Autoflight

Question 1

The Autopilot Flight Director System (AFDS) consists of

Answer 1

three Autopilot Flight Director Computers (AFDCs) and the Mode Control Panel (MCP).

Question 2

he AFDS does not have direct control of the flight controls.

Answer 2

The autopilot controls the elevators, ailerons, flaperons and spoilers through the fly-by-wire system.

Question 3

The only time the autopilot controls the rudder

Answer 3

is when LAND 3 or LAND 2 is annunciated during an automatic approach and landing.

Question 4

On rollout, during an autoland, the autopilot will

Answer 4

control the nose wheel steering.

Question 5

The Mode Control Panel (MCP)

Answer 5

provides control of the autopilot, flight director, and autothrottle system.

Question 6

The pitch flight director bar will be removed when

Answer 6

the stall or overspeed protection functions are activated.

Question 7

Land 3 downgrade to Land 2 is known as

Answer 7

Fail Operational

In some cases only 2 a/p’s are available

If system problem occurs before Land 3 ASA annunciation - there is no aural warning it is an advisory message only

Question 8

Land 2 is Fail Passive

Answer 8

the level of redundancy is such that a single fault will not cause a significant deviation from the flight path.

Question 9

If NO AUTOLAND occurs after LAND 2 or LAND 3 is annunciated,

Answer 9

it will be shown as an EICAS caution and the aural beeper will sound.

Question 10

During an autoland approach and below 200 ft

Answer 10

if the message does not affect the safety of the flight, the aural alerts and master caution will be inhibited until after landing.

Question 11

When on approach below 200 ft, all changes to the autoland status are inhibited. The only exception

Answer 11

for a change in ASA to NO AUTOLAND.

Question 12

With the autopilot engaged, if a specific mode should become degraded

Answer 12

an amber line will be drawn through it.

Question 13

THR is displayed when

Answer 13

the autothrottle is applying thrust to maintain the required vertical speed required by the pitch mode.

Question 14

THR REF is displayed when

Answer 14

the thrust is set to the limit shown on the EICAS.

Question 15

IDLE is displayed when

Answer 15

the thrust levers are moved to idle by the Autothrottle system.

Question 16

HOLD is displayed when

Answer 16

the thrust lever autothrottle servos are inhibited. In this case, the pilot is able to set the thrust levers manually.

Question 17

SPD is displayed when

Answer 17

the autothrottles are maintaining the speed displayed on the PFD.

The speed can be set from the MCP speed selector or from various pages on the CDU.

Question 18

The autothrottle will not exceed

Answer 18

the operating speed or thrust limits displayed on the EICAS.

Question 19

NAV engaged is displayed during different phases of flight. After take-off, LNAV engages if

Answer 19

above 50 ft RA and within 2.5 nm of the active route leg if the autopilot is not engaged

and at 200 ft RA if the autopilot is engaged.

Question 20

HDG HOLD is displayed when

Answer 20

the HOLD switch under the HDG / TRK selector is pushed.

This allows the autopilot to hold the present heading or if pushed when in a turn, the autopilot will fly the heading reached after rolling wings level.

Question 21

TRK SEL is displayed when

Answer 21

flying or turning to a track selected in the MCP.

Question 22

TRK HOLD is displayed when

Answer 22

when the HOLD switch under the HDG / TRK selector is pushed.

This allows the autopilot to hold the present track or if pushed when in a turn, the autopilot will fly the track reached after rolling wings level.

Question 23

During flight, if the autopilot or flight director is turned on and no roll mode has been selected,

Answer 23

attitude will be displayed and the AFDS will hold a bank angle between 5 ° and 30 ° and will not roll wings level.

If the bank angle was less than 5 ° when selected, the AFDS will return the plane to wings level and the FMA will display HDG HLD or TRK HOLD.

If the bank angle was greater than 30 ° when selected, the AFDS will return the plane to 30 ° of bank.

Question 24

On the ground, there are two situations which will cause the TO/GA mode to be displayed.

Answer 24

The first is when either F/D switch is initially selected ON.

The other situation would occur if a takeoff is being completed without the aid of the flight directors.

If the flight directors are now required and the airspeed is greater than 80 kt, pushing either TO/GA switch will cause the flight directors to appear.

