Automatic Flight

Question 1

Explain which roll mode is affected by the HDG BANK LIMIT selector

Answer 1

• HDG SEL only (has no effect in L-NAV mode)
  — In AUTO, the selector will vary the aircraft bank angle depending on true airspeed
  — if manually selected between 5 and 25, the selected value is the maximum value regardless of true airspeed

Question 2

Describe the method(s) for auto throttle (A/T) engagement and disengagement

Answer 2

ENGAGEMENT (the A/T ARM switch must be armed):

• N1/EPR
• SPD
• VNAV
• FLCH
• Pressing either G/A switch on the rear of the thrust levers

DISENGAGEMENT

• Positioning the A/T ARM switch to OFF

-Pressing either A/T disconnect switch on the rear of the thrust levels. A second press clears the AUTOTHROT DISC EICAS message

• Engaging reverse thrust

NOTE: Manually over-riding auto throttle the commanded thrust lever position will NOT disengage the auto throttles

Question 3

ADI

Explain what the mode color green represents in the FMA

Answer 3

The mode is active

Question 4

ADI

Explain what a green box around the mode represents in the FMA

Answer 4

A mode change emphasis - displays for 10 seconds

Question 5

ADI

Explain what the mode color white represents in the FMA

Answer 5

The mode is armed

Question 6

Locate where the localizer pointers, glide slope pointers, and deviation scales are displayed

Answer 6

Ref AUTO_008 in S-LOD for pictures

Question 7

Explain the meanings of the AFDS annunciations: CMD and FD

Answer 7

• CMD (Command) - An autopilot is engaged in the command mode
• FD (flight director) - The flight director on the associated side is turned ON

Question 8

Explain the flight director pitch and roll commands during takeoff (if TO/TO selected) and when go-around is selected

Answer 8

TAKEOFF

Pitch: the flight director pitch bar indicates an initial pitch of approximately 8 degrees up

• After takeoff, the AFDS commands a pitch attitude to maintain a desired speed (based on the speed set in the IAS/MACH window) This speed is automatically calculated by the AFDS. Once a pilot changes the speed in the IAS/MACH window, the pitch bar commands a pitch attitude to maintain the new speed.

NOTE: AFDS uses the speed set in the IAS/MACH window prior to takeoff for V2

ROLL: Maintains ground track until a new roll mode is selected

GO AROUND

Pitch: When a go-around is initiated, the commanded speed is the MCP IAS/MACH window or current airspeed, whichever is higher. If the airspeed increases and remains above the initial target airspeed for five seconds, target airspeed resets to current airspeed to a maximum of the IAS/MACH window speed plus 25 knots, that speed is maintained

ROLL: In flight, go-around arms with flaps out of up or at glide slope capture. There is no flight mode annunciation for go-around armed in flight; although the reference thrust limit changes to GA. Go-around is activated in flight by pushing either GA switch. The roll steering indication provides guidance to maintain the ground track existing at the time of GA engagement.

NOTE: Selecting a new pitch or roll mode is inhibited below 400 feet RA

Question 9

Explain how to manually disengage the autopilot(s)

Answer 9

• The control wheel autopilot disengage switch
• The autopilot DISENGAGE bar

Question 10

Explain the meaning of a steady red A/P DISC light on the center forward panel

Answer 10

Autopilot Disconnect (A/P DISC) light

Illuminated (RED)

• An autopilot has been automatically or manually disconnected
• can be extinguished by pushing either control column autopilot disengage switch

NOTE: Pushing either control column autopilot disengage switch also silences the aural warning

Question 11

Explain the indications of a degraded autopilot mode

Answer 11

Autopilot (AUTO PILOT) light

Illuminated (amber)

• A degraded operating condition exists in an engaged autopilot
• the light extinguishes when the condition is corrected or an alternate autopilot is selected, provided the fault is not common to an alternate autopilot

NOTE: continued operation with an autopilot in a degraded condition may result in a dangerous situation

Question 12

Explain the indications when the auto throttle is disengaged

Answer 12

Auto throttle Disconnect (A/T DISC) light

Illuminated (amber)

• The auto throttle system has been disconnected

NOTE: the light may be extinguished by pushing either auto throttle disconnect switch located on the outboard side of each thrust lever

Question 13

Explain the meaning of an FMC light on the center forward panel

Answer 13

FMC Annunciator light

Illuminated (amber)

• The MCDU is displaying an operationally significant message in the scratchpad

NOTE: Pushing the MCDU CLR key extinguishes the light and clears the scratchpad message

Question 14

Identify the slip / skid indicator

Answer 14

Bottom of the ADI

Question 15

Recall the operation of the Mode Control Panel (MCP) switches / selectors and explain the different indications displayed on the Flight Mode Annunciator (FMA)

