Has anyone spent time with the Seminole and its autopilot?

Other than the readouts not being quite to spec,  I have now run into a logic problem..

The autopilot does not appear to want to go from HDG to APR mode.
It indicates APR, but does not follow the localiser.
However, if I push NAV, then APR, it wakes up and follows the localiser.

This is a bug... since the correct procedure for a GPS ILS approach, is to set
the heading bug to the runway heading, fly in NAV mode until turning to final,
switch to HDG mode, change the GPS to VLOC mode, verify the HSI needles,
and push APR.  This does not work in the Seminole... 🙁

I did the same flight in the Mooney, and there it works correctly. 😉

Any others??

I've had the same in the PA44 - I've not flown it in months.

I've had similar issues in the PA44 as well, what I found out was that as long as you're not touching any AP settings / buttons until you're airborne, it usually works fine. If you start clicking buttons on it on the ground, it just messes up while in flight. 

49 minutes ago, Republic3D said:

If you start clicking buttons on it on the ground, it just messes up while in flight. 

That is not "confidence inspiring.." 😉

I did experience a similar problem recently. It did not turn into the localizer heading.

59 minutes ago, samdilli said:

I did experience a similar problem recently. It did not turn into the localizer heading.

I have a sent a note to Carenado with a short list of autopilot issues in the Seminole.

In P3D, I would have fixed them, but here, I lack the programming skills.. 😉

If anyone knows how to do this, in case Carenado does not follow through.. here is the list:

1. The RDY indication should disappear when a mode (HDG, NAV, etc) is selected

2. When APR mode is selected, the correct readout is actually NAV APR, not just APR

3. The readouts on the autopilot and the annunciator need more contrast/backlighting..

4. The autopilot suffers from being unable to deal with a slight yoke pressure or miscalibration.  After a short while, it spirals into the ground.  This is something that was fixed in a recent MSFS update, but the Seminole appears to still be on old code.

5. The autopilot does not want to go from HDG to APR mode. It indicates APR, but does not follow the localiser.  However, if I push NAV, then APR, it wakes up and follows the localiser.

 

Edited July 7, 20214 yr by Bert Pieke

10 hours ago, Republic3D said:

I've had similar issues in the PA44 as well, what I found out was that as long as you're not touching any AP settings / buttons until you're airborne, it usually works fine. If you start clicking buttons on it on the ground, it just messes up while in flight. 

I have seen that happen at times in other MSFS aircraft, including default.  What you describe is/was I believe an MSFS issue.  What Bert describes seems to be more of an issue with a specific aircraft.

I do not own the PA44 so cannot check.

Edited July 7, 20214 yr by fppilot

Add one more:

6.  If the autopilot is turned on or off via keystroke (Z), the panel switch does not follow.

The thing that bugs me, is that I had this fixed in my P3D Seminole, and here we go again..

25 minutes ago, Bert Pieke said:

Add one more:

6.  If the autopilot is turned on or off via keystroke (Z), the panel switch does not follow.

The thing that bugs me, is that I had this fixed in my P3D Seminole, and here we go again..

Try contacting AmbitiousPilots over on TO.  He authored the shift-z mod and had to develop a workaround so shift-z would not affect AP operation.  Since he delved into the z key in MSFS he may be able to provide some help or insight regarding a mod for the PA44. 

Edited July 7, 20214 yr by fppilot

4 minutes ago, fppilot said:

Try contacting AmbitiousPilots over on TO.  He authored the shift-z mod and had to develop a workaround so shift-z would not affect AP operation.  Since he delved into the z key in MSFS he may be able to provide some help of insight.

The code here is within the Carenado model.. easily changed if you can access their code.. in  P3D, I simply added two lines, job done:

(L:SWITCH_APFD_MALIBU,number) 2 == (A:AUTOPILOT MASTER,BOOL) ! and if{
1 (>L:SWITCH_APFD_MALIBU,number) }

(L:SWITCH_APFD_MALIBU,number) 1 == (A:AUTOPILOT MASTER,BOOL) and if{
2 (>L:SWITCH_APFD_MALIBU,number) }