A318/A319/A320/A321

GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

AUTO FLIGHT 1/17 MENU

Auto Flight System Presentation

DATE: JAN 2005 Page 1 UM22ZA000000001

 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

AUTO FLIGHT SYSTEM (AFS)

SENSORS
A/C POSITION ELECTRICAL SIDESTICKS
SIDESTICKS
INERTIAL COMPUTATION FLIGHT
SYSTEMS, CONTROL
RADIO NAV ORDERS SYSTEM
SYSTEMS, (EFCS)
...
FLIGHT PLAN

TOP
FULL AUTHORITY ROCCA
DIGITAL ENGINE
CONTROL BEROK
(FADEC)
GEN

THRUST
THRUST LEVERS
LEVERS FRZ
AUTO FLIGHT SYSTEM INTRODUCTION 2/17 MENU

The Auto Flight System (AFS) calculates the position of the aircraft using
several aircraft sensors.
In addition, the system has several flight plans in its memory. These are
predetermined by the airline. A flight plan describes a complete flight from
departure to arrival, it includes vertical information and all intermediate
waypoints.
Knowing the position of the aircraft and the desired flight plan (chosen by the
pilot), the AFS is able to compute the orders sent to the flight controls and
engines so that the aircraft follows the flight plan.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

FLIGHT FLIGHT FLIGHT

MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE AUGMENTATION

FLIGHT
FLIGHT MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT ANDAND FLIGHT
FLIGHT AUGMENTATION
AUGMENTATION
GUIDANCE
GUIDANCE COMPUTERS
COMPUTERS COMPUTERS
COMPUTERS
(FMGC
(FMGC 11 and
and 2)
2) (FAC
(FAC 11 and
and 2)
2)

AUTO FLIGHT SYSTEM INTRODUCTION 3/17 MENU

The AFS is divided into four main parts:

- Flight Management,
- Flight Guidance,
- Flight Augmentation,
- fault isolation and detection system.
The first two functions are performed by the FMGCs.
The last two functions are performed by the FACs.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

FLIGHT MANAGEMENT/FLIGHT GUIDANCE

MULTIPURPOSE
MULTIPURPOSE CONTROL
CONTROL &
& DISPLAY
DISPLAY UNIT
UNIT (MCDU)
(MCDU)
MCDU
MCDU 11 MCDU
MCDU 22

FLIGHT
FLIGHT CONTROL
CONTROL UNIT
UNIT (FCU)
(FCU)

FLIGHT MANAGEMENT & GUIDANCE FMGC 2

COMPUTER (FMGC) 1 (SAME AS FMGC 1)

MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

FLIGHT PLAN AUTOPILOT

LATERAL FLIGHT DIRECTOR

VERTICAL AUTOTHRUST
EFIS
EFIS
AUTO FLIGHT SYSTEM INTRODUCTION 4/17 MENU

The Flight Management (FM) part has several functions linked to the flight
plan such as lateral and vertical guidance associated with performance
computation.
The Flight Guidance (FG) part has 3 functions:
- Autopilot, flight director and autothrust.
The FMGC functions, Flight Management and Flight Guidance are controlled
from the Multipurpose Control and Display Units (MCDUs) and the Flight
Control Unit (FCU).
Basically, the MCDUs provide the long term interface between the crew and
the FMGCs (e.g. flight plan selection and modification) while the FCU
provides the short term interface (e.g. engagement of the autopilot, flight
director and autothrust functions).
Besides the MCDUs and the FCU, the main displays presenting Flight
Management and Guidance information are the EFIS displays.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

AUTOPILOT / FLIGHT DIRECTOR

PRIMARY
PRIMARY FLIGHT
FLIGHT DISPLAY
DISPLAY
(PFD)
(PFD)

SENSORS
FLIGHT
INERTIAL MANAGEMENT ELECTRICAL
SYSTEMS, & GUIDANCE FLIGHT CONTROL
RADIONAV SYSTEM SYSTEM (EFCS)
SYSTEMS, (FMGS)
...