The TO/GA pitch and roll guidance will become active at lift-off.

Question 25

In flight, TO/GA will be armed with

Answer 25

the flaps out of the UP position or at G/S capture on approach. In this situation, the TO/GA annunciation is not displayed.

Question 26

n flight, TO/GA is engaged by pushing the TO/GA switch. The autopilot will enter the go-around phase and will

Answer 26

maintain the present ground track at mode engagement.

Question 27

ROLLOUT is armed on an ILS approach using the autopilot when

Answer 27

below 1,500 ft RA. It engages below 2 ft RA. ROLLOUT is engaged below 2 ft on landing. After touchdown, the autopilot will use the rudder and nosewheel steering to maintain the centerline.

Question 28

The RESET MCP ALT is displayed

Answer 28

on the FMC when within 2 min of the T/D point.

Question 29

VNAV ALT displays when

Answer 29

there is a difference between the VNAV profile and the MCP selected altitude. Conversely for descent, if a lower altitude is not selected in the MCP at the top of the VNAV descent profile the FMA will change to VNAV ALT.

Question 30

If the airplane is within 50 nm from the Top of Descent (T/D) point and a descent is required, first select a lower altitude. Select 15,000 ft on the ALTITUDE selector and then push the ALTITUDE selector.

Answer 30

VNAV SPD will be displayed until the airplane intercepts the proper descent profile. When the airplane intercepts the desired descent path, VNAV SPD will be replaced with VNAV PTH.

Question 31

FPA is displayed by pushing the MCP V/S / FPA switch when FPA mode is selected. This will cause the FPA window to display the current Flight Path Angle

Answer 31

Pitch commands will maintain the Flight Path Angle selected in the window.

Question 32

The FLARE mode is armed and the FMA is displayed, when

Answer 32

LAND 3 or LAND 2 is annunciated on the PFDs. At approximately 50 ft RA, the autopilots start the flare maneuver. FLARE replaces the G/S pitch FMA.

Question 33

When autothrust is armed,

Answer 33

the Climb / Continuous (CLB/CON) thrust switch does not operate on the ground or below 400 ft on takeoff.

Question 34

Provided the autothrottle is armed, pushing the A/T switch above 400 ft activates the autothrottle in the selected pitch mode.

Answer 34

The illuminated green bar in the switch indicates the autothrottle is active. With no mode selected, the SPD mode becomes active.

Question 35

In order to use the TO/GA switches on takeoff,

Answer 35

the speed must be less than 50 kt and the flaps must be out of UP. If the switch is not pushed below 50 kt, autothrottle operation will not be available until 400 ft altitude. In this case the thrust levers must be manually positioned. LNAV and VNAV are disarmed if either switch is pushed above 80 kt.

Question 36

TOGA on Takeoff below 400'

Answer 36

Once the aircraft has lifted off and still below 400 ft in HOLD mode, the pilot may wish to remove the displayed takeoff derate. In this case, a TO/GA switch may be pushed to provide reference thrust (THR REF). This will disarm the AFDS modes and, between 50 ft and 400 ft, will select the TO/GA roll mode.

Question 37

With GA thrust limit displayed

Answer 37

this action activates the autothrottle in THR mode, disarms the AFDS modes and selects TO/GA roll and pitch modes. A second push activates the autothrottles in the THR REF mode. Push a TO/GA switch.

Question 38

Once the LOC and G/S have been captured, these modes can only be disengaged by

Answer 38

disconnecting the A/P and turning OFF both F/Ds, selecting TO/GA for a go-around, or, provided the aircraft is above 1,500 ft RA, by deselecting APP. In this case the roll and pitch modes will revert to the default values.

Question 39

Should the autothrottle be used for a manual landing, the thrust will reduce to IDLE at 25 ft RA when

Answer 39

he flight director is OFF, or the pitch mode is V/S, FPA, G/S, or in any VNAV mode such as VNAV SPD, VNAV PTH, or VNAV ALT.

Question 40

With the autothrottle armed, the autothrottle automatically activates

Answer 40

if: no autopilot or flight director is active, or an autopilot or flight director is in VNAV XXX, FPA, ALT, or G/S, and: the speed is less than a FMC calculated value for one sec, the thrust is below reference thrust, the airplane altitude is above 100 ft RA on approach, or the airplane barometric altitude is 400 ft above the airport on takeoff.