Answer 15

Annunciations include:
- Autothrottle modes
- Pitch modes
- AFDS status
- Roll Modes

AUTOTHROTTLE MODES

Autothrottle mode Annunciators are:

• SPD - the Autothrottle system is controlling thrust to maintain the speed selected in the IAS/MACH speed window
• IDLE - A/T is reducing or has reduced thrust to flight idle
• THR HOLD - (throttle hold) the thrust levers will remain in their existing position or where manually placed
• N1 or EPR - the A/T is controlling the selected N1 or EPR
• FLCH - the A/T controlling to a maximum of the selected mode reference thrust during climb and to a minimum thrust during descent
• GA - the A/T controlling to a max reference thrust to maintain a climb rate of at least 2000 fpm. If both flight directors and the autopilot are off, the Autothrottle system controls to go-around reference thrust subject to flap and VMO limit speeds

ROLL MODES:

• LNAV (armed) - LNAV is armed to activate when parameters are met
• LNAV (active) - LNAV activates when in position to turn onto the active route leg. In flight, selection causes immediate activation if within 2 1/2 NM of the active leg
• HDG SEL (active) - the aircraft turns to or maintains the heading selected in the MCP heading window
• HDG HOLD (active) the AFDS holds present heading. When turning, the aircraft holds the heading reached after rolling wings level
• LOC (armed) - the AFDS captures the localizer when within range and within 120 degrees of the localizer course
• LOC (active) - the AFDS follows the localizer course
• B/CRS (armed) - the AFDS is armed to capture and track inbound on backcourse of localizer after localizer capture
• B-CRS (active) - the AFDS tracks inbound on back-course of localizer
• TO - On the ground, TO Annunciator by selecting either F/D switch to ON if both flight directors were OFF. TO roll and pitch guidance become active at lift -off. In flight, go-around arms with the flaps out of up or at glideslope capture. There is no flight mode annunciation for go-around armed in flight; although the reference thrust limit changes to GA
• GA - Go-around is activated in flight by pushing a GA switch. The roll steering indication provides guidance to maintain the ground track present at mode engagement
• ROLLOUT (armed) - displays below 1500 feet radio altitude and activates below 5 feet
• ROLLOUT (active) - after touchdown, AFDS uses rudder and nose wheel steering to steer the airplane on the localizer centerline

PITCH MODES

TO-

On the ground, TO annunciates by selecting either F/D switch to ON if both flight directors are OFF. The flight director pitch bar indicates an initial pitch of approximately eight degrees up. After takeoff, the AFDS commands a pitch attitude to maintain:

• pitch command greater of V2 + 15 knots or liftoff speed + 15
• if current airspeed remains above the target speed for 5 seconds, target airspeed resets to current airspeed, to a maximum of V2 + 25 knots IAS/MACH window speed if IAS/MACH window speed is
  changed to a speed greater than the target speed

Note: AFDS uses the speed set in the IAS/MACH window prior to takeoff for V2.

GA–

After the reference thrust limit changes from takeoff to climb, GA arms whenever flaps are out of up or at glideslope capture.When a go–around is initiated, the commanded speed is the MCP IAS/Mach window or current airspeed, whichever is higher. If the
airspeed increases and remains above the initial target airspeed for five seconds, target airspeed resets to current airspeed to a maximum of the
IAS/MACH window speed plus 25 knots. If airspeed at initiation of go–
around is greater than IAS/Mach window plus 25 knots, that speed is
maintained. GA displays as the reference thrust limit on the primary EICAS engine display.

VNAV–

Arm VNAV by pushing the VNAV switch. The light illuminates and VNAV PTH or SPD annunciates on the FMA pitch mode annunciator in white
characters above the current pitch mode.

VNAV provides pitch commands to maintain the FMC computed
airspeed/path:

• VNAV SPD (active) – the AFDS maintains the FMC speed
  displayed on the FMA and/or the CDU CLIMB or DESCENT
  pages. During speed ntervention, use the MCP IAS/MACH selector to manually set the speed
• VNAV PTH (active) – the AFDS maintains FMC altitude or
  descent path with pitch commands. For a non–entered headwind, thrust may increase to maintain the VNAV descent path. If the MCP altitude window is set to the current cruise altitude as the
  airplane approaches the top of descent, the CDU scratchpad
  message RESET MCP ALT displays
• When a VNAV descent is initiated before the top of descent (T/D) and the airplane descent path subsequently intercepts the VNAV
  descent path, the pitch annunciation changes from VNAV SPD to VNAV PTH

V/S –

Pushing the V/S switch opens the vertical speed window and displays the current vertical speed. It also opens the IAS/MACH window (if
blanked). Pitch commands maintain the rate of climb or descent selected in the V/S window

SPD –

Pushing the SPD switch opens the IAS/MACH window (if
blanked). Pitch commands maintain IAS/MACH window airspeed or mach

ALT CAP–

A transition maneuver entered automatically from a V/S, FLCH, or VNAV climb or descent to selected MCP altitude. Engages but does not annunciate during VNAV transition.

