03-Automatic Flight Control System
03-Automatic Flight Control System
03-Automatic Flight Control System
1 03--00--1
AUTOMATIC FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM
Table of Contents REV 3, May 03/05
Page
INTRODUCTION 03--10
Introduction 03--10--1
AUTOPILOT 03--30
Autopilot 03--30--1
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
AUTOPILOT
Figure 03--30--1 Autopilot -- Schematic 03--30--2
Figure 03--30--2 Autopilot -- General 03--30--3
Figure 03--30--3 Autopilot -- Controls 03--30--4
Figure 03--30--4 Autopilot -- PFD Flags 03--30--6
Figure 03--30--5 Autopilot -- EICAS Messages 03--30--7
1. INTRODUCTION
The automatic flight control system (AFCS) provides integration of the autopilot and flight
director systems. The system consists of two interlinked flight control computers, an
autopilot, two yaw dampers, automatic elevator trim control and assorted servos and
actuators.
The flight control computer receives mode selections from the flight control panel and sensor
information from the air data system, navigation systems, inertial reference system, radio
altimeter and surface position sensors. The flight control computer provides flight guidance
commands to the autopilot. The autopilot provides the control signals to drive the aileron
and elevator servos as well as the horizontal stabilizer trim. The flight director provides
visual guidance using a command bar on the attitude director indicator portion of the primary
flight displays. <1025>
AUTOFLIGHT
INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC
AVIONICS FLIGHT CONTROL FLIGHT CONTROL
PROCESSING COMPUTER
SYSTEM (AFCS) (FCC) DIAGNOSTICS
SYSTEM (IAPS)
AUTO TRIM
CRUISE MODES
ROLL PITCH
HDG ALT SEL
VOR ALT HOLD
FMS
DESCENT MODES
CLIMB MODES ROLL PITCH
ROLL PITCH HDG PITCH
HDG VS VOR VS
VOR SPD LOC SPD
FMS PITCH FMS
GO--AROUND MODES
ROLL PITCH
HDG 10 DEGREES
ROLL HOLDNOSE UP
APPROACH MODES
ROLL PITCH
LOC GS
VOR
TAKEOFF MODE FMS
ROLL PITCH
WINGS NOSE UP
LEVEL DEGREES
HDG VARIES WITH
HOLD SPEED AND
FLAP SETTING
Auto Flight Systems and Modes --- General
Figure 03---10---1
Integration among the various avionics systems is provided by the integrated avionics
processing system (IAPS) which is located in the avionics compartment. Two flight control
computers (FCCs), mounted inside the IAPS, are the main computers for the automatic flight
control system (AFCS). Control logic for the dual flight directors, the two axes autopilot with
automatic pitch trim and the dual yaw dampers is contained in the two FCCs. The FCCs use
the inertial reference system (IRS) and air data computer (ADC) system information to
calculate flight path and control parameters for the AFCS. Other inputs to the flight control
computers include selections made on the flight control panel, flight management computer
outputs and radio system outputs. <1025>
The flight control panel is the mode selection panel for selecting and controlling the flight
director and autopilot functions.
Autopilot Panel
Contains switches
to couple, uncouple,
transfer control and
reduce gains on the
Flight Control Panel
autopilot. Center Glareshield
Mode Indicators
Flight Director and When a mode switch is pressed,
Course Selector Panels a mode request is sent to the
Contains switches to on--side flight control computer.
select basic pitch and roll If conditions are within limits, the
modes (when not coupled) computer acknowledges by
and set course on primary illuminating the green lights
flight display. adjacent to the mode switch.
The primary flight display
indicates the selected mode.
