Flight Director Setup Made Easy
Now that you have read about the magical flight director and have a better understanding of how it can help let’s go through a few simple setup tips and tricks.
One thing to note before we get into details. I encourage my students to use the flight director even when there is no intention of using the autopilot. I’d like them to create muscle memory and verification habits in all phases of flight.
As I try to do with everything in the cockpit I’d like to be as efficient and effective as possible. I want the least amount of button pushing or heads down time. I take this thought process and apply it to a “bottom’s up” philosophy with the FD.
Let’s get to it:
On The Ground: Before Takeoff
“Bottom’s up” means just like it sounds, start low on the panel and move up.
1. Go Around button: This turns on the flight director and activates GA (Go Around) in both the pitch and roll functions of the flight director. Pitch will be 7.5 degree nose up and roll will be wings level.
2. Altitude Select: Moving up the panel we select the first assigned or desired altitude with the altitude select knob.
3. Pitch Mode buttons; FLC, VS, VNAV: On the ground we’re going to skip these pitch options. We’re already in GA mode at 7.5 degrees nose up.
4. Roll Mode buttons; HDG, NAV: For the current situation we’re going to push the HDG button to activate the HDG mode allowing the FD to follow the heading bug.
5. Heading Bug: The last thing to do as we move up the GFC700 functions is set the heading bug to assigned runway heading. Do this prior to taking to the active runway so you can confirm the bug is set to assigned runway heading. Do not just sync when you get on the runway.
6. Verify: Verifying your inputs prior to action is by far the most important piece to this sequence. For this set my call-out is, “I’m climbing to an altitude of ____ft in GA mode at a pitch of 7.5 degrees nose up, I’ll be departing runway ____ with my heading bug on ____ and flight director confirmed in heading mode. At an altitude of _____ I’ll change to FLC mode for my climb.” Basically, where am I going? How am I getting there? What is my course?.
7. FLC Mode: After departure and at a safe altitude (clear of the pattern) change the pitch mode from GA to FLC. This allows you to hold a constant airspeed in the climb. This prevents potential stall situations and airspeed control which may occur if you use VS mode.
Setting up in flight:
One thing to note before we get into the flow or process of setting up in flight. I never push the FD button unless I’m turning the flight director off. By using the same “bottoms up” flow we can efficiently set up the FD in any scenario.
1. Altitude: If you are going up or down set your desired Altitude first. This falls into “where am I going? Note: If you are not climbing or descending simply start with the Altitude Select knob verifying it is set on current Altitude and move up pressing ALT button on the flight director.
2. Pitch: “How am I getting there? If you are climbing use FLC, if you are descending use VS. Always use FLC in a climb ensuring an airspeed that will help you avoid a stall.
3. Roll: Select your desired course whether it be HDG, following the heading bug, or NAV following your CDI course.
4. HDG Bug or CDI: Set or verify the course that the Roll Mode is active in.
5. Verify: “I’m climbing or descending to an altitude of ______ at VS______ or FLC______ on a HDG or NAV course of _________.
FD on a Go Around
An actual go around in IMC can be one of the most stressful situations in aviation. You are low and slow and have a lot to do. Let the FD assist you.
Important Note: If you are flying the approach with the autopilot engaged pushing the Go Around button DISENGAGES the autopilot.
1. Go Around button: As if we were starting on the ground we’re pressing the go around to give us a safe, level climb attitude.
2. Clean up the plane: This has nothing to do with the flight director but should be done in procedure after the go around is initiated with a full power climb.
3. Altitude Select: At this point this should be a verification as it should be set for the first missed altitude assignement on the approach. If it was not this is the time to set it.
4. Pitch: You should be fine in a 7.5 degree nose up climb set by the GA button.
5. Roll: NAV button; if you’re approach is loaded correctly and you’re flying the published missed approach all you have to do is press the NAV button and the flight director will follow the published course considering all databases are current.
6. Verify: Verifying is especially important here as you are most likely low and possibly slow. One more time, bottoms up, “where am I going, how am I getting there and what is my course”.
In an actual go around situation this should be the easiest setup. If the altitude selector was correctly set for the missed during the approach the only real buttonology is pressing Go Around, cleaning up and pressing NAV.
These are some basic setup tips and obviously there is more than one way to do everything in the G1000. I welcome your comments and hopefully this can generate some conversation on more effective methods to help us all.