Autopilot and Flight Director questions

[RPRIEVER 52]

Greetings all:I'm a new user of the PMDG 737-600/700 and I have a few questions. Actually, I have about 30,000 questions, but I'll start with these.There are 2 autopilots available. I'm still not sure when to use one, let alone 2 of them. I guess I'll need to use it when I'm not in VNAV/LNAV mode, and am using the speed/heading/altitude buttons. But why is the 2nd one there? (CMD :(Also, when is the function of the CWS buttons? I thought I read somewhere about "control wheel steering" or something like that, but how does that work? Is it used for taxiing?Appreciate your helpRon

[Tabs 2,790]

Hi Ron,1. I believe in the real world they alternate which AP is engaged as the primary on each flight. The only time both are engaged is when you're performing an autoland. (also requires both NAV radios tuned to the same ILS frequency)2. CWS does indeed stand for Control Wheel Steering. What it's used for is something akin to a fly-by-wire system like an Airbus has. Basically, you move the yoke in the pitch or bank axes, and the AP will hold that pitch/bank angle without the need to trim etc. It has nothing to do with ground movement...