Question 41

If making a descent in VNAV SPD mode, the autothrottle may

Answer 41

stay in the HOLD mode. In this case, it will not support stall protection.

Question 42

The autothrottle does not need to be disconnected

Answer 42

in order to manually move the thrust levers. After the thrust levers have been manually moved, the Autothrottle system will then reposition them to comply with the active mode.

Question 43

When in HOLD mode the Autothrottle system will not

Answer 43

reposition the thrust levers.

Question 44

Automatic disconnect will also occur if the pilot

Answer 44

overrides the thrust levers during landing, after the autothrottle has begun to retard the thrust levers to idle.

Question 45

Takeoff thrust is entered and verified

Answer 45

as is any assumed temperature and the required climb thrust.

Question 46

In order to use the TO/GA switches on takeoff, the speed must be less than

Answer 46

50 kt. The autothrottle activates at the thrust limit selected on THRUST LIMIT page. If a switch is not pushed below 50 kt, autothrottle operation will not be available until 400 ft altitude. In this case the thrust levers must be manually positioned.

Question 47

the autothrottle mode annunciation changes to HOLD.

Answer 47

At 80 kt The thrust levers may now be manually positioned and the Autothrottle system will not cause repositioning while HOLD is annunciated.

Question 48

LNAV and VNAV are disarmed if

Answer 48

either switch is pushed above 80 kt.

Question 49

The barometric altitude is recorded by the FMC as the airplane accelerates through

Answer 49

100 kt. The recorded barometric altitude is used to engage VNAV, enable autothrottle activation, command acceleration for flap retraction, and set climb thrust when appropriate.

Question 50

LNAV engagement is not based on the recorded barometric altitude, but is based on

Answer 50

Radio Altitude after lift-off.

Question 51

At lift-off, the roll command maintains and the flight director commands a pitch to maintain

Answer 51

ground track v2 + 15 If this speed is exceeded for more than 5 sec, the target airspeed is reset to the current airspeed. However, this new airspeed will not exceed V2 + 25.

Question 52

With an engine failure on the ground, the pitch commands a target speed of

Answer 52

V2 or the airspeed at lift-off, whichever is greater.

Question 53

If an engine failure occurs after lift-off the pitch command target speed is

Answer 53

V2, if the airspeed is below V2. The commanded speed is the existing speed, if the airspeed is between V2 and V2 + 15; or V2 + 15, if the airspeed is above V2 + 15.

Question 54

If LNAV has been armed, it engages at

Answer 54

50 ft RA. Roll then commands bank to track the active route.

Question 55

If VNAV is armed, it engages at

Answer 55

400 ft above the runway elevation and commands the current airspeed. The autothrottle activates in Thrust Reference mode.

Question 56

When the acceleration height is reached, pitch commands the speed to

Answer 56

5 kt below the takeoff flap placard speed. As flap retraction continues, acceleration is further commanded to 5 kt below the placard speed of the commanded flap position.

Question 57

At the thrust reduction point, which may be either an altitude or a flap position, the FMC changes the thrust limit to

Answer 57

the armed climb limit (CLB).

Question 58

When the flaps are up, acceleration continues to the VNAV climb speed. This is the greater of

Answer 58

VREF + 80 kt, or the speed transition associated with the origin airport.

Question 59

Glideslope captures when the intercept track angle is within

Answer 59

80 ° of the localizer course.

Question 60

The localizer will only intercept on an angle of

Answer 60

120 ° or less.

Question 61

Runway alignment is a sub mode of the approach mode. When crosswinds are present,

Answer 61

the approach crab angle is reduced at touchdown. The runway alignment mode also compensates for a single-engine approach.

Question 62

When more than 10 ° of crab angle is needed on approach, runway alignment occurs at

Answer 62

500 ft AGL.

Question 63

When 5 to 10 ° of crab angle is needed on approach, the crab angle is initially reduced by establishing

Answer 63

a 5 ° sideslip at 500 ft. This is followed by a second alignment at 200 ft AGL, where a second sideslip alignment increases the sideslip to further reduce the touchdown crab angle.

Question 64

When less than 5 ° of crab angle is needed on approach, no runway alignment occurs until

Answer 64

200 ft AGL, at which point a sideslip is introduced to align the airplane with the runway.

