AUTOPILOT CONTROL PANEL
The autopilot control panel, mounted at the aft end of the pedestal, provides the means of engaging
the autopilot and yaw damper, as well as manually controlling the autopilot through the turn knob and
pitch wheel.
The autopilot (AP) engage switch is used to engage the autopilot and yaw damper. The yaw damper
(YD) switch is used to engage and disengage the yaw damper without the autopilot. Use of the yaw
damper while manually controlling the airplane aids in airplane stability and passenger comfort. The
push-on push-off AP and YD switches are illuminated green when engaged. Pressing the AP switch
when the autopilot is engaged will disengage the autopilot but leave the yaw damper engaged.
Pressing the YD switch when both YD and AP are engaged will turn off both the yaw damper and the
autopilot. The yaw damper and autopilot may also be disengaged with the red AP TRIM DISC button
on the pilot’s and copilot’s control wheels. Pressing the go around (GA) button on either throttle will
disconnect the autopilot and force the flight director into go around mode; the yaw damper will
remain engaged. Additionally, the stick shaker will disengage the autopilot and yaw damper.
The pitch wheel allows manual pitch control of the airplane proportional to the rotation of the wheel
and in the direction of wheel movement. Movement of the wheel also cancels any other previously
selected vertical mode. The turn knob allows manual bank control of the airplane proportional to and
in the direction of knob movement. Turns with a maximum bank angle of 30° can be performed with
the turn knob. The turn knob must be in the center