Autopilot
In combination with the EFIS, the Super27 is equipped with a Collins APS-85 autopilot system. The following explains the different modes and functions.
Autopilot Panel
The autopilot panel is located below the throttle quadrant at the pedestal and contains both autopilot and yaw damper engage/desangage levers, autopilot transfer and turbulence mode select buttons (both not simulated), and the pitch wheel/turn knob assembly.
TURN Knob
With AP engaged, rotate turn knob to "take command" of aileron channel and go to basic mode (roll hold).
Can be used with any lateral mode except NAV or APPR after localizer capture has occured.
Roll limit is 32°.
With current aircraft bank angle more than 5 degrees when kno is returned to center it will hold the current bank angle.
Turn knob is inoperative when localizer is captured and also when AP is disengaged.
PITCH Wheel
With AP engaged, rotate pitch wheel to "take command" of elevator channel, go to basic mode (VS) if system is in CLIMB, ALT hold, altitude track, or VNAV mode, and slew the vertical speed reference indicated by the reference bug on the EADI.
Pitch wheel functions as vertical reference command knob so that DESCEND, IAS, VS and MACH command capability is standard.
Pitch wheel is inoperative after vertical capture in APPR mode, during altitude capture, or when AP is disengaged.
AP and YD engage levers
Dual section levers with two positions, ENGAGED and DISENGAGED.
Left-hand lever is for YD (yaw damper), right-hand lever is for AP (autopilot).
Levers are mechanically and electrically interlocked allowing the YD to be engaged independently from the AP but ensuring that if the AP is engaged the YD will also be engaged.
Mode Select Panel
The mode select panel is located at the glareshield and is used to select the lateral and vertical modes of operation for the flight control system. A solid vertical divider strip separates the four lateral modes on the left side from the six vertical mode buttons on the right side. The PERFORM SELECT button is not considered a mode button; this function is used in conjunction with the CLIMB, SPEED, ALT hold, and altitude preselect modes.
Pressing the bushbutton for a mode that is not selected clears all noncompatible modes and causes the new mode to latch if all conditions for the mode are satisfied. An annunciator light in the mode button illuminates if all conditions for the mode are satisfied.
With the autopilot engaged, the system will revert to the roll hold mode when the turn knob is rotated, and to VS hold mode (basic vertical mode) when the pitch wheel is rotated. It also reverts to these modes whenever other modes release, after power interruption or after the autopilot is reengaged following selection of go-around mode.
Lateral Modes
ROLL (hold)
Basic lateral mode of the system (does not have a mode select button).
Mode occurs automatically when:
System is initially powered up.
No other lateral mode is selected.
AP is reengaged following selection of GA mode.
AP is engaged and APP turn knob is rotated (except in APPR mode after lateral capture).
Roll limit is 32°.
Annunciated in green on EADI.
With AP engaged, system holds bank angle if angle is more than 5°. With bank angle less than 5°, system goes to heading hold.
HDG
Selects heading mode.
Can be used with any vertical mode.
27° roll limit.
Annunciated in green on EADI.
Rotate APP turn knob to "take command" and go to roll hold mode.
½ BANK
Used with HDG and NAV mdoes.
12.5° roll limit.
Automatically clears by selecting APPR mode or after LOC capture.
NAV
Selects navigation mode.
Can be used with any vertical mode.
AP always flies the primary course being displayed on the EHSI.
System operates in HDG mode prior to NAV capture.
Rotate APP turn knob to "kae command" and go to roll hold mode.
APPR
Selects approach mode.
Can be used with any vertical mode prior to GS capture.
Approach type to be flown (ILS, VOR, RNAV) will always correspond with the data selected for the primary course being displayed on the EFIS.
Lateral capture and annunciation are the same as for NAV mode.
For an ILS approach, GS is armed after LOC capture.
At GS capture, the vertical mode in use automatically clears.
System provides path tracking for the LOC down to CAT II minimums.
Vertical Modes
PITCH (hold)
Flight director only mode (does not have a mode select button).
Can be used with any lateral mode.
Mode occurs when AP is disengaged and no other vertical mode is selected and a lateral mode is selected.
Commands are to maintain the pitch attitude existing when pitch hold mode occurs.
Annunciated in green on EADI.
PITCH WHEEL
APP pitch wheel functions as vertical reference command knob so that IAS, VS and MACH command capability is standard.
Can be used with any lateral mode.
Rotate the pitch wheel and observe the PFD command bars to change pitch attitude.
Rotate the pitch wheel to "take command" and go to VS mode when system is in CLIMB, DESCEND, ALT hold, altitude track or VNAV mode.
Pitch wheel is inoperative after GS capture, during altitude capture or when AP is disengaged.
VS
Basic vertical mode of the system (does not have a mode select button).
Mode occurs when AP is engaged and no other vertical mdoe is selected.
Can be used with any lateral mode.
Up to +-6000 ft/min engage range.
Rotate pitch wheel to "take command" and go to VS mode.
CLIMB
Selects climb mode.
Can be used with any lateral mode.
Flies a preprogrammed IAS/MACH profile that is matched to the performance characteristics for this airplane.
Press the PERFORM SELECT button to select one of three speed profiles:
L for low speed: 230 KIAS
M for mid speed: 250 KIAS
H for high speed: 270 KIAS
Annunciated in green on PFD with numbers followed by L, M, or H indicating preprogrammed IAS/MACH profile.
Rotate pitch wheel to "take command" and go to VS mode
ALT
Selects altitude hold mode if preselected altitude is within +- 250ft of current altitude.
Selects ALT SEL if preselected altitude exceeds +- 250ft of current altitude.
Can be used with any lateral mode.
System goes to VS and rearms for ALTS if a new altitude is dialed in on the preselector while ALT HOLD is not yet active
System goes rearms for ALTS if a new altitude is dialed in on the preselector while ALT HOLD is active
Rotate pitch wheel to "take command" and go to VS mode.
VNAV
Selects vertical navigation mode.
Can be used with any lateral mode.
Captures and tracks given VNAV path from connected device (in this case GNS-XLS).
Rotate pitch wheel to "take command" and go to VS mode.
DESCEND
Selects descend mode.
Can be used with any lateral mode.
Gives initial 1000ft/min rate of descent.
Rotate pitch wheel to change vertical speed reference (only negative values are valid).
SPEED
Selects speed mode.
Can be used with any lateral mode.
If selected below 28.000ft, then IAS mode occurs.
If selected above 28.000ft, then MACH mode occurs.
Once SPEED mode is selected, press PERFORM SELECT button to alternate between IAS and MACH mode.
Reference IAS or MACH can be modified by rotating the pitch wheel.
PERFORM SELECT
Multifunction button provides the following functions:
in CLIMB mode: Selects L (low), M (mid) or H (high) speed climb profile.
In SPEED mode: Alternates between IAS and MACH mode.
GO-AROUND
Controlled by GA button on control yokes.
Selecting GA causes the AP to disengage, cancels selected lateral and vertical modes, and provides wings-level and 10 degrees pitch up commands.
When AP is reengaged select any vertical mode to clear vertical portion of GA mode and vice versa for lateral mode.
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