Question 65

In the case of an engine failure prior to the approach, a sideslip is introduced at

Answer 65

1,300 ft AGL in order to establish a wings level configuration.

Question 66

In the case of an engine failure during the approach, the wings level configuration is established

Answer 66

when the engine failure is detected.

Question 67

The autothrottle begins retarding the thrust levers to idle between

Answer 67

25 and 50 ft RA for the flare. IDLE will be indicated on the FMA.

Question 68

The rollout mode is armed when

Answer 68

LAND 3 or LAND 2 is annunciated on the PFDs and provides localizer centerline rollout guidance.

Question 69

Rollout engages at less than

Answer 69

2 ft Radio Altitude and ROLLOUT replaces the LOC roll mode annunciation.

Question 70

When the flaps are extended out of UP, or when the glide slope is captured, the thrust limit changes to

Answer 70

G/A and TO/GA mode will be armed for a possible missed approach. There is no indication of TO/GA mode being armed.

Question 71

The TO/GA switches are inhibited when on the ground and enabled again when

Answer 71

in the air for a go-around or a touch and go.

Question 72

During a go-around, the first push of either TO/GA switch causes:

Answer 72

he autothrottle changes to THR mode and thrust is increased to achieve a 2,000 ft/min climb, ## Footnote the AFDS will increase pitch to hold the selected speed as the thrust increases, and if the current airspeed remains above the target speed for 5 sec, the target speed is reset to the current airspeed. Note that the reset to current speed will be to a maximum of the IAS / MACH window speed plus 25 kt.

Question 73

The second push of either TO/GA switch causes

Answer 73

the autothrottle to engage in the THR REF mode to provide full go-around thrust. Push either TO/GA switch.

Question 74

If an LNAV path is available, LNAV automatically arms and engages:

Answer 74

above 50 feet RA when the autopilot is not engaged, or above 200 feet RA when the autopilot is engaged.

Question 75

At flap retraction altitude, the airspeed can be set to the minimum maneuvering speed for the desired flap setting. After flap retraction,

Answer 75

select VNAV or FLCH for the desired pitch mode

Question 76

In the event of a windshear,

Answer 76

push a TO/GA switch. A pitch-up of 15 ° or slightly below the pitch limit, whichever is lower, will be commanded. As recovery is underway, with the Rate of Climb increasing, the commands will change from pitch to airspeed control. The greater of the current airspeed or the IAS / MACH window airspeed when TO/GA was engaged will be the selected target. Similar to a normal go-around, if the current airspeed remains above the selected speed for 5 sec, the selected airspeed is reset to current airspeed, up to a maximum of the IAS / MACH window speed plus 25 kt. If TO/GA is selected with the autopilot not engaged, the pilot must manually fly the recovery by following the flight director commands. The thrust levers must be advanced manually should the autothrottle not be armed.

Question 77

Significant ILS signal interference may be present due to service vehicles or aircraft. This can be detected by the Autopilot Flight Director System. The autopilot

Answer 77

disregards the ILS signal and remains engaged in an attitude-stabilizing mode based on inertial data when such interference is detected.

Question 78

If the flight envelope is exceeded, an AUTOPILOT caution message and roll or pitch mode failures will alert the pilot and the autopilot

Answer 78

prevents further envelope violations.

Question 79

An AUTOPILOT caution message displays when the autopilot is operating in a degraded mode,

Answer 79

the engaged roll and / or pitch mode may have failed or the autopilot has entered envelope protection.

Question 80

An AUTOTHROTTLE L or R advisory message displays when

Answer 80

the affected autothrottle is OFF or has failed.

Question 81

A NO AUTOLAND message appears when autoland is not available. A caution message appears if a fault occurs after LAND 3 or LAND 2 is annunciated. It also appears when

Answer 81

the approach has been selected but does not engage by 600 ft AGL. An advisory message appears if the fault occurs before LAND 3 or LAND 2 is annunciated.

Question 82

A NO LAND 3 message appears when autoland system does not have

Answer 82

redundancy for triple channel autoland. A caution message appears if a fault occurs after LAND 3 is annunciated. An advisory message appears if a fault occurs before LAND 3 is annunciated.