NOSE WHEEL
STEERING
CONTROL

AUTO FLIGHT SYSTEM INTRODUCTION 5/17 MENU

The main autopilot (AP) and Flight Director (FD) functions are:
- stabilization of the aircraft around its center of gravity when the AP/FD
system holds vertical speed or flight path angle and heading or track,
- acquisition and holding of a flight path,
- guidance of the aircraft at takeoff,
- automatic landing and go around.
The AP function gives orders to control:
- the position of the control surfaces on the three axis (pitch, roll and yaw),
- the nose wheel steering.
The FD function generates optimum guidance orders used in manual controls.
The FD is also used to monitor the AP when it is engaged.
The FD symbols are displayed on the Primary Flight Displays (PFDs).

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

AUTOTHRUST

FLIGHT MANAGEMENT &

GUIDANCE COMPUTER (FMGC)
FLIGHT CONTROL UNIT (FCU)

ENGINE
ENGINE 11 FEEDBACK
FEEDBACK

FMGC 1

FCU EIU 1 & 2 FADEC 1 & 2

FMGC 2

ENGINES
ENGINES
ENGINE
ENGINE 22 FEEDBACK
FEEDBACK
AUTO FLIGHT SYSTEM INTRODUCTION 6/17 MENU

The autothrust (A/THR) system ensures the following functions through the
control of the thrust:
- speed or mach hold (either FMGCs computed or from thrust levers position),
- thrust hold (either FMGS computed or from thrust lever position),
- thrust reduction during descent and during flare in final approach,
- protection against excessive angle of attack.
To perform the A/THR functions, the FMGCs communicate with the Full
Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) via the FCU and the EIUs.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

FLIGHT AUGMENTATION

SPEED
COMPUTATION

FLIGHT α−FLOOR &

AUGMENTATION WINDSHEAR
FIDS COMPUTER PROTECTION
(FAC) 1 & 2
LOW
ENERGY
AWARENESS

FLIGHT ENVELOPE
PROTECTION

RUDDER TRAVEL
RUDDER TRIM YAW DAMPER
LIMITATION

AUTO FLIGHT SYSTEM INTRODUCTION 7/17 MENU

The flight augmentation part provides the following functions:

- rudder trim,
- yaw damper,
- rudder travel limitation,
- flight envelope protection,
- fault isolation and detection system.
For flight envelope protection, the FAC computes:
- the various speeds for aircraft operation (e.g. flaps limit speed),
- the excessive angle of attack and windshear detection,
- the low energy warning, indicating to the crew that the aircraft is quickly
decelerating and that thrust will have to be increased to recover a positive
flight path angle through pitch control.
For the FIDS, only FAC 1 is connected and communicates to the CFDS for all
other AFS computers.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

MULTIPURPOSE CONTROL & DISPLAY UNITS (MCDUs)

AUTO FLIGHT PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING 8/17 MENU

Two Multipurpose Control and Display Units (MCDUs) are located on the
center pedestal.
The MCDU is the primary entry/display interface between the pilot and the FM
part of the FMGC.
MCDUs exchange information not directly but via the FMGCs.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

FLIGHT CONTROL UNIT (FCU)

AUTO FLIGHT PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING 9/17 MENU

A Flight Control Unit (FCU) is installed on the glareshield.

