Your FAQ Manager is: Casey Snyder

The ProPilot Auto Pilot FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

I can't turn with the Auto Pilot on!

It seems that if you are using the AP (auto pilot), and engage the HDG or NAV features, then turn off the HDG or NAV option, but leave the AP on, you are unable to turn.

The Auto Pilot has a "wings leveler" feature. In order to turn the aircraft you'll either need to use the heading bug, or turn the Auto Pilot off, make the course correction, then turn the Auto Pilot back on.
Once this has occured, you can turn off the AP to regain turn control. However, turning the AP on again (even if you don't select NAV or HDG) will result in loss of turning control.

Will this be corrected in a future patch? Only time will tell.
The Up/Down Switch Doesn't Appear To Function. The Cessna 172R does not have this auto pilot feature.

The Up/Down switch on the Auto Pilot works, but in the following manner.
  1. If the plane is currently using ALT hold, the ALT hold must be disengaged (but the AP must remain on.)
  2. The plane should be trimmed to maintain altitude without control input.
  3. Once the plane is trimmed, each press of the Up/Down button causes a climb/decent at the rate of 10 Feet-per-minute.
  4. If you wanted to decend at 100 feet per minute, you'd need to press the Up/Down button 10 times.
  5. Note, the initial reading of the VSI might indicate otherwise, but given enough time, the rate of 10 feet-per-minute per click seems to be accurate.
  6. As you approach your desired altitude, you should be able to reverse this process for a nice, smooth, level-off. Example, you wanted to climb from 5,500 to 5,600 feet. You pressed the Up button 10 times for a 100' per minute climb. As you approach 5,600, you then press the Down button 10 times to off-set the climb request, and, with a bit of practice, level off at 5,600.
When using the ALT Hold, the aircraft porpoises/oscillates/shudders. The Cessna 172R does not have this auto pilot feature.

This problem is most often attributed to an incorrectly calibrated joystick/flight yolk. See the Joystick/Flight Yolk/Rudder Pedals section of the FAQ for calibration information and techniques.
Link to the ProPilot '98 FAQ