Flight Controls Flashcards
Secondary flight controls?
- Horizontal stabilizer
- Multifunction spoilers
- Slats/flaps
- Ground spoilers
How are the flight controls moved?
Fly by wire
What are the only controls not operated by fly by wire?
- Ailerons only
* Operated by conventional cables
Which pitch trim switch has priority?
Captains side
Manual pitch trim commands are limited to what?
3 seconds
What happens if the slat/flap lever is placed at an intermediate position?
Flaps/slats remain in the last selected position
What does operating the pitch trim switch with the autopilot engaged cause?
The autopilot to disengage
What does pressing the flight control mode buttons do?
Places the associated flight system into direct mode
What does pulling the elevator or aileron disconnect handles do?
Isolates the captain and first officer’s control columns for elevator control and control wheel for aileron control
How many actuators does the rudder have?
2
How many actuators does the elevator have?
2
What is the pitch trim range?
2° to -13°
How many actuator controlled electronics (ACEs) are installed?
9
How many flight control modules (FCMs) are installed?
4
What is the purpose of the ACEs?
Connect the control column electronically to the respective control surface
What is the purpose of the FCM?
Provides software based assistance to the primary control electronics (P-ACE)
What is DIRECT mode?
The FCM is removed from the control loop and control limits the values set by the hardware in the P-ACE
What is DIRECT mode primarily the result of?
Loss of data from all FCM (no airspeed input) or multiple ACE failures
When will the PBIT expire?
After 50 hours since the last successful PBIT
Is there any crew action if the PBIT expires in flight?
- No action required
* EICAS msg will only display after landing
When is the Electrical PBIT test accomplished?
Automatically after the plane is powered by any AC source
How long does the Electrical PBIT test take?
Approximately 3 minutes
What will interrupt the electrical PBIT test?
- Any electric hydraulic pump turned on
- If FCP switches are cycled
- AC power is interrupted
What does the hydraulic PBIT system test?
Tests the flight control actuators
How long does the hydraulic PBIT test take?
Approximately 1 minute
When is the hydraulic PBIT test activated?
Automatically when all 3 hydraulic systems are pressurized
What will interrupt the hydraulic PBIT test?
If any flight control surface is moved
How are the channels swapped for the control surfaces with more than 1 channel?
There is an odd/even day engage function
What happens if there is a complete loss of power to the fly by wire system (FBW)
Dedicated backup battery takes over (lead acid)
If RAT is the only source of electrical power, what happens to the flap speed?
Flaps and slats operate at half speed
When the RAT is the only source of electrical power what are the flaps/slats limited to?
Flaps/slats limited to position 3
In DIRECT mode are the ground spoilers available?
No
During approach when will the speed brakes automatically retract?
Upon selecting flap/slat 2 or above
Speed brakes will not deploy below what speed?
- 180 kts
* Automatically retract if airspeed is reduced below that threshold
When will speed brakes automatically retract on go around?
Thrust lever angle greater than 70°
Are speed brakes available in DIRECT mode?
No
How many degrees can the speed brakes deploy?
30°
What is the difference between normal mode and direct mode?
No higher level functions available in direct mode
What is the priority for the trim system?
- Back-up
- Captain
- First officer
- Autopilot
What is the flap/slat extension/retraction sequence?
- Slats extend first
* Flaps retract first
Can a FCM override pilot input?
No, pilot has supreme control
Primary flight controls?
- Ailerons
- Multifunction spoilers
- Elevator
- Rudder
What are so me of the high level functions?
- AOA limiting
- Auto thrust compensation
- Auto thrust compensation
- Yaw damper and turn coordination
- Rudder airspeed gain scheduling
What is the electrical PBIT test testing?
- Out of tolerance conditions
- Failure in the FCM’s
- Failure in the P-ACE’s
- Failure in the SF-ACE’s
What happens if the fly by wire loses all electrical power?
Backup system keeps the FBW system active for 15 minutes
What is the backup system for the fly by wire controls
Dedicated lead acid battery charged by DC ESS bus 3
How is the horizontal stabilizer controlled?
Electromechanical
What are the elevator high level functions?
- Gain on airspeed
- Elevator thrust compensation
- AOA limiting
What happens if the elevator becomes jammed?
Elevator becomes fixed where the jam occurred and the pilot operates the opposite elevator
Which rudder actuator does the captain/first officer control?
- Captain - upper actuator
* First officer - lower actuator
What happens if the rudder pedal assembly jams?
Rudder remains active and actuated by high level functions
What happens if the rudder PCU actuator jams?
Rudder will be locked in the current position
How many slats/flaps segments are there?
- 4 slats per wing
* 2 flaps per wing
If the flaps fail will the slats work and vice versa?
Yes
What are slats/flaps limited to with the RAT deployed?
Flaps 3
