#1. In the flight plan “globe” screen, under “OPT”, there’s 4 different options. The last option is “Set Autopilot ALT”. (not to be confused with “set alt”, which works in conjunction with VNAV). …When I press it, nothing happens … The “OPT” menu just disappears. The guide is hard to understand..
#2. Handbook says while I’m on the ground, before takeoff, I can set my desired speed & vertical speed for AFTER takeoff. (If I’m reading it right)..
Well, once I’m post-V2, when I press on my preselected speed and altitude, the AP system reverts to whatever my CURRENT speed and vertical speed happens to be.
Neither of these are a big deal. Just trying to understand.
To answer question number 2 yep, that’s just how AP airspeed works in IF for now. Once you engage it after takeoff, it’ll hold whatever speed you’re currently flying at. It won’t automatically spool up to the speed you dialed in earlier.
Same deal with V/S. What I usually do is set my AP speed on the ground to my V1 or Vr not to actually use AP during takeoff, but just as a visual reference when Im hit VR and need to airborne. Then once airborne, I go manual for the initial climb.
There’s a tip I picked up from one of the threads here:
If your takeoff thrust is set around 88% N1, then your optimal climb thrust should be roughly 78% just knock off about 10% from your TO power. And when you can reduce your T/O Thrust from TOGA to Climb? it depends i think when heavy you will stay in TOGA thrust longer.
So after liftoff, I manually manage the throttles to stabilize the aircraft and accelerate to my climb speed let’s say, 300 knots and only then do I engage A/P speed. Same with V/S: I hand-fly the pitch to get around 3000 fpm below 10,000 feet, then lock it in with A/P once the aircraft’s trimmed and stable.
“OPT:
Tap a waypoint and then this button to set/edit/delete an altitude target that can be used with VNAV. Tapping “Set Autopilot ALT” will change the altitude selected in the autopilot to the altitude of the waypoint selected.”
It’s like ALT PRESETS in the autopilot section, it lists several altitudes, that wil replace the set altitude under ALT when selected.
So, when selecting “Set Autopilot ALT”, and that menu disappears, the ALT set for that waypoint has now become the ALT set in the autopilot settings.
Tapping speed or VS works like now. It takes the actual parameters. But when holding these buttons for like a second or two, it takes the numbers that are set in. For example: I’m taking of at 150kts. I pre set my vertical speed to 3000. After my rotation I hold the VS button for 1 second. It now locks to 3000fps instead of my actual VS of… let’s say 1500. Same for speed. I preset it to 250. After take off I hold it and it uses 250 instead of 150. Could be also applied to Heading.
Did you think of a hold/tap feature for AP? Should be pretty easy to implement without distracting other parameters.
