Hello!I haven't found a topic on this, so i made a new one (correct me if i'm wrong)But i have a question about flying holding patterns in a MD-11, here is my situation...I am flying a STAR using AUTO FLIGHT.There is an aircraft in front so i can't land and i have to do a hold at say... intersection RIVER of the STAR.Now the hold is not on the map, so i disengage the autopilot and the ATS, and i fly the holding pattern.But afterwards, i want to continue the STAR with AUTO FLIGHT.But i can't get to go back on. It doesn't matter which button i press. Maybe it is because i pass the point RIVER during the turn?What i am doing wrong? Or.. what i suppossed to do when i want it back on auto flight?Thanks in advance!Ricardo

wow you actually disengage the AFS?? You dont see that everyday nowadays in flightsim :( Anyways, what do you mean? The AFS wont re-engage? Or is it that NAV mode will not follow the star? if so, you can try doing a DIR TO to the next waypoint.EDIT: Also you need to be on an intercept heading for NAV to re-engage.

wow you actually disengage the AFS?? You dont see that everyday nowadays in flightsim :( Anyways, what do you mean? The AFS wont re-engage? Or is it that NAV mode will not follow the star? if so, you can try doing a DIR TO to the next waypoint.

Haha well flying manual is fun ;) but it's also because i don't know much about the AFS yet XDBut when i've flown the hold, i press nav again, followed by auto flight, but it just says "nav armed". and it's not following it's original STAR route.Where do i do the DIR TO then? in the FMS?EDIT: aahh i'll try that: "Also you need to be on an intercept heading for NAV to re-engage".Thnx! i'll let you know next time i try!

Hey Bryan!Both methods worked!Thank you very much!!

Ricardo,why don't you just insert a holding to that fix "RIVER" instead of flying it all manually with AFS off? This is hell of a lot of work, at least I hope you're using the TRACK mode of the FCP, I'd hate to see you calculating a wind correction angle while you manually fly a holding pattern. There's a reason even the oldest Senecas had an autopilot installed ;)Markus

Ricardo,why don't you just insert a holding to that fix "RIVER" instead of flying it all manually with AFS off? This is hell of a lot of work, at least I hope you're using the TRACK mode of the FCP, I'd hate to see you calculating a wind correction angle while you manually fly a holding pattern. There's a reason even the oldest Senecas had an autopilot installed ;)Markus

Well yeah i do keep that on, as well as the altitude and speed hold :) keeps it doable ;)But i didnt know that it was possible to add a hold.. ( i have much to learn XD )Could you explain to me how?Thnx!Ricardo

adding a hold is easyJust press the line select key next to the waypoint you want to hold and, and selece the HOLD prompt, adjust the parameters as desired and press INSERT* and thats it. depending on the 'hold entry type' (teardrop, direct, parallel) however you may need to manoeuvre the aircraft into position using heading select or whatever method, as the 'hold entry' logic doesnt appear to be programmed in the PMDG model.

HawkEye22,I echo your thoughts on flying by hand- is quite enjoyable from time-to-time.The ATS system on the MD-11 has been designed to remain on throughout the flight under normal conditions. In fact, once you select AUTO FLIGHT (typically during the taxi out) to arm ATS you won't need to touch it again. This is true even if you decide to D/C the AFS to land the aircraft by hand. Of course, if you choose to leave AFS on through roll out it's a good idea to D/C prior to turnoff or you will be fighting your autopilot all the way to the gate.Jeffrey L. Whitaker

There's a reason even the oldest Senecas had an autopilot installed ;)

Really?! Mine didn't- now I feel cheated. To think I could have done all those SE approaches with an autopilot.Paul

depending on the 'hold entry type' (teardrop, direct, parallel) however you may need to manoeuvre the aircraft into position using heading select or whatever method, as the 'hold entry' logic doesnt appear to be programmed in the PMDG model.

All my holds so far have been direct entry. Next time around, I'll look out for the entry.Paul

adding a hold is easyJust press the line select key next to the waypoint you want to hold and, and selece the HOLD prompt, adjust the parameters as desired and press INSERT* and thats it. depending on the 'hold entry type' (teardrop, direct, parallel) however you may need to manoeuvre the aircraft into position using heading select or whatever method, as the 'hold entry' logic doesnt appear to be programmed in the PMDG model.

Hmm oke that sounds easy indeed! I'll give it a try later on today!I also think i need to go and study that FMS guide sometime soon :( Thank you all for the help!I'll let you know when i've tried it!

All my holds so far have been direct entry. Next time around, I'll look out for the entry.Paul

Yea direct entry works fine, but it treats teardrop entries as direct also, which obviously is weird...

Hey guys!Just wanted to let you know..It worked! I added a hold to my flightplan and flown it correctly!Thnx again!Ricardo