Supplement: Autoflight Flashcards
MCDU / FMGS:
What are the main components of the FMGS?
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º 2 FMGCs
º 2 MCDUs
º 1 FCU (two independent channels)
º 2 FACs
MCDU / FMGS:
What are the functions of the Flight Management Guidance Computers?
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º Flight Guidance
º Flight Management
MCDU / FMGS:
What are the 3 modes of FMGC operation?
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º Independent (MCDU scratchpad displays – INDEPENDENT OPERATION)
º Single (ND displays – SELECT OFFSIDE RNG/MODE)
º Dual (Normal)
MCDU / FMGS:
What are the 2 modes of flight guidance?
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º Managed Guidance
º Selected Guidance
MCDU / FMGS:
What is the Managed mode of flight guidance used for?
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Long-term lateral, vertical, and speed profiles as determined by the FMGS
MCDU / FMGS:
What is the Selected mode of flight guidance used for?
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Temporary lateral, vertical, and speed commands as selected with the FCU
MCDU / FMGS:
Does Selected or Managed Guidance have priority?
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Selected Guidance always has priority
MCDU / FMGS:
How do you determine the validity of the navigation database?
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On the Aircraft Status page via the MCDU
MCDU / FMGS:
What input does each FMGC use for position determination?
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A hybrid (“mix”) IRS/GPS position
MCDU / FMGS:
How does autopilot selection influence master FMGS logic?
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º If one autopilot is engaged, the respective FMGS is master
º If both autopilots are engaged, FMGS 1 will be the master
MCDU / FMGS:
If an amber SELECT OFFSIDE RNG/MODE message is displayed on the ND what action should the crew take?
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An FMGS has failed and both NDs must be set to the same mode and range (single mode)
MCDU / FMGS:
Can both autopilots be engaged during any phase of flight?
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No, only during an ILS approach
MCDU / FMGS:
What is the difference between the large and small fonts utilized in the MCDU?
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º Large – Pilot entries and modifiable data
º Small – Default/computed non-modifiable data
MCDU / FMGS:
Where do you enter the Zero Fuel Weight?
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INIT B page (not accessible after engine start)
MCDU / FMGS:
What do amber box prompts on the MCDU indicate?
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An entry is mandatory
MCDU / FMGS:
What occurs when managed NAV mode is engaged and the aircraft flies into a flight plan discontinuity?
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NAV mode will be lost and the HDG/TRK mode engage
MCDU / FMGS:
What is the function of the Flight Control Unit?
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º Permits short term interface between the pilot and FMGS
º Allows temporary modification of any flight parameter (HDG, SPD, ALT, V/S)
º Used to select operational modes of the autopilots, flight directors, and A/THR system
MCDU / FMGS:
What do dashes in the FCU display windows along with the adjacent white dot indicate?
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FMGS Managed Guidance is in use
MCDU / FMGS:
How is Selected Guidance engaged?
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Pull the appropriate selector knob
MCDU / FMGS:
How do you confirm all autopilot, FD, and A/THR inputs?
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Confirm all mode inputs by reference to the Flight Mode Annunciator (FMA)
MCDU / FMGS:
Will the FCU Altitude window ever display dashes?
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No. Pilot selected altitude will always be displayed
Primary Flight Display:
What does each column mean on the PFD?
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º A/THR | VERTICAL | LATERAL | APPROACH CAPABILITY, DH/MDA | AP, FD, A/THR ENGAGEMENT STATUS
Primary Flight Display:
How is the crew made aware of mode changes on the FMA?
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A white box is temporarily displayed around the new indication (10-15secs)
Primary Flight Display:
How are armed modes displayed on the FMA?
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º Blue – armed
º Magenta – armed because of a constraint
º Green – engaged
Primary Flight Display:
When is the side stick position indication icon (white cross) displayed?
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º Displayed when the first engine is started
º Disappears at liftoff
Primary Flight Display:
What would the large red arrowheads indicate?
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Pitch attitude of > 30°
Primary Flight Display:
What is the meaning of USE MANUAL PITCH TRIM?
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You are in Direct Law
Primary Flight Display:
What is the meaning of MAN PITCH TRIM ONLY?
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You are in Mechanical Backup
Primary Flight Display:
What are the pitch and roll angle limits indicated by the green = signs?
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º Pitch: +30° up/-15° down
º Roll: +/- 67°
Primary Flight Display:
How can you determine you are in Alternate Law?
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º Amber X’s replace the green = marks at the pitch and bank limits
º Only VLS and VSW is displayed on the airspeed scale
Primary Flight Display:
When would the sideslip index change from yellow to blue? [ FCOM-DSC-31-40
In case of an engine failure during takeoff/go-around, it is now a blue beta target
Primary Flight Display:
What does the yellow speed trend line on the airspeed display indicate?
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The speed the aircraft will reach in 10 seconds if acceleration/deceleration remains constant
Primary Flight Display:
What is the difference between the magenta and blue target airspeeds?
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º Magenta – Managed speed computed by the FMGC
º Blue – Selected speed on the FCU
Primary Flight Display:
What speed does Vmax represent and how is it displayed?
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º It is the lowest of Vmo/Mmo, Vle, or Vfe
º Defined by the bottom of a red and black strip along the speed scale
Primary Flight Display:
What is Vls?
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º Represents lowest selectable speed providing an appropriate margin to the stall speed
º Corresponds to 1.13 VS during takeoff
º Corresponds to 1.23 VS after retraction of one step of flaps
º Corresponds to 1.28 VS in clean configuration
º Above 20,000ft, VLS is corrected for Mach effect to maintain a buffet margin of 0.2g
º In approach mode is equivalent to Vref
º Increases with speedbrake extension
Primary Flight Display:
What is Green Dot speed?
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º Engine out operating speed in clean configuration
º Appears when the aircraft is in the clean configuration
º Corresponds to the best lift-to-drag ratio
Primary Flight Display:
What is Ground Speed Mini?
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º Based on a calculated groundspeed at the runway
º Protects against actual groundspeed dropping below this calculated groundspeed
Primary Flight Display:
What does it mean when you see the magenta target airspeed triangle above VAPP on approach?
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Ground Speed Mini has increased speed due to a higher headwind component at your present location
than what was calculated at the runway
Primary Flight Display:
|Is this protection available in selected speed?
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No – Managed speed only
Primary Flight Display:
What are 3 ways to disconnect the A/THR?
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º Instinctive Disconnect buttons
º Thrust Levers to IDLE
º A/THR pushbutton
Primary Flight Display:
How do you disconnect the A/THR for the remainder of the flight?
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Press and hold the Instinctive Disconnect Pushbutton for 15 seconds
Primary Flight Display:
What would you lose if you held down the Instinctive Disconnect Pushbutton for more that 15 seconds?
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Alpha Floor Protection
Primary Flight Display:
What happens to thrust and what annunciates on the FMA when you reach Alpha Floor?
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º Thrust – TOGA
º FMA – A.FLOOR
Primary Flight Display:
What occurs during Alpha Floor protection after speed increases above Vls?
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FMA changes to TOGA LK
Primary Flight Display:
How do you regain normal A/THR when in TOGA LK?
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º Move Thrust Levers to the TOGA detent
º Press the Instinctive Disconnect button
º Return Thrust Levers to CL detent
º Push the A/THR pushbutton to engage A/THR
Primary Flight Display:
When is Alpha Floor Protection active?
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From lift-off through 100 feet RA on approach
Primary Flight Display:
When would Thrust Lock occur?
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º Thrust levers in CL detent and A/THR pushbutton on the FCU is pushed, or
º A/THR disconnects due to a failure
