4. Automatic Flight

Question 1

Recall function of the Altitude Select Knob

Answer 1

Rotate – preselects altitude in altitude window. If PROF is engaged, sets FMS limits for climb or descent

PULL – Airplane will climb or descend directly to selected altitude and ATS will go to climb thrust or idle descent as required

PUSH – Airplane will hold current altitude

Question 2

Recall function of the V/S-FPA changeover button

Answer 2

Selects either vertical speed in fpm or FPA (Flight Path Angle) in tenths of degrees

Question 3

Recall function of the PROF switch

Answer 3

Engages FMS vertical profile guidance

**Note: Can also be used to engage the Autothrottle System

Question 4

Recall function of the HDG/TRK changeover button

Answer 4

Selects either heading or track in the display window and on the ND

Question 5

Recall function of the NAV switch

Answer 5

PUSH – Arms the FMS NAV capture mode or resumes FMS lateral control

Question 6

Recall function of the FMS SPD button

Answer 6

Push – selects the armed FMS speed. Display window will show dashes and the FMA speed changes from white to magenta.

**Note: FMS speed can be edited by preselecting an FCP speed and immediately pushing this button. Pushing the FMS SPD button again will delete this FMS speed edit

FMS speed can be disengaged by pushing or pulling the IAS/MACH select knob or engaging go-around

Question 7

Recall function of the IAS/MACH changeover button

Answer 7

Selects either IAS or MACH in the display window

Question 8

Recall function of the IAS/MACH select knob

Answer 8

Rotate – preselects IAS or Mach in the display window.

PULL – Airplane will hold speed selected in the window

PUSH – Airplane will maintain current speed and the display window displays that speed

Question 9

Recall function of the APPR/LAND switch

Answer 9

Arms the APPR and LAND modes (a tuned ILS is required)

Question 10

Recall function of the AUTOFLIGHT Switch

Answer 10

Engages ATS and one AP in the FD mode that has been selected. After AP engagement, each push alternates the AP between AP1 and AP2

Question 11

Recall function of the AFS OVRD switches

Answer 11

PUSH DOWN – Allows emergency disconnect of respective autopilot, autothrottle and yaw damper

Question 12

Recall how Mach Trim is provided by the Flight Control Computers

Answer 12

• Only operative when Autopilot is not engaged
• When Mach trim is active, the stabilizer automatically moves to compensate for pitch forces caused by Mach number
• If Mach trim becomes inoperative, it will automatically stop driving the stabilizer and an alert will be displayed

Question 13

Recall how the Bank Angle Limit Selector limits bank

Answer 13

Rotate (Inner Knob) - Selects max bank angle in 5 degree increments

AUTO - Bank angle limits vary with speed. This selector cannot override FMS bank angle limits. Limits are displayed on the top of the PFD attitude sphere

Question 14

Recall features of the HDG/TRK Selector Knob

Answer 14

TURN (Outer Knob) – Preselects a heading or track in the display window

PULL - Aircraft captures and follows selected heading or track that is in the display window

PUSH - Aircraft rolls out and maintains current heading or track. The window will display this heading or track

Question 15

Recall features of the Autothrottle Disconnect Switches

Answer 15

PUSH – Disconnects the autothrottle system (ATS OFF message will flash in red on the PFD)

Pushing either switch again will stop the ATS OFF message flashing. It will also change the ATS OFF message to white if ATS re-engagement is available OR amber if a condition exists that precludes ATS re-engagement

Question 16

Recall features of the GA Switches

Answer 16

Pushing either switch causes aircraft to enter the go-around mode as follows:

• FDs pop-up to GA (even if off)
• AP, if on, will follow FD commands
• ATS goes to go-around thrust limits
• Parallel rudder is active
• Bank limited to 10 degrees
• Reference speed, PITCH and GO-AROUND appear on FMA
• Windshear guidance comes on if windshear warning is active

Question 17

Recall features of the Reactive Windshear Alert and Guidance System (WAGS)

Answer 17

• During takeoff, approach and go-around, the reactive WAGS system provides visual/aural warnings and AP/FD windshear guidance throughout a windshear event
• Visual warnings are RED for decreasing performance windshear and AMBER for increasing performance windshear
• On takeoff, WINDSHEAR will flash on the PFD and FMA speed/altitude windows followed by three cycles of TAILWIND SHEAR or HEADWIND SHEAR aural warnings
• On approach and go-around, the same visual and aural annunciations activate HOWEVER, during an approach, guidance will not come on unless a go-around is initiated by pressing either GA button OR advancing the throttles past the 95% GA thrust limit after windshear is detected
  
  • **Note: Once the GA is initiated, the ATS, if off, will come on automatically and advance to GA thrust AND the flight directors, if off, will pop up and provide windshear guidance until the windshear event no longer exists
• GPWS is inhibited while following the FDs during windshear guidance. TCAS is also inhibited except for TA advisories on the ND

Question 18

Recall features of the Autothrottle System (ATS)

Answer 18

• Engaged by pushing the AUTO FLIGHT button on the FCP (or PROF button)
• Will prevent engines from exceeding thrust limits
• If on, will RETARD the throttles to idle at a designated altitude during landing
• Always maintains a speed above stall speed and below maximum speed for any configuration—even if ATS is off (will engage automatically to provide speed protection)

**Note: It must be noted, however, that VERT SPD will take priority! If an excessive VERT SPD descent is commanded, the throttles will retard to idle and the aircraft will attempt to satisfy aircraft vertical speed demands. In this case, aircraft speed limitations may be exceeded!