Using the flight control panel, the crew can select the following functions:
S Remove flight director cues from the primary flight display and revert to basic pitch and roll
displays
A. Flight Director
The flight director provides visual guidance, by means of command bars on the attitude
director indicator, to fly the airplane manually or to visually monitor autopilot response to
the guidance commands. The visual guidance commands (pitch and roll control) are
integrated with the AFCS modes, selected on the flight control panel, for autopilot
operation. AFCS operating modes can be selected to the flight directors with the
autopilot disengaged. Pitch (including speed control) and roll guidance cues from the
AFCS are displayed on the attitude director indicator portion of the primary flight
displays.
S Capture and track a selected navigation source (VOR, LOC, G/S or FMS)
FCP
FD SYNC FD SYNC
SWITCH SWITCH
PILOT
COPILOT
CONTROL WHEEL
CONTROL WHEEL
IAPS
PFD 1 PFD 2
FCC 1 FCC 2
FLIGHT DIRECTOR FLIGHT DIRECTOR
FUNCTION FUNCTION
Transfer mode controls the routing of flight guidance commands to the autopilot and
flight directors. When transfer mode is selected, the copilot’s flight guidance command
drives both flight directors. When not transferred, the pilot’s flight guidance command
drives both flight directors.
Flight Director
(magenta)
FD
FD Flag (red)
Indicates that either the
pitch or roll data is invalid.
T
IR I R EC
D
EC
D
AP DISC SPEED HDG ALT
FD TURB B/C 1/2 BANK FD
PUS H SH
PU
H
IA
S SY
L
AC AN
CE
C
/M NC
UP
Course Pointer
Indicates position on compass rose
that corresponds to selected course.
Color matches navigation source.
10
B. Synchronization
Flight director synchronization is used to set the vertical and/or lateral reference to the
current flight value. Selecting synchronization has no effect if the autopilot is engaged.
The vertical reference being synchronized is IAS (if in IAS mode), MACH (if in MACH
mode), VS (if in VS mode), altitude hold memory (if in altitude hold, CLB or DES mode),
or pitch angle memory (if in pitch mode). Overspeed and vertical capture modes are
not affected by synchronization operation. The only lateral references that can be
synchronized are the bank and heading memories of roll mode.
Synchronization is annunciated with a yellow SYNC on the primary flight display. The
message will remain for 3 seconds, or until the sync switch is released, whichever is
longer.
SYNC (yellow)
Displayed when flight
director synchronization
is selected.
Flight Director
Synchronization
Switch (black)
Used when autopilot is
not coupled, to
synchronize vertical
and lateral references
to those currently
flown.
Control Wheel
Rear View
Primary Flight Display
Pilot’s and Copilot’s Instrument Panels
FD Synchronization <1015>
Figure 03---20---5
Flight mode annunciation is located above the blue (sky) portion of the attitude director
Indicator. The flight mode annunciator presents flight mode information in two fields
separated by a vertical cyan line. To the left of the line is the active or captured field
(green) and to the right of the line is the armed field (white). The bottom line in each of
the two fields contains vertical mode information and the upper lines contain lateral
information.
LATERAL CAPTURE
OR ACTIVE FIELD
LATERAL ARMED
FIELD
10 1/2 BNK
HDG LOC1
IAS 400 ALTS GS
10
VERTICAL CAPTURE
OR ACTIVE FIELD
Lateral take-off mode generates a wings level command while on the ground.
After take-off, it generates a heading hold command, with a 5-degree bank limit,
using the heading which existed at take-off. Selecting a lateral take-off mode
turns on both flight directors, disengages the autopilot and clears all other lateral
modes.
The capture point is a function of closure rate, with the capture point moving
away from the radial/beam for high closure rates.
Navigation capture clears the heading selected. A localizer capture clears half
bank and turbulence modes.
Dead reckoning is provided during VOR station passage. When DME data is
available, dead reckoning region is approximately where the horizontal distance
to the station is less than the altitude to the station. Without DME data, dead
reckoning is based on a high rate of VOR deviation.
Navigation mode is selected by pushing the NAV switch on the flight control
panel. Navigation mode is cleared by pushing the NAV switch again, by selecting
another lateral mode or by changing the source of the on-side navigation signal.
