Automatic Flight

Question 1

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

Answer 1

• Heading select (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 autothrottle (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 levers. A second press clears the
AUTOTHROT DISC EICAS message
• Engaging reverse thrust.
Note: Manually over-riding autothrottle the commanded thrust lever position will NOT disengage the autothrottles.

Question 3

Explain what the mode color green represents in the FMA

Answer 3

The mode is active

Question 4

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

Answer 4

A mode change emphasis – Displays for 10 seconds.

Question 5

Explain what the mode color white represents in the FMA.

Answer 5

The mode is armed.

Question 6

Locate where the localizer pointers, glideslope pointers, and deviation scales are displayed.

Answer 6

Common Sense. Look at the pictures to stay familiar

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 eight 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. If airspeed at initiation of go– around is greater than IAS/Mach window plus 25 knots, that speed is maintained.

Roll: In flight, go–around arms with 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. 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 autothrottle is disengaged.

Answer 12

Autothrottle Disconnect (A/T DISC) light
• Illuminated (amber):– The autothrottle system has been disconnected
Note: The light may be extinguished by pushing either autothrottle  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

• It is at the 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
SPD, IDLE, THR HOLD, N1 or EPR, FLCH, GA, 
• Pitch modes
TO, GA, VNAV SPD, VNAV PTH, V/S, SPD, ALT, G/S, FLARE, 
• AFDS status
• Roll modes
LNAV, HDG, LOC, B/CRS, TO, GA, ROLLOUT,

Question 16

Recall the different meanings of the ASA annunciations:

• LAND 3
• LAND 2
• NO AUTOLND.

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 approximately 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 AUTOLND – Can appear at anytime or altitude. The aircraft systems are NOT acceptable for Autoland
operations.

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 _________ prior to LOC.

Answer 18

B/CRS

Question 19

Recall the N1/EPR switch controls __________, not speed.

Answer 19

Thrust

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 _____________________ to prevent the autothrottle system from performing a full EPR climb or flight idle descent during small altitude changes.

Answer 20

“two minute rule” (125 seconds)

Question 21

Recall the V/S (Vertical Speed) switch has no ____________________, and can fly the aircraft away from the MCP selected altitude

Answer 21

overspeed or stall protection

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_______________________

Answer 23

lateral navigation and bank angle.

Question 24

Recall the function of the HDG HOLD switch.

Answer 24

Heading HOLD switch
• 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 ALT HOLD switch.

Answer 25

Altitude HOLD switch
• 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 ____________________________

Answer 26

flight director command bars to appear.

Question 27

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

Answer 27

VERT SPD

Question 28

Recall that engaging an autopilot in the takeoff or go-around mode will result in pitch and roll modes of _____________________

Answer 28

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.