Autopilot Operation
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SkyView Pilot’s User Guide - Revision M
NAV Mode
The autopilot controls the aircraft to center the CDI needle on the HSI when the roll axis is
engaged in navigation (NAV) mode. This assumes that a valid and active navigation source is
selected on the HSI.
Functionality Common to All Horizontal Modes
Turns to new headings in HDG and TRK modes are governed by the roll axis mode chosen
during servo installation (e.g. bank angle or turn rate). Turns in both modes are bank angle
limited. Turns in the turn rate mode are also governed by the turn rate target. These modes and
their limiting parameters are configured in the Roll Axis Menu (IN FLIGHT SETUP MENU > ENTER
FULL SCREEN SETUP MENU… > AUTOPILOT SETUP > ROLL AXIS).
In bank angle mode, the autopilot banks the aircraft up to the bank angle target defined during
servo setup. The bank angle the autopilot actually uses may be lower at times if performance
requires a slower turn (e.g., rolling in to or out of a turn).
In turn rate mode, the autopilot turns the airplane at up to the turn rate target defined during
servo setup.
In this mode of operation, the autopilot may frequently adjust the bank of the
aircraft to maintain a constant turn rate.
A slower turn rate may be utilized if autopilot
performance requires a slower turn (e.g., rolling in to or out of a turn). The turn rate may also
be limited by the maximum bank angle setting if the turn rate requested by the autopilot
requires a higher bank angle than configured.
Regardless of the mode, the autopilot turns the aircraft the direction that results in the shortest
turn required to achieve the target heading or track when in HDG or TRK mode, respectively.
Vertical Autopilot Functionality
This section summarizes the vertical functionality (i.e., the pitch axis) of the SkyView Autopilot
system. After reading this section, the user should be familiar with the pitch axis autopilot
mode of operation and how it will affect the aircraft.
Altitude Hold/Select Mode
The autopilot holds altitude or climbs/descends the aircraft to match the altitude target set by
the altitude bug. Note that there is always an altitude target set by the altitude bug. When the
aircraft intercepts this altitude while the autopilot is engaged, the autopilot levels off the
aircraft’s attitude and holds the altitude.
The rate of climb or descent during autopilot controlled changes in altitude is governed by the
VS bug.
There are two VS modes for the pitch axis that affect its behavior
only
when it is
engaged: VS:DFLT and VS:BUG. If the pitch axis is engaged in either mode and you adjust the VS
bug, the autopilot reacts to the change.
If the pitch axis mode is set to VS:DFLT, the VS bug is automatically set to the default climb or
descent vertical speed when the pitch axis is engaged, depending on the current altitude and
the target altitude (e.g., if your current altitude is below the target altitude, the autopilot uses
