System Overview
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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
DFC100 (except GS and APPR) will engage the autopilot. If a
specific lateral and/or vertical mode is not pressed, the DFC100
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 engages in
ROLL
and
PITCH
and
will hold whatever bank and pitch was present at time of
pressing (within maximum hold 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 (within maximum hold
limits). It is still up to the pilot to maneuver the plane as
required to follow those command bars.
Press “STRAIGHT & LEVEL” : autopilot 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) (except GS or APPR) on the
autopilot: autopilot 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);
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