Automatic Flight

Question 1

Which modes do F/Ds activate in with Autopilot off?

Answer 1

Ground:

• First F/D positioned ON arms:
  - roll mode: Takeoff/Go-Around (TO/GA)
  - pitch mode: TO/GA

Flight:

• First F/D positioned ON activates
  - roll mode: HDG HOLD or ATT (if bank angel greater than 5º when activated)
  - pitch mode: V/S

Question 2

When is Autothrottle (A/T) activated?

Answer 2

A/T Arm switch in ARM position and:

• VNAV, FLCH, or TO/GA pushed
• SPD switch pushed while pitch mode is ALT, V/S, or G/S

Question 3

When does IAS/MACH window change from IAS to MACH?

Answer 3

• In Climb IAS to MACH at approx .84 Mach
• In Decent MACH to IAS at approx 310 knts

*can the select (SEL) switch to toggle between IAS and MACH

Question 4

What determines Bank Limiter in AUTO?

Answer 4

• bank varies between 15 - 25 degrees depending on TAS, flap position, and V2

Question 5

With in how many degrees can localizer be captured in LOC?

Answer 5

Intercept track angle within 120 degrees of localizer course

Question 6

How can LOC mode me deactivated after localizer capture?

Answer 6

• selecting a roll mode other than LNAV
• pushing TO/GO switch
• disengage AP and turn F/Ds off

Question 7

Flight Mode Annunciator (FMA) columns and colors

Answer 7

Columns: A/T | AFDS Roll Modes | AFDS Pitch Modes

Colors: white = armed, green = active

Question 8

Autopilot Disengagement Switch

Answer 8

First Push:

• disengages all autopilots
• master warning illuminates
• EICAS warning message
• wailer aural warning (1 sec)

Second Push - resets:

• master warning
• EICAS warning message
• aural warning

Question 9

Components of Autopilot Flight Director System (AFDS)

Answer 9

• 3 Flight Control Computers (FCCs) - left, center, and right
• FCCs control separate hydraulically powered A/P servos (L FCC —> L HYD servo, C FCC —> C HYD servo, R FCC —> R HYD servo)
• Mode Control Panel (MCP)

Question 10

AFDS Status Annunciations

Answer 10

FD: FD ON and AP not engaged
CMD: AP engaged
LAND 3: 3 APs engaged and operating normally for autoland
LAND 2: AFDS redundancy reduced
NO AUTOLAND: AFDS is unable to perform Autoland

Question 11

When does ROLLOUT become armed and active?

Answer 11

Armed - below 1,500’ RA

Active - below 5’
*after touchdown AFDS uses rudder and nosewheel steering to maintain localizer centerline

Question 12

What does TO/GA command for pitch during takeoff?

Answer 12

On ground: Initial 8º pitch for rotation
*TO/GA pitch become active after rotation

After takeoff AFDS commands pitch to maintain:

 - target speed of V2 plus 10 knts or rotation speed plus 10 knts, whichever is greater (limited to V2 plus 25)
 - IAS/MACH speed if speed is greater that target

If engine failure occurs:
- target speed of V2 or rotation speed (limited to V2 plus 10)

Question 13

What does the AFDS command for windshear recovery?

Answer 13

After pressing TO/GA:

• initial pitch of 15º or slightly below pitch limit
• with increasing climb rate command transitions from pitch to airspeed control
• target airspeed is IAS/MACH or current airspeed when TO/GA activated, whichever is greater
• if AP not engaged aircraft my be flown manually following FDs
• if A/T not engaged throttles must be advanced manually

Question 14

What protections are provided my automatic flight control system?

Answer 14

1) Stall Protection
- prevents speed reduction below minimum maneuvering speed

2) Overspeed Protection
- prevents exceeding maximum operating, gear extended, or flap placard speed
* FMC provided minimum and maximum speeds with a 5knt margin
* if FMC is unavailable speeds are provided by internal FCC speed limits
* spreed protection not available in V/S or during engine failure above min engine out altitude

Question 15

Thrust (THR) switch

Answer 15

• switch operative at 400’
• after takeoff in VNAV or FLCH; change reference thrust limit to armed climb thrust limit; or CON if engine inoperative
• after go-around, changes reference thrust limit to CLB, or CON if engine inoperative

With light on:
- changes A/T mode to THR REF

Question 16

What happens when you push IAS/MACH selector with VNAV active

Answer 16

• opens or closes IAS/MACH window
• closed: FMC computes target speed
• open: FMC speed-intervention is active and command speed can be selected
  * if in VNAV PATH ——> VNAV SPD

Question 17

When does LNAV activate?

Answer 17

• above 50’

- within 2.5 NM of active leg

Question 18

When would LNAV deactivate?

