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What is FMS autopilot?
An FMS is a specialized computer system that automates a wide variety of in-flight tasks, reducing the workload on the flight crew to the point that modern civilian aircraft no longer carry flight engineers or navigators.
What aircraft functions are controlled by the FMS?
A Flight Management System (FMS) is an on-board multi-purpose navigation, performance, and aircraft operations computer designed to provide virtual data and operational harmony between closed and open elements associated with a flight from pre-engine start and take-off, to landing and engine shut-down.
What is included in an autopilot system?
The software reads the aircraft’s current position, and then controls a flight control system to guide the aircraft. In such a system, besides classic flight controls, many autopilots incorporate thrust control capabilities that can control throttles to optimize the airspeed.
What’s the issue with the Boeing 737 autopilot?
The issue with the B737MAX as detailed in the Emergency Airworthiness Directive from Nov. 7, 2018 is not that the plane is applying a nose-down elevator input through the autopilot servos — this would be trivial for the pilots to overcome, even if the servos failed to declutch when the pilots pulled the yoke.
What is the alt inTV on the 737 autopilot?
The FMC somehow had a 5000 ft restriction, and the guy got clearance to go higher up, and he set his altitude on the AP panel, and he pressed the ALT INTV button. From the FCOMv2 4.10.10 (emphasis mine): Allows manual deletion of next FMC altitude constraint via altitude SEL and ALT INTV switch.
How much force can a pilot apply to the autopilot?
The autopilot servos are limited to 25 lb of force for single channel operation. Separate force sensors measure pilot column input and the autopilot will disconnect if the force applied by the pilot (s) exceeds 21 lbs. With typical hydraulic controls, the mechanical control cable circuit just operates control valves on the hydraulic actuators.
Can a pilot override the autopilot on a plane?
So the pilots can pull on the yokes to override it. As already mentioned in another answer, the autopilot is limited to force of 25 lbs, so even if it does not disconnect when the pilots apply 21 lbs as designed, they should be able to overpower it—and 25 lbs should not need one to brace too hard anyway.