question 22

what provides flap position info to the autopilot?

Answer 22

2 EIUs

Question 23

what provides pitch trim up and down commands?

Answer 23

DCU

Question 24

what does the flight guidance computer do?

Answer 24

controls roll, pitch and yaw axes through selected modes of operation

Question 25

what does the flight guidance control panel do?

Answer 25

provides push buttons to select flight director/autopilot modes

Question 26

what are the AP servos used for?

Answer 26

as an interface of the flight guidance computer to the aircraft control systems

Question 27

what does each servo incorporate?

Answer 27

a DC motor, capstan and digital bus interface electronics

Question 28

if the FD is disengaged and we engage it with no preselected modes, what will it default to?

Answer 28

pitch and roll

it will hold the roll if greater than 5 degrees or level the wings if less than 5

Question 29

what does the yaw damper do when engaged?

Answer 29

dampens any excessive yaw and coordinates turns

Question 30

when must the yaw damper be disengaged?

Answer 30

T/O and landing

Question 31

what nav sources does the AP use in NAV mode?

Answer 31

VOR 1/2

FMS

Question 32

what happens in NAV mode if the reference signal fails?

Answer 32

NAV mode fails until the signal is valid again

Question 33

if in NAV mode the reference signal is lost what will the autopilot hold?

Answer 33

last known crosswind corrected course

Question 34

when will GS mode arm on the approach?

Answer 34

half scale delfection

Question 35

what does half bank mode do?

Answer 35

reduces maximum bank angle to 12.5 degrees

Question 36

if on the ground what will pressing TOGA do?

Answer 36

• 11.2 degree pitch up command
• roll hold at wings level as default
• ROLL and PITCH indications on EFIS
• change to HDG mode when HDG is pushed
• change to NAV mode when NAV is pushed