Hey folks, I need some help again.

 

How do you drop from full FMS control back to just autopilot on the MD-11.  I have read the manuals and the implication is that I should be able to disconnect NAV and PROFILE (FMS control) directly on the AP panel by activating HD SEL which I was able to consistently do to disconnect NAV but when I tried to disconnect FMS speed control I only was able to change the reference mark on the PDF speed tape but the plane continued to maintain the FMS speed.  How do I undo it?  The same problem with altitude.  I understand that PUSHING the ALT button puts AP in ALT HLD mode and that PULLING the ALT HLD button after selecting a new altitude should put the plane in Level Change at the currently displayed SPD/MACH but nothing happens.  I can actuate the climb only by using VSI and it will maintain the selected speed but that certainly is not Level Change.    How is this done?

 

I am not an "autoland" junkie and that seems to be the focus of much of the manuals.  Automation is great and fun to "watch" but there comes a time when a pilot must actually "fly" the airplane as strange a concept as that might be!  I have always managed my own speeds on approach even when I couple with the Autopilot.  There must be an easy way to regain this control on the MD11 without disconnecting all the automation.  How?  

 

I have spent the last several hours pouring over the manuals and though these procedures are alluded to in several places but there is no explanation as to how they can be actuated in the simulation.  If one of you experienced PMDG MD11 drivers would be so kind as to give me some insight into the tricks to disconnect FMS control and use straight AP, I would be very appreciative.

 

Help! 

 

 

How do you drop from full FMS control back to just autopilot on the MD-11

 

Pull the heading knob to make the aircraft turn to the preselected heading in the heading window. This will disengage NAV mode. You need to do this whenever you want to change the heading. Push the heading select knob to hold the present heading. This will cancel VOR, LOC, NAV and LAND ARMED modes.

 

Pull the speed knob to select the preselected speed. This will disengage FMS SPD mode. The aircraft will follow this speed by changing pitch or thrust. You will need to do this again to change the airspeed (turn the knob then pull the knob). Push the knob to maintain the current airspeed.

 

Pull the altitude knob to engage flight level change. This will set climb thrust or descent idle and pitch will maintain speed. The aircraft will climb or descend to the preselected altitude/flight level. Push the knob to hold the current altitude.

 

 

 

I am not an "autoland" junkie and that seems to be the focus of much of the manuals.

 

I would recommend reading and doing the advanced tutorial found on the PMDG website under Documentation. It covers a VOR approach into JFK.

 

 

 

If one of you experienced PMDG MD11 drivers would be so kind as to give me some insight into the tricks to disconnect FMS control

 

Look in the SYSTEMS manual (pages AUTO.30.4-13). That chapter will talk about the various AP modes.

Thanks, Kenny.  That is what I thought would work.  I was able to make it work for the Hdg switch but I must not have been operating the others correctly.  The speed changed on the speed tape but I must not have been PULLING the button after I changed the speed so the plane did not react.  The same with the altitude. I will try it agin in the morning.  Again thanks for clarification.

Aha!  I reread the section you alerted me to, Kenny, and I now understand why I was having difficulty.  I thought there was a special hand symbol for PULL that was different than for PUSH and I could never find it.  I now understand it is the same symbol and acts depending upon whether left or right mouse button is pushed.  I successfully flew the last half of the flight from an enroute saved position down to landing using only the autopilot and no FMS.  I actually had to since when I reloaded the saved situation it keep giving me notice that it could not access some "gps" file and therefore could not use any flight plan.  Sure enough once I initialized and reloaded the panel state it would not allow me access to any FMS functions.  But it was a very pleasant experience and the aircraft responded perfectly to my entered AP commands now that I know how to PULL the switches to activate them.  Thanks again, Kenny.