ALT HOLD–

Altitude hold mode is activated by:

• pushing the MCP altitude HOLD switch, or
• capturing the selected altitude from a V/S or FLCH climb or
  descent, or
• During VNAV climb or descent, capturing MCP prior to reaching the active FMC altitude.

G/S–

• GS (armed) – AFDS captures the glideslope when within range and within 80 degrees of the localizer course
• GS (active) – AFDS follows the glideslope path

FLARE –

• FLARE (armed) (white)– during an autoland, FLARE displays
  below 1500 feet radio altitude
• FLARE (active) (green) – during an autoland, flare activates at
  approximately (45’-757 or 50’-767) feet radio altitude. FLARE deactivates at touchdown.

Question 16

Recall the different meanings of the ASA annunciations
- LAND 3
- LAND 2
- NO AUTOLAND

Answer 16

LAND 3 - The aircraft is below approximately 1500’ RA, the APP mode is active and the ASA shows the aircraft systems are acceptable for CAT III operations

LAND 2 - the aircraft is below 1500’ RA the APP mode is active and the ASA shows the aircraft systems are acceptable for CAT II operations

NOTE: With LAND 2 displayed in the ASA, 2 Units of nose up trim bias is applied prior to landing which may affect a manual landing if the autopilot is disconnected

NO AUTOLAND - can appear at anytime or altitude. The aircraft systems are NOT acceptable for AUTOLAND operation

Question 17

Recall when APP is selected, with LOC and GS armed, the GS may capture prior to the LOC capture

Answer 17

• With APP selected either localizer or glideslope can be captured first

Question 18

Recall that when flying a back course approach, Delta recommends selecting B/CRS prior to LOC

Question 19

Recall the N1/EPR switch controls thrust, not speed

Answer 19

NOTE: the display mode of EPR or N1 is engine type dependent

Pratt engines will display EPR
GE engines will display N1

Question 20

Recall the FLCH switch utilizes a “two minute rule” (125 seconds) to prevent the Autothrottle system from performing a full EPR climb or flight idle descent during small altitude changes

Question 21

Recall the V/S switch has no overspeed or stall protection, and can fly the aircraft away from the MCP selected altitude

Question 22

Describe the two ways speed is controlled in VNAV

Answer 22

Inputs into the FMS

Using speed intervention (pushing the IAS/MACH selector)

Question 23

Recall the LNAV switch allows the FMS to control the aircraft’s lateral navigation and bank angle

Question 24

Recall the function of the HDG HOLD switch

Answer 24

• PUSH
  
  • Selects the HDG HOLD roll mode
• HDG HOLD displays as the pitch mode on each FMA
• If selected with the aircraft in a turn, the AFDS rolls the aircraft wings level, and then holds present heading

Question 25

Recall the function of the HDG HOLD switch

Answer 25

Push –

• Selects the ALT HOLD pitch mode
• ALT HOLD pitch mode displays as the FMA pitch mode.
• The AFDS commands pitch to maintain the altitude the aircraft was at when the switch was pushed

Question 26

Recall that selecting G/A, while the F/D switches are turned OFF, will cause the flight director command bars to appear.

Question 27

Recall the vertical speed selector is only active if the VERT SPD window is open.

Question 28

Recall that engaging an autopilot in the takeoff or go-around mode will result in pitch and roll modes of V/S and HDG HOLD.

Question 29

Recall how another pitch or roll mode can be engaged after
localizer or glideslope has captured.

Answer 29

• With LOC captured and G/S armed, select another roll mode
• With G/S captured and LOC armed, select other pitch mode
• Select GA after LOC and/or G/S are captured
• Disengage autopilot(s), turn both F/D switches off then back on, and then select the desired pitch and roll modes

Question 30

Recall how the approach mode can be disarmed if neither the
localizer or glideslope have been captured.

Answer 30

Select the approach switch a second time or select other pitch or roll mode

Question 31

Recall how after the localizer and glideslope are both captured,
they can be deactivated.

Answer 31

After localizer and glideslope capture, the localizer and
glideslope modes can only be deactivated by disengaging the
autopilot and turning both flight directors off or by selecting the
GA mode.