FMAs/ASAs Flashcards
FLT DIR
The flight Director is ON and the autopilots are not engaged.
A/P
The autopilots are engaged.
LAND 3
Three autopilots are engaged and operating normally for an automatic landing. The auto pilot system level of redundancy is such that a single fault cannot prevent the auto pilot system from making an automatic landing.
LAND 2
AFDS redundancy is reduced; in some cases, only two auto pilots are available. The level of redundancy is such that a single fault cannot cause a significant deviation from the flight path (fail passive).
NO AUTOLAND
AFDS redundancy is unable to make an automatic landing.
THR
Autothrottle applies thrust to maintain the vertical speed required by the pitch mode.
THR REF
Thrust is set to the selected thrust limit display on EICAS.
IDLE
Displays while auto throttle system moves thrust levels to idle; IDLE mode is followed by HOLD mode.
HOLD
Thrust levers are disconnected from auto throttle servos. The pilot can set the thrust levers manually.
SPD
The auto throttle maintains the selected speed displayed on the PFD. Auto throttle will not exceed the operating speed limit or the thrust limits displayed on EICAS.
TO/GA (Roll) (On Ground)
On the ground, with both flight directors off, TO/GA engages when the first flight director which is selected ON or when a TO/GA switch is pushed with speed greater than 80 KIAS. TO/GA roll guidance is wings level at lift off until 5 feet RA, then it maintains ground track.
TO/GA (Roll) (In Flight)
In flight TO/GA is armed whenever the flaps are extended or at glideslope capture. There is no FMA for TO/GA armed in flight. TO/GA is engaged in flight by pushing a TO/GA switch. The AFDS maintains ground track present at mode engagement.
LNAV (armed)
LNAV is armed by pushing the LNAV switch. The switch light bar is displayed and LNAV is annunciated on the PFD role mode annunciator in small white letters below the current role mode.
LNAV (engaged)
LNAV engages if above 50 feet and within 2.5 NM of the active route leg. LNAV is annunciated in green letters on the PFD role mode annunciator. The AFDS follows the active leg displayed on the ND.
HDG SEL (engaged)
Airplane is turning to or is on the heading selected in the MCP HDG/TRK window.
HDG HOLD (engaged)
The AFDS holds the present heading. If turning the FDS holds the heading reached after rolling wings level.
TRK SEL (engaged)
Airplane is turning to or is on the track selected in the MCP HDG/TRK window.
TRK HOLD (engaged)
The AFDS holds the present track. If turning, the AFDS holds the track reached after rolling wings level.
ATT (engaged)
When auto pilot first engaged, or F/D first turned on in flight, or approach mode disengaged by reselecting APP after LOC capture (above 1500 feet RA).
-if Bank angle is greater than 30°, a FDS returns to 30° bank.
-if Bank can go between 30° and 5°, AFDS holds Bank angle.
-If Bank can go less than 5°, AFDS commands wings level.
LOC (armed)
The AFDS captures the localizer when within range and within 120° of the localizer track.
LOC (engaged)
The AFDS follows the selected localizer course.
ROLLOUT (armed)
Displays between 1500 feet RA; engages below 2 feet RA.
ROLLOUT (engaged)
After touchdown, the a FDS uses rudder and nosewheel steering to keep the airplane on the localizer central line.
TO/GA (Pitch) (on the ground)
Engaged when the first F/D switch is selected ON, or when either TO/GA switch is pushed with speed greater than 80 KIAS. The flight Director PFD pitch bar indicates an initial pitch up of 8°.
TO/GA (in flight)
After takeoff, the AFDS pitch command is a target airspeed of:
-V2 +15 kt or the air speed at rotation +15 kn whichever is greater, or
-if current airspeed remains above target speed for five seconds, target air speed is reset to current air speed, to a maximum of V2 +25 kts, or
-The IAS/MACH window speed if it is changed to a speed greater than target speed.
TO/GA (pitch) (engine loss on takeoff)
If the engine fails during takeoff, the AFDS pitch command is a target airspeed of:
- V2 if airspeed is below V2, or
- existing speed if airspeed is below V2 and V2 +15, or
-V2 +15 if airspeed is above the V2+15
TO/GA (pitch) on Go Around
Commanded speed is the MCP IAS/MACH window or current air speed, whichever is higher, to a maximum of the IAS/MACH window speed +25 kts. GA displays as the thrust limit on the primary EICAS engine display.
VNAV
Armed on the ground by pushing the VNAV switch. VNAV engages above 400 feet after takeoff, if armed. VNAV engages in the appropriate VNAV mode as required to maintain the current flight path.
VNAV SPD (engaged)
The AFDS maintains the FMC speed displayed above the PFD air speed tape. The PFD displays MCP IAS/MACH window air speed or, if window blank, speed command commanded by the FMC.
VNAV PTH (engaged)
The AFDS maintains FMC/CDU altitude or decent path with pitch commands.
VNAV ALT (engaged)
FNAV, when a conflict occurs between the VNAV profile and the MCP altitude, the airplane levels in the pitch FMA becomes VNAV ALT. VNAV ALT maintains that altitude. To continue the climb or descent change the MCP altitude and push the altitude selector or change the pitch mode.
VNAV ALT descent below the VNAV decent path
If an early descent is desired, FLCH, V/S, or FPA may be selected to descend below VNAV descent path. VNAV is armed and the airplane descent path subsequently intercepts the VNAV decent path, VNAV engages in VNAV PTH.
V/S (engaged)
Pushing the MCP VS/FPA switch open the VS/FPA speed window to display the current vertical speed. Pitch commands maintain the rate of climb or descent selected in the VS/FPA window.
FPA (engaged)
Pushing the MCP VS/FPA switch opens the flightpath angle window to display the current flight path angle. Pitch commands maintain the flight path angle selected in the VS/FPA window.
FLCH SPD (engaged)
Pushing the MCP FLCH switch opens the IAS/MACH window (if blanked). Pitch commands maintain IAS/MACH window airspeed or Mach.
ALT (engaged)
Altitude hold mode is engaged by pushing the MCP altitude HOLD switch or capturing the selected altitude from a V/S, FPA, or FLCH climb or descent.
G/S (engaged)
The AFDS follows the ILS glideslope.
FLARE (armed)
During an autoland, FLARE in small white letters displays below 1500 feet RA.
FLARE (engaged)
During an auto land, FLARE engages (green) at approximately 50 feet RA. FLARE deactivates a touchdown and smoothly lowers the nosewheel to the runway.
Autopilot protections
- Bank angle
- Stall (above 500 feet)
- Overspeed