Answer 18

• selecting HDG SEL or HDG HOLD
• TO/GA
• disengaging AP and selecting both FDs OFF
• loc captures
• dual FMC failure

Question 19

VNAV Pitch modes

Answer 19

VNAV Speed: AFDS commands pitch to hold target speed
*A/T: THR REF, THR, IDLE or HOLD
VNAV PTH: AFDS company’s pitch to maintain FMC target altitude or path
*A/T: SPD
VNAV ALT: AFDS commands pitch to maintain MCP altitude
*A/T: SPD

Question 20

FLCH switch

Answer 20

• AFDS pitches to hold selected speed
• A/T operates in THR
• A/T modulates thrust levers to give 500 fpm for each 1000’ altitude change
• AFDS attempts to reach MCP altitude within 2 mins if thrust is avail

Question 21

When does G/S capture?

Answer 21

• loc captured

- intercept track angle within 80º of loc course

Question 22

How to deselect Approach after LOC and G/S capture

Answer 22

• selecting TO/GA

- disengaging AP and FDs

Question 23

How are mode changes emphasized on the FMA?

Answer 23

Green box around mode for 10 sec

Question 24

Auto Throttle Active Modes

Answer 24

5 modes

• THR
• THR REF
• HOLD
• IDLE
• SPD

Question 25

AFDS Active Roll Modes

Answer 25

7 modes - HDG HOLD - HDG SEL - LNAV - ATT - LOC - ROLLOUT - TO/GA

Question 26

AFDS ACTIVE PITCH MODES

Answer 26

9 modes - TO/GA - ALT - V/S - VNAV PTH - VNAV SPD - VNAV ALT - G/S - FLARE - FLCH SPD

Question 27

When is A/T operation inhibited on the ground

Answer 27

50 knts until 400’

Question 28

Pushing TO/GA on approach

Answer 28

First Push: - activates A/T in THR (GA is ref limit) - thrust adjust to provide min 2000 fpm climb - TO/GA roll and pitch modes - activates F/D if no AP or F/D active Second Push: - activates A/T in THR REF to GA ref thrust

Question 29

When do Auto Throttles disconnect

Answer 29

- fault in the active auto throttle mode - reverse thrust lever to reverse idle - dual FMC failure - Two or more engine shutdown - FMC selector switch (can be reactivated)

Question 30

TO/GA armed in flight

Answer 30

- Flaps out of up | - G/S captured

Question 31

Bottom of Amber bar (Max maneuvering speed)

Answer 31

- 1.3g maneuver capability to high speed buffet | * 1.3g maneuver capability occurs at 40º of bank in level flight

Question 32

When are Derated Climb thrusts removed?

Answer 32

- CLB 1 uses 10% derate of CLB thrust to 10,000’ - CLB 2 uses 20% derate of CLB thrust to 10,000’ - thrust increases linearly with altitude to CLB thrust at 15,000’

Question 33

Top of the Amber Bar (minimum maneuvering speed)

Answer 33

1. 3g maneuver capability: - to stick shaker with flaps down - to stick shaker or Vref+80, whichever is less, with flaps up below 20,000’ - to low speed buffet, with flaps up above 20,000’ *1.3g maneuver capability occurs at 40º of bank in level flight

Question 34

What does Maximum Speed indicate (bottoms of red tape)?

Answer 34

- Vmo/Mmo - landing gear placard speed - flap placard speed

Question 35

What does Minimum Speed indicate (top of red tape)

Answer 35

- airspeed where stick shaker or low speed buffet occurs

Question 36

Phases of Flight

Answer 36

Takeoff: TO/GA selected ——> thrust reduction Climb: thrust reduction ——> top of climb Cruise: Top of climb ——> top of descent Descent: Top of descent ——> approach phase Approach: First waypoint of the procedure sequences or within 25 NM with runway as active waypoint Flight Complete: 30 seconds after engine shutdown

Question 37

AFDS status annunciations

Answer 37

5 modes FD - FD ON and AP not engaged CMD - autopilot engaged LAND 3 - 3 APs engaged and operating normally LAND 2 - 2 APs available; AFDS redundancy reduced NO AUTOLAND - AFDS unable to make autoland

Question 38

When is ROLLOUT armed and active?

Answer 38

Armed - 1,500’ Active - below 5’ * AFDS uses rudder and nose wheel steering to maintain loc centerline

Question 39

Which ways can CON thrust be selected?

Answer 39

- THR after engine out - CDU Thrust Limit page - VNAV EO page - automatically set with flaps up and Vref + 98

Question 40

What flight controls do the autopilots command when A/P is activated?

Answer 40

Single A/P - ailerons and elevators Multi A/P approach - Ailerons, elevators, and rudder * nosewheel steering added during ROLLOUT for autoland

Question 41

Describe Autopilot control during LAND 2 or LAND 3

Answer 41

- APs control rudder during autoland (multi A/P approaches) to compensate for crosswind and engine out - rudder control active when LAND 2 or LAND 3 annunciated Crosswinds requiring more that 10º crab: - 500’: runway alignment with 5º side slip (config maintain until landing) Crosswinds requiring between 5º and 10º crab: - 500’: initial runway alignment - 200’: second alignment to increase side slip and reduce crab angle Crosswinds requiring less than 5º crab: - 200’: runway alignment where side slip introduced Engine Failure: - sideslip and wings level config start at 1,300’ or when engine failure occurs During Rollout: - A/P uses rudder and steering to track localizer centerline