Tue, Feb 22, 2005
Cirrus/Avidyne PFD Goes "Pro"
Cirrus Design
Corporation has begun delivery of Primary Flight Display (PFD)
equipped aircraft with Flight Director. The advanced technology
remains true to Cirrus’ commitment to provide pilots with the
most comprehensive situational awareness tools for
ease-of-operation, performance and safety.
Attitude indicators on new Cirrus aircraft will have the
traditional “flying W” aircraft representation replaced
by a yellow “flying wedge” graphic on the PFD. Cirrus
aircraft equipped with the optional Flight Director and 55X
autopilot will also have command bars appear on the PFD when in
Flight Director mode. Pilots flying a Flight Director-equipped
aircraft can select the desired method to maneuver the aircraft
– to hand-fly with or without Flight Director, or
autopilot.
"This key feature helps pilots fly their route smoothly and more
precisely when hand-flying the aircraft,” commented Dale
Klapmeier, Cirrus executive vice president and co-founder.
“Flight Director can enhance both the precision of flying
approaches and programmed routes while also increasing the fun of
hand flying.”
Below is a table outlining what the pilot will see in each
mode.
|
Mode
|
PFD Visual Cues
|
Action Required by Pilot
|
Figure
|
|
Flt Director OFF;
Autopilot OFF;
Hand-flying the aircraft
|
Flying wedge–yellow |
Pilot must maneuver the aircraft manually |
1
|
Flt Director ON;
Autopilot OFF (uncoupled);
Hand-flying the aircraft |
Flying wedge–yellow
Command bars-green
|
Pilot must maneuver the aircraft manually; flight director
command bars will appear and will indicate the desired flight
maneuver but the pilot must manually maneuver the aircraft to keep
the flying wedge seated in the inverted “V” of the
command bars
|
2
|
Flt Director ON
Autopilot ON (coupled) |
Flying wedge–yellow
Command bars-magenta |
Autopilot will maneuver the aircraft in accordance with the
pilot selected inputs; the flying wedge will appear seated in
(coupled with) the inverted “V” of the magenta command
bars |
3
|
The system is activated by simple push buttons, located left of
the PFD, for uncoupling and recoupling the autopilot. For further
safety, the system defaults to autopilot function when Flight
Director is not specifically activated.
Along with Flight Director, Cirrus has updated the PFD with the
addition of an Autopilot Mode Annunciator. Located across the top
of the PFD screen, the Autopilot Mode Annunciator repeats the
autopilot faceplate annunciations in the pilot’s primary
field of view. Flight Director is currently available as an option
for SR22 and information regarding retrofits will be announced at a
later date.
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