flight director

[Problow]

Depends on the airplane, but most are set to default to a pitch for V2 single engine at Sea Level, Max TOW, and 15C.

 

[ttflyer]

What weight do you think the GA pitch angle is calculated for? Most likely it is the maximum landing weight or less. So what good does it do you to fly a pitch angle and power setting for an unknown weight that is almost certainly less than your takeoff weight?

I just feel that using the FD for unkown values that are "close enough" is sloppy.

Also depends on the airplane. Most newer aircraft, like the Challenger 300, set the TOGA pitch based (more or less) on actual aircraft weight - so it is providing useful guidance. It also adjusts the pitch based on whether or not both engines are making power.

It's another example of "every airplane is different" - fly the one you got, not the one you used to fly...

 

[JJET44]

The only thing close that I know of is a requirement to use a F/D or A/P on certain RNAV DP's.

Where did you see that? The only requirement is that you have your PFD/HSI set with a CDI needle (not a Map/course track) to varify any deviation. If that's what you ment then excuse me.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

FD's are for system managers......

Raw data is for aviators.....

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Where did you see that? The only requirement is that you have your PFD/HSI set with a CDI needle (not a Map/course track) to varify any deviation. If that's what you ment then excuse me.

Possibly meant PRNAV Departures?

6.2.4.6 Contingency Procedures

Loss of Flight Director. Flightcrew will select the opposite Flight Guidance Computer to regain a Flight Director. If a Flight Director is still unavailable, the Pilot Flying will continue to fly without use of the Flight Director. The Pilot Not flying will report loss of the Flight Director system to ATC and will request Radar Vectors, if required.

Loss of the Autopilot. Flightcrew will select the opposite Flight Guidance Computer to regain an Autopilot. If an Autopilot is still unavailable, the Pilot Flying will “hand-fly” the aircraft with reference to the Flight Director. The Pilot Not flying will report loss of the Autopilot System to ATC and will request Radar Vectors, if required.

Loss of P-RNAV Capability. The flight crew must notify ATC of any loss of P-RNAV capability and the flight crew’s proposed course of action. Generally, the flight crew will need to navigate using an alternative means of navigation. The alternative need not be RNAV.

 

[Basil]

Where did you see that? The only requirement is that you have your PFD/HSI set with a CDI needle (not a Map/course track) to varify any deviation. If that's what you ment then excuse me.

I was refering to some RNAV DP's out of KLAS back a few years ago when they were named RNAV B (vs RNAV 1). I don't recall the exact terminology on the charts, but I believed that it covered manually setting CDI sensitivity to 1.0nm and using F/D or A/P.

I'll let someone with a greater command of grammer decode AC 90-100A:

(9) Pilots must use a lateral deviation indicator (or equivalent navigation map display), flight director and/or autopilot in lateral navigation mode on RNAV 1 routes.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Also depends on the airplane. Most newer aircraft, like the Challenger 300, set the TOGA pitch based (more or less) on actual aircraft weight - so it is providing useful guidance. It also adjusts the pitch based on whether or not both engines are making power.

It's another example of "every airplane is different" - fly the one you got, not the one you used to fly...

Obviously if it is giving you good information, then I see no problem with it. The thing is, most don't yet a lot of pilots use them as though they are.

 

[HSDriver]

Where did you see that? The only requirement is that you have your PFD/HSI set with a CDI needle (not a Map/course track) to varify any deviation. If that's what you ment then excuse me.

AIM chapter 5

6. For RNAV 1 DPs and STARs, pilots must use a CDI, flight director and/or autopilot, in lateral navigation mode. Other methods providing an equivalent level of performance may also be acceptable.

 

[pilotyip]

We encourage using the FD on visual straight-in if the runway is served by an ILS. It anohter opportunity to use all available information in the cockpit. Having the ILS tuned up for a visual has saved people from landing at the wrong airport.