Trio Avionics Pro Pilot - Manual (Page 33)

Trio Pro Pilot Manual 3.8
33
To restore the display to presenting the H NAV information,
press the H MODE button and the center arrow will reverse,
indicating that the display and encoder are now devoted to H
NAV functions.
However, the ALT HLD LED will remain illuminated to indicate that the ALT HLD is still active.
Setting Vertical Speed (SET VS)
The Pro Pilot has enhanced altitude control features that allow the aircraft to climb and descend under
autopilot control. This provides several additional capabilities and safety features:
 A major safety feature of the Pro Pilot is its ability to prevent the system from stalling or over
speeding the aircraft. To facilitate this, the control head contains an airspeed sensor, which
must be connected to the aircraft pitot system.
 Another safety feature is autopilot disconnect on take off. The autopilot will automatically
disconnect the servos when approaching airspeed of approximately 40 kts IAS - if inadvertently
left on during takeoff.
 Vertical climbs and descents may be performed by setting the desired vertical rate via the
encoder knob and pushbutton switch.
 Pilot Command Steering (PCS) allows the pilot to press the remote disconnect switch to fly the
aircraft manually to establish a desired climb or descent rate and (when the remote disconnect
button is released) the aircraft will hold that vertical rate.
 Alternatively, the pilot may choose– via a CONFIGURATION setup menu – to have the PCS
mode climb and descend on airspeed (instead of vertical speed). This will allow the ability to
maintain a specific airspeed during climb or descent to help maintain proper engine temperature.
NOTE: In the PCS mode the vertical rate change must be at least 200 FPM or the Pro Pilot will enter
ALT HLD upon releasing the PCS (remote disconnect) button. If the rate is greater than 200
fpm it will maintain the climb/descent that it senses when the button is released.
For the following discussion, assume that the pitch servo is on (“V NAV” servo LED is illuminated) and
the Pro Pilot is in the ALT HLD mode.
Pressing the V MODE button once will bring up the SET VS
screen. With this display present, rotate the encoder knob to
dial in a climb or descent rate.
With the SET VS, the rotary encoder provides a means to set
in a climb or descent in increments of 100 feet/sec.
Rotating the encoder clockwise increments the vertical speed display to show a positive rate of climb,
while rotating the encoder to the left will set in a descent. On the screen to the above, the rate indicates
that a positive 800 feet per minute has been entered as the desired climb rate.
Entering a climb or descent rate will cause the AS/VS LED to illuminate, indicating
that a number has been entered. The ALT HLD LED will remain illuminated.
Please note that the climb will not begin until the pilot presses the encoder knob to
initiate the climb.
If the encoder knob is now pressed, the ALT HLD LED will turn off and the aircraft will enter a climb at
the selected rate.