The FCU front face includes an AFS control panel between two EFIS control
panels.
The AFS control panel allows and displays the autopilot and autothrust
engagement, and the selection of guidance modes and flight parameters.
Each pilot has an EFIS control panel to select the display on his related EFIS
screens.
Speed, lateral guidance and level change can be selected by the pilot after a
“pull” action or managed by the flight management after a “push” action. In
that case, the white dot will indicate that the reference is managed. An
exception to this rule is when the V/S or FPA knob is pushed, a level off is
immediately commanded.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

EFIS DISPLAYS

AUTO FLIGHT PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING 10/17

10/17 MENU

Four EFIS displays, i.e. two Primary Flight Displays (PFDs) and two
Navigation Displays (NDs), are located on the main instrument panel.
Flight parameters are displayed on the PFDs while the flight plan and
navigation data are displayed on the NDs.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

PRIMARY FLIGHT DISPLAY (PFD)

FLIGHT
FLIGHT MODE
MODE
ANNUNCIATOR
ANNUNCIATOR (FMA)
(FMA)

AUTO FLIGHT PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING 11/17

11/17 MENU

The Flight Mode Annunciator (FMA) is the top part of the PFD.
As main guidance instrument, each PFD displays:
- the AP, FD and A/THR engagement status on the FMA,
- the AP/FD and A/THR modes on the FMA,
- the landing category,
- the FD symbols,
- the various speeds and reference parameters.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

SIDE STICKS

AUTO FLIGHT PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING 12/17

12/17 MENU

Two sidesticks are respectively located on the CAPT lateral panel and F/O
lateral panel.
When the autopilot is engaged, a solenoid operated detent locks both sidesticks
in the neutral position.
The autopilot is disengaged, and the sidesticks become free, when the red
pushbutton on any sidestick is pressed or when a force above a certain
threshold is applied on any sidestick.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

THRUST LEVERS

AUTO FLIGHT PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING 13/17

13/17 MENU

The engines are controlled by thrust levers which are located on the center
pedestal.
Two red pushbuttons located on the thrust levers allow the autothrust function
to be disengaged.
Note that the thrust levers never move automatically.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

AUTO FLIGHT PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING 14/17

14/17 MENU

On the two flight control (FLT CTL) panels, located on the overhead panel,
there is a pushbutton to respectively disengage FAC 1 and 2.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

FLIGHT
FLIGHT MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT &&
GUIDANCE
GUIDANCE COMPUTER
COMPUTER
(FMGC)
(FMGC) 11
FMGC
FMGC 22
FAC
FAC 22

FLIGHT
FLIGHT
AUGMENTATION
AUGMENTATION
COMPUTER
COMPUTER (FAC)
(FAC) 11

AUTO FLIGHT COMPONENT LOCATION 15/17

15/17 MENU

The AFS computers are located in the aft avionics rack.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

FMGC
FMGC 22
FMGC
FMGC 11
FAC
FAC 22

FAC
FAC 11

CFDIU
CFDIU

AUTO FLIGHT MAINTENANCE/TEST FACILITIES 16/17

16/17 MENU

Using the MCDU, you can have access to the CFDS fault messages of the
AFS.
The BITE of each AFS computer can be interrogated via the FAC 1, and AFS
test and land test can be launched from the MCDUs.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

AUTO FLIGHT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 17/17

17/17 MENU EXIT

When you work with items related to the electrical system, make sure that you
obey all the AMM safety procedures.
Make sure that all circuits in maintenance are isolated before you apply
electrical power to the aircraft.
Doing the different operational tests of the system the aircraft should be in the
ground condition with the engines shut down and in clear configuration on the
flaps panel (114VU) with the lever in the notch (0) position.
Make sure that the travel ranges of the flight control surfaces are clear before
you pressurize/depressurize a hydraulic system.
Make sure that the wheel chocks and the ground safety-locks must be in their
positions.
Put safety devices and warning notices before you start a task on or near:
- the flight controls,
- the flight control surfaces,
- the landing gear and the related doors,
- components that move.
Put warning notices in the cockpit to tell the crew when some of the system
functions do not operate.

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 A318/A319/A320/A321
GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE AUTO FLIGHT

SYSTEM INTRODUCTION

PANEL LOCATION / CONTROL AND INDICATING

COMPONENT LOCATION

MAINTENANCE / TEST FACILITIES

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

EXIT RETURN TO THE LESSON

AUTO FLIGHT MENU 18/17

18/17 MENU

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