1-16
System Overview
AUTOPILOT ENGAGEMENT
From a standby state (autopilot has power, “AP READY”
displayed but no modes are engaged and the airplane is within
the engagement limits defined above), pressing any button on the
autopilot will engage the DFC autopilot. If a specific lateral and/or
vertical mode is not pressed, the system will default to ROLL hold
mode in the lateral channel and PITCH hold mode in the vertical
channel.
From a standby state:
Press “AP”
autopilot (servos coupled) engages in
ROLL
and
PITCH
and will hold whatever bank and pitch
was present at time of pressing (assuming within
command limits)
Press “FD”
flight director (servos not coupled) engages
in
ROLL
and
PITCH
and will command via the green
flight director command bars whatever bank and pitch
was present at time of pressing (assuming within
command limits). It is still up to the pilot to maneuver the
plane as required to follow those command bars.
Press “STRAIGHT & LEVEL”
autopilot (servos
coupled) engages and drives the airplane from whatever
attitude it is in to zero bank and a small positive pitch that
approximates level flight.
Press any other button(s) on the autopilot
autopilot
(servos coupled) engages and will enter the modes as
commanded.
AUTOPILOT DISENGAGEMENT
The autopilot can be disengaged using any one of the following
methods:
Press the AP Disconnect switch on the control yoke (in
some aircraft, this is a dedicated button and in others, it
requires a push in of the trim hat on the yoke);
Activate the pitch-axis trim switch on the control yoke
(this does not apply on pitch trim-only aircraft);
Change 3
