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Flight Mode Control Panel

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FMCP Control Panel

Overview

The Flight Mode Control Panel (FMCP) manages the control of flight guidance modes, including autopilot, flight director, heading, and attitude settings. It serves as one of the primary interfaces between the pilot and the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS).

Panel Functions

Autopilot (AP) Button

  • Press to illuminate (ON): Engages the autopilot. The system follows current flight director guidance for heading or vertical control.
  • Press again (OFF): Disengages autopilot while keeping flight director active.
  • The system matches AP with the FD modes based on current conditions:
    • If FD is on and not in TO mode, AP takes over the current FD mode.
    • If FD is in TO mode, AP follows FD laterally and enters FPA mode vertically.
    • If FD is off, AP operates in basic mode by default.

Flight Director / Thrust Director (FD/TD) Button

  • When AP is off: Pressing illuminates the FD/TD light on the PF side and turns off the PM side light. Display does not affect functionality.
  • When AP is on: Either side can toggle its own light, but FD/TD remains operational regardless.
  • The FD/TD command bars appear on the respective PFD.

Note

In TO, GA, or WSHR mode, FD/TD buttons are disabled. Guidance remains active on both sides.

PILOT SIDE Button

  • Switches control authority (PF) between left and right pilot.
  • Hold to toggle which side the AFCS uses, also determines HDG/TRK and barometric reference source.
  • Lit when selected side is active PF.

Autothrottle (AT) Button

  • OFF: Disengages autothrottle.
  • ON: Arms autothrottle.
  • ON (green light): Autothrottle is active and controlling thrust.

Note

When AP controls path, AT controls speed; when AP controls speed, AT adjusts thrust.

SPEED Window

  • IAS area: Displays target indicated airspeed.
  • MACH area: Displays target Mach number.

Note

  • Above 24,600 ft, speed target switches to Mach automatically.
  • If data is invalid, the window shows 200.0.

MAN/FMS Selector (Outer Knob)

  • MAN (Manual): Target matches PFD speed/Mach values.
  • FMS (Auto): Target speed provided by Flight Management System.

SPEED Knob (Inner Knob)

Used to adjust airspeed or Mach target:

  • If no value is displayed: activates the speed window, synced to current speed.
  • If value is present: rotates to increase/decrease target.
  • Adjusts according to selected unit (IAS/MACH).

Note

  • Step size: 1 kt or 0.01 Mach.
  • Valid range:
    • Speed: 100–399 kt;
    • Mach: M0.40–M0.95.

PUSH CHG Button

  • Toggles the window between IAS and Mach display units.

Flight Level Change (FLC) Button

  • When inactive:
    • If VNAV is off and selected altitude ≠ current altitude: activates FLC mode.
    • If VNAV is active: no effect.
  • When active: pressing has no effect.

Heading / Track (HDG/TRK) Window

  • Displays the selected heading or track value.
  • When both PFDs have heading/track selections, shows "SEL HDG XXX" or "SEL TRK XXX" in cyan.
  • Also shows runway course during approach (APPR1/2) mode.
  • Shows 0000 when power is off, and dashes if system is inactive.

Approach (APPR) Button

  • Not armed/Not active: Button unlit.
  • Armed to highest available mode: Press again to cancel arming.
  • Activated: Button lit green. Then:
    • If AP is engaged: FD and AP enter basic mode.
    • If AP is off: FD enters backup mode.

HDG/TRK Selector (Outer Knob)

  • Turn left to select heading mode (HDG).
  • Turn right to select track mode (TRK).

HDG/TRK Knob (Inner Knob)

  • Adjusts the heading or track angle.
  • Range: 0°–359°, step: 1°.
  • If no mode is activated within 45 seconds, window turns to dashes.
  • When activated, reflects real-time changes.

PUSH SYNC Button

  • Syncs current heading/track as the target in the window.
  • Below 60 kt on ground, the window shows current track angle.

HDG/TRK Button

  • Toggles HDG/TRK mode.
  • Button lights green when active.
  • Pressing again while active has no effect.

Lateral Navigation (LNAV) Button

  • Activates LNAV mode.
  • When active, lights green to indicate navigation source tracking.
  • No response in WSHR mode.

Altitude (ASEL) Window

  • Displays target altitude set by the ALT selector.
  • Defaults to 10,000 ft on power-up.
  • Range: 0–50,000 ft.
  • Near minimum altitude setting, values stop at the "MINIMUM" threshold.

Vertical Speed / Flight Path Angle (VS/FPA) Window

  • VS Mode: Displays target vertical speed (ft/min).
  • FPA Mode: Displays target flight path angle (degrees).

100/1000 ft Selector (Outer Knob)

  • Selects step size for altitude adjustments.
  • Controls whether inner ALT knob adjusts by 100 ft or 1000 ft per step.

ALT Knob (Inner ASEL Knob)

  • Adjusts target altitude:
    • Clockwise: increase.
    • Counterclockwise: decrease.

VS / FPA Knob

  • Adjusts VS or FPA target value.
  • Clockwise: increase value.
  • Counterclockwise: decrease value.
  • VS step: 50 ft/min <1000; 100 ft/min ≥1000.
  • FPA step: 0.1°, range: -9.9° to 9.9°.

Vertical Navigation (VNAV) Button

  • Arms or activates VNAV mode.
  • Cannot be canceled once activated.
  • If not activated, pressing cancels arming.

ALT Hold Button

  • Engages ALT mode to maintain current altitude.
  • Activates when pressed if not already active.
  • Pressing again after activation has no effect.

Vertical Speed (VS) Button

  • Switches to VS mode.
  • Activates on press if not already active.
  • Pressing again after activation has no effect.

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