Automatic Flight

Question 1

Explain which roll mode is effected by the bank angle selector

Answer 1

• Heading Select (HDG SEL). The bank angle selector will vary aircraft bank angle automatically in AUTO as a function of true airspeed, or will make the selected bank angle the maximum bank angle regardless of true airspeed.

Question 2

Describe the method(s) for autothrottle (A/T) engagement and disengagement.

Answer 2

ENGAGING (With A/T Arm Switch ON):
• N1/EPR
• SPD
• VNAV
• FL CH
• Pressing either G/A switch on the thrust levers.

DISENGAGING:
• A/T Arm Switch OFF
• Pressing the thrust lever A/T disconnect switch. A second press clears the EICAS AUTOTHROT DISC message
• Engaging reverse thrust.
Note: Manually over-riding autothrottle commanded thrust lever position will NOT disengage autothrottles.

Question 3

Explain what the color green represents in the FMA

Answer 3

• Mode is active

Question 4

Explain what a green box represents in the FMA

Answer 4

• Mode change emphasis – 10 seconds.

Question 5

Explain what the color white represents in the FMA.

Answer 5

• Mode is armed.

Question 6

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

Answer 6

• On the ADI.
• On the HSI (Full or Expanded mode)
• Standby ADI with standby ILS selected.

Question 7

Explain the different meanings of the AFDS annunciations: CMD or FD.

Answer 7

• CMD means Command – An autopilot is engaged.

* FD means Flight Director - The Flight Director on the associated side is turned ON.

Question 8

Explain the flight director pitch and roll commands during takeoff and go-around.

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 a GA switch. The roll steering indication provides guidance to maintain the ground track present at mode 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 autopilot disengage bar

* The control wheel autopilot disengage switch

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.
- extinguished by pushing either control column autopilot disengage switch. Note: This also silences the aural Warning.

Question 11

Explain the indications when the auto pilot is in a degraded mode.

Answer 11

Autopilot (AUTO PILOT) Light
• Illuminated (amber) –
- a degraded operating condition exists in engaged autopilot
- extinguished when condition is corrected or an alternate autopilot is selected, provided fault is not common to 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.
Autothrottle Disconnect (A/T DISC) Light

Answer 12

• Illuminated (amber) –

• autothrottle has disconnected
• extinguished by pushing either autothrottle disconnect switch

Question 13

Explain the meaning of a steady amber FMC light on the center forward panel.

Answer 13

FMC Annunciator Light
• Illuminated (amber) –
- CDU is displaying an operationally significant message in the scratchpad
- pushing CDU 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).
Flight mode annunciations are displayed on the ADI.

Answer 15

Mode annunciations include:
• autothrottle
• pitch
• roll
• AFDS status

Question 16

Autothrottle Modes

annunciations are:

Answer 16

Autothrottle annunciations are:
• SPD – autothrottle controlling thrust to maintain speed selected in IAS/Mach or, if VNAV engaged, the speed as programmed by the FMC.
• IDLE – autothrottle is reducing or has reduced thrust to flight idle.
• THR HOLD – thrust levers remain in existing position or where manually placed.
Vol. 2 / 4.10. 4.20
B757 – B767 Classic 48
• N1/EPR – autothrottle controlling to the selected N1/EPR reference thrust.
• FLCH – autothrottle controlling to a maximum of the selected mode reference thrust during climb, and to a minimum thrust during descent.
• GA – autothrottle controlling to a maximum reference thrust to maintain a climb rate of at least 2000 fpm. If both flight directors and the autopilot are off, autothrottle controls to go–around reference thrust subject to flap and VMO limit speeds.

Question 17

Roll Modes

Roll annunciations are:

Answer 17

LNAV –
Arm LNAV by pushing the L NAV switch. The light illuminates and LNAV
annunciates on the FMA roll mode annunciator in white characters above the current roll mode.
• 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 ½ NM of the active leg.
HDG –
• HDG SEL (active) – airplane turns to or maintains the heading selected in the MCP heading window
• HDG HOLD (active) – AFDS holds present heading. When turning, AFDS holds the heading reached after rolling wings level
LOC –
• LOC (armed) – AFDS captures the localizer when within range and within120 degrees of the localizer course
• LOC (active) – AFDS follows the localizer course
B/CRS –
• B/CRS (armed) – AFDS is armed to capture andtrack inbound on backcourse of localizer after localizer capture
• B/CRS (active) – AFDS tracks inbound on backcourse of localizerTO –
• On the ground, TO annunciates by selecting either F/D switch ON when both flight directors are OFF
• TO roll and pitch guidance become active at lift–off
GA –
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 a GA switch. The roll steering indication provides guidance to maintain the ground track present at mode engagement.
ROLLOUT –
• ROLLOUT (armed) – displays below 1500 feet radio altitude and activates below 5 feet
• ROLLOUT (active) – after touchdown, AFDS uses rudder and nosewheel steering to steer the airplane on the localizer centerline

Question 18

Pitch Modes

Pitch annunciations are:

Answer 18

TO –
On the ground, TO annunciates by selecting either F/D switch ON when 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.
B757 – B767 Classic 53
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 below 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 intervention, 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
B757 – B767 Classic 54
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.
B757 – B767 Classic 55
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
B757 – B767 Classic 56
FLARE –
• FLARE (armed) (white)– during autoland, FLARE displays below 1500 feet radio altitude
• FLARE (active) (green) – during autoland, flare activates at Approximately (45’-757 or 50’-767) feet radio altitude. FLARE deactivates at touchdown.