Navigation mode arming is annunciated with two messages on the primary flight
display, a green HDG message in the lateral capture field, and a white navigation
source identifier (VOR1/2, LOC1/2 or FMS1/2) in the lateral arm field.
Heading select mode generates commands to capture and maintain the selected
digital heading readout and heading bug on the primary flight display. The
selected heading can be changed by rotating the HDG knob (up to 360 degrees)
on the flight control panel. Pushing the HDG knob will set the selected heading
to the current heading.
Heading select mode is selected by pushing the HDG switch on the flight control
panel. Heading select mode is cleared by pushing HDG switch or by selecting
another lateral mode.
Heading select mode is annunciated with a green HDG message in the lateral
capture field.
Back course mode generates commands to capture and track the selected back
course displayed on the primary flight display. Back course is armed when
selected, but cannot capture if the flight control computer is not receiving valid
localizer data.
The capture point is a function of closure rate, with the capture point moving
away from the radial/beam for high closure rates. Back course capture clears
turbulence, half bank and heading modes.
Back course mode is selected by pushing the B/C switch on the flight control
panel. Back course mode is cleared by pushing the B/C switch again, by
selecting another lateral mode, or by changing the source of the navigation signal
to something other than a localizer.
Back course mode arming is annunciated with two messages on the primary
flight display, a green HDG message in the lateral capture field, and a white
navigation source identifier (B/C 1/2) in the lateral arm field. Back course mode
capture/tracking is annunciated with a green message in the lateral capture field
on the primary flight display which identifies the navigation source (B/C 1/2).
Back course steering information is invalidated when the navigation source is not
a localizer.
Roll mode generates commands to hold the heading that exists when the mode is
initiated, unless the roll angle upon initiation is over 5 degrees (commands are
then generated to hold the roll angle). The roll mode reference is reset to the
current heading, or current roll angle, upon autopilot engagement or
synchronization.
Roll mode is automatically selected, when no other lateral mode is active, and the
flight director is on. Roll mode is cleared by the selection of another lateral mode.
Roll mode is annunciated with a green ROLL message in the lateral capture field
on the primary flight display.
Half bank mode reduces the maximum commanded bank angle to 15 degrees.
Half bank mode is selected by pushing the 1/2 BANK switch on the flight control
panel. Half bank mode is automatically selected when climbing through 31,600
feet (pressure altitude) or if the airplane is above the half bank transition altitude
when the flight director is turned on. Selection is inhibited when in the take-off
mode, go-around mode, on-side approach mode capture, or any on-side localizer
capture.
Half bank mode is manually cleared by pushing the 1/2 BANK switch again, and
is automatically cleared when descending through the half bank transition
altitude.
Half bank is annunciated with a white 1/2 BNK message on the primary flight
display.
The capture point is a function of closure rate, with the capture point moving
away from the radial/beam for high closure rates.
If the other side does not concurrently capture, it will continue to operate in
heading select, until it independently captures.
Dead reckoning is provided during VOR station passage. When DME data is
available, dead reckoning region is where DME distance to the station is less than
0.6 nautical mile (DME). Without DME data, dead reckoning is based on a high
rate of VOR deviation.
Approach mode is selected by pushing the APPR switch on the flight control
panel. Approach mode is cleared by pushing the APPR switch again, by
selecting another lateral mode, or by changing the source of the on-side
navigation signal.
Approach mode arming is annunciated with two messages on the primary flight
display, a green HDG message in the lateral capture field, and a white navigation
source identifier (VOR1/2, LOC1/2 or FMS1/2) in the lateral arm field. Approach
mode capture/tracking is annunciated with a green message in the lateral capture
field on the primary flight display which identifies the navigation source (VOR1/2,
LOC1/2 or FMS1/2). Dead reckoning operation is annunciated with a white DR
message on the primary flight display.
Selecting vertical mode turns on both flight directors, disengages the autopilot,
clears all other vertical modes and switches the flight guidance commands to a
dual independent configuration. Lateral and vertical take-off mode selections are
coincident.
When pitch mode is selected, the pitch reference (pitch command on the primary
flight display) is set to the current pitch angle. Pitch mode generates commands
to maintain the pitch reference value.
The pitch reference value can be changed using the VS pitch wheel. Rotation of
the VS pitch wheel will change the pitch reference by 1/2 degree per click. The
pitch reference is reset to the current pitch attitude upon either autopilot
engagement, transferring to pitch mode, or synchronization.
When the preselected altitude is captured, rotating the VS pitch wheel also
rearms the altitude preselect mode.
Pitch mode is automatically selected when no other vertical mode is active, and
the flight director is on. Rotating the VS pitch wheel on the flight control panel will
manually select pitch mode when the flight director is on, unless in glideslope
capture or VS mode. Pitch mode is cleared by the selection of a vertical hold
mode, or by a vertical mode capture.
Pitch mode is annunciated with a green PTCH message in the vertical capture
field on the primary flight display.
Altitude hold mode generates commands to capture and maintain the altitude
reference. When altitude hold mode is selected, the altitude reference is set to
the current pressure altitude.
Altitude hold mode is selected by pushing the ALT switch on the flight control
panel, or by changing the altitude preselect setting while in altitude preselected
track. Selection is inhibited when in glideslope capture or overspeed.
Altitude hold mode is cleared by pushing the ALT switch again, by selection of a
vertical hold mode, or by vertical mode capture.
Altitude hold mode is annunciated with a green ALT message in the vertical
capture field on the primary flight display.
Altitude preselect mode is armed upon selection. The capture point is a function
of closure rate, with the capture point moving away from the preselected altitude
for high closure rates.
During altitude capture (within 200 ft of the preselect altitude), if the preselected
altitude is changed or if the VS pitch wheel is rotated, the autopilot or flight
director will continue to capture the original preselected altitude.
If a new preselect altitude is not set, then selection of IAS, MACH, PTCH or VS
mode, will result in the current altitude being captured.
Pushing in the ALT knob will cancel aural and visual alerts associated with the
preselected altitude.
Altitude preselect is annunciated on the primary flight display with a white ALTS
message in the vertical arm field for arm; a green ALTS CAP message in the
vertical capture field for capture, and a green ALTS message in the vertical
capture field for track. Altitude captures, which are cleared without a subsequent
selection of altitude track or arm, are annunciated with a yellow ALTS message on
the primary flight display, which will remain for 10 seconds, or until altitude
preselect is rearmed, whichever is shorter.
The airspeed reference can be manually set, using the speed knob. The airspeed
reference is reset to current airspeed by the selection of autopilot engagement or
synchronization.
Speed mode is displayed in either IAS CLB or DES. Selection of the speed
readout is accomplished by pushing the SPEED knob on the flight control panel.
Vertical speed mode is manually selected by pushing the VS switch on the flight
control panel. Selection is inhibited when in glideslope capture or overspeed.
Vertical speed mode is cleared by pushing the VS switch again, by selecting a
vertical hold mode, or by a vertical mode capture.
The flight control computer operates in the active mode. Capture will not occur if
the localizer is not captured, or if the flight control computer is not receiving valid
glideslope data. Upon glideslope capture, other vertical modes are automatically
cleared on the captured side. If the other side does not concurrently capture the
glideslope, it will continue to operate in the current active vertical mode, or
ensuing vertical mode, until it independently captures glideslope.
Climb or descent rate is achieved by moving the rotary switch on the flight control
panel.
Glideslope mode will generate commands to capture and track the glideslope.
Captures can be performed from above or below the beam.
The capture point is a function of closure rate, with the capture point moving
away from the beam for high closure rates.
When a go-around causes the autopilot to disengage, the autopilot warning can
be cancelled by another push to the TOGA switch, or by pushing the autopilot
disconnect switch.
The primary flight displays alert the pilots that the aircraft is approaching the
preselected altitude, or that the aircraft is deviating from a previously selected and
acquired altitude. Altitude advisories are indicated on the primary flight displays in the
following locations: on the altimeter portion, at the preselect altitude digital readout
(above the barometric tape), and at the preselect bugs,including the double bars
(across the fine and coarse tapes).
The altitude alert system processes data from the air data computers and is
independent of the autopilot or flight director mode. The ALT knob on the flight control
panel is used to set the desired altitude.
The preselect digital readout and bugs change state and colour as follows:
S At the altitude alert threshold, the readout and bugs flash magenta for approximately
four seconds, and a one-second aural tone sounds. The threshold is approximately
1,000 feet from the selected altitude.
S When within 200 feet from the selected altitude, the readout and bugs come on
steady to indicate altitude capture.
S If the airplane subsequently deviates more than 200 feet from the selected altitude,
the readout and altitude bugs (double bars) will flash amber and a 1 second tone will
be heard. The readout and altitude bugs will continue to flash amber as long as the
aircraft is deviated more than 200 feet or cancelled.
S When the aircraft is --200 feet below the selected altitude the flashing magenta bugs
and readout will cancel.
S If the aircraft subsequently continues to deviate (±1000 feet) from the selected
altitude, a 1 second tone will be heard.
S When the aircraft is again within 200 feet of the selected altitude, the readout and
bugs will turn magenta and stop flashing.
Altitude alerts can be cancelled by pushing the ALT switch or selecting a different
altitude. Altitude alerts are inhibited if the glideslope is captured.
Primary Page
Status Page
1. AUTOPILOT
The automatic flight control system (AFCS) provides a two axes, digital, fail-passive
autopilot. The fail-passive autopilot system is protected against internal single hardware
faults and limits any malfunctioning commands to a response that is easily controlled by the
pilot. Command inputs to the ailerons and elevators are provided by servos controlled by
the flight control computers (FCCs). The FCCs input the yaw damper system to control the
rudder. The autopilot controls the aircraft in response to flight director commands by
actuating the appropriate control surfaces.
Turbulence mode reduces autopilot gain so that flight control computer response to turbulent
flight conditions is slowed and aircraft motion is smoother. On approach, an on-side localizer
capture automatically clears the autopilot turbulence mode.
FCP
IAPS
PFD 1 PFD 2
FCC 1 FCC 2
AUTOPILOT AUTOPILOT
FUNCTION FUNCTION
PILOT COPILOT
CONTROL WHEEL CONTROL WHEEL
NOTE
Green indicator lights on either
Primary Flight Display
side of switch indicate engaged.
Pilot’s and Copilot’s Instrument Panels
CAVALRY DISC
CHARGE Used to disengage
yaw dampers.
S Lowering the AP DISC switch-bar on the flight control panel (a red line becomes visible)
S Pressing the yaw damper DISC pushbutton on the yaw damper panel
Disengagement of the autopilot causes a cavalry charge aural alert and the AP indication on
the primary flight display (PFD) to turn red. The autopilot disengage warning will
automatically cancel, after approximately two repetitions of the cavalry charge, when a
disengagement is mutually induced.
The autopilot is automatically disengaged two seconds after a windshear warning (if the
autopilot has not already been disengaged). During those two seconds, the autopilot will
follow the windshear commands.
In the event that the autopilot is disengaged due to a system fault, pressing the AP/SP DISC
switch or either TOGA switch will cancel the red flashing AP indication on the PFD and
silence the aural warning.
The automatic flight control system monitors both axes of the autopilot when engaged. If a
control surface is detected to be significantly out of trim, an indication will appear on the PFD
and a caution message will be displayed on the EICAS primary page to indicate in which
direction that the control surface is out of trim.
Primary Page