ATA 22

AUTO FLIGHT
The aircraft is equipped with au
Automatic Flight Control System
(AFCS) which ensures three
functions:
Autopilot (AP)
- Flight Director (FD)
- Yaw Damper / turn coordination
(YD)
The Autopilot (AP) system
controls the pitch, roll and
yaw actuators as well as
the elevator trim actuators
(autotrim).
Main components are :
Two Core Avionic Cabinets (CAC) who are the
"intelligent" part of the AFCS and contains the
AutoFlight Control Application (AFCA).
- One Flight Guidance and Control Panel
(FGCP)
- Two Index Control Panel (ICP)
- Three servo-actuators (Pitch, Roll, and Yaw
 The automatic flight control system
fulfills the three following functions :
- Autopilot (AP)
- Flight Director (FD)
- Yaw Damper (YD)
The AFCS is supplied through the
28VDC bus bar.
functions performed by the AP/FD are as
follows:
- Stabilizing the aircraft around its center
of gravity while holding pitch attitude and
heading (basic modes available in AP
function only).
- Flying the aircraft on an acquired flight
path (upper modes).
- Acquisition of new flight paths (upper
modes with arming, capture and hold
phases). These functions are available in
AP and FD as well.
- Automatic pitch trim function (autotrim)
The Auto Pilot system controls the
- pitch,
- roll
- and yaw actuators,
The CPL function enables the AP/FD to receive information
presented on Captain or First Officer main instrument panel.
For basic attitude control, the AFCS produces control signals
based on average data received from both ADC and AHRS
systems. These data are
permanently compared by the AFCS.
For lateral and vertical guidance computations, the AFCS
receives captain's or first officer's information, depending on
coupling selection, on the
Flight Guidance Control Panel.
Those information are :
- ADC 1 or 2
- Radio navigation 1 or 2
- FMS 1 or 2
 The IOM AP is an
analogical/numerical and
numerical/analogical
converter, which assures the
interface between the AFCA
and:
- the actuator,
- Power Trim Box,
- Quick release / Go Around
- FGCP arrows
 The Flight Guidance and Control Panel
(FGCP) is the main control panel of the
Automatic Flight Control System. It is
located in front of the pilots,
on the glareshield panel (13VU).

The "AP" pushbutton is used to engage the autopilot and Yaw Damper functions simultaneously. All four
associated arrows illuminate green.
Subsequent action on the "AP" pushbutton disengages the autopilot but leaves the Yaw Damper engaged
The "YD" pushbutton is used to engage only the Yaw Damper. The arrow lights illuminate on each side of the
pushbutton.
Subsequent press on the pushbutton disengages the Yaw Damper function (and the autopilot if engaged).
The "CPL" pushbutton is used to enable the selection of captain or first officer data to be coupled to the
AFCS.
The green left arrow indicates captain data are coupled to the AFCS.
The green right arrow indicates the F/O data are coupled to the AFCS
The "ALT" pushbutton activates the vertical guidance to maintain the altitude indicated by the
coupled ADC at the time of the selection.
The "HDG" pushbutton is used to engage the lateral guidance to compute commands, based on
the selected heading that is displayed on the
PFD.
The "NAV" pushbutton arms the lateral guidance for capture of the radio course (VOR or LOC)
selected on the PFD.
The "BC“(BACK COURSE) pushbutton arms the lateral guidance for capture of the
LOCALIZER back course.
The "APP" (APPROACH)pushbutton is used to arm the lateral and vertical guidance for
localizer and glideslope capture.
The "STBY" pushbutton cancels all previous armed and active modes and the autopilot reverts
to basic modes.
The left "FD" pushbutton removes the two FD bars on captain PFD.
Subsequent action on the left "FD" pushbutton displays the two FD bars on captain PFD.
The right "FD" pushbutton removes the two FD bars on F/O PFD.
Subsequent action on the right "FD" pushbutton displays the two FD bars on F/O PFD.
The left "COURSE" knob enables the crew to select a course (VOR/LOC) on captain side.
The right "COURSE" knob enables the crew to select a course (VOR/LOC) on F/O side.
The "HDG" knob enables the crew to modify a heading selected show by a bug and a readout on
the PFD.
The "HDG" knob can also be pushed. When the crew push this button, the heading bug (on the
PFD) return to aircraft heading.
The "ALT SEL" knob enables the crew to modify a altitude selected show by a bug and a
readout on the PFD.
The AFCS commands are
applied to the control surfaces by
three identical actuators:
- the pitch
- yaw
- and roll actuators
Pitch actuator is in the aft
avionics compartment, zone 312.
 Roll actuator is located in the wing
center box, zone 295.
The AP roll actuator is secured on a
mount attached to the aft center
section of the wing center box.
 Yaw actuator is in the aft avionics
compartment, zone 311.
The AP yaw actuator is secured
on a mount attached on a main
frame of aft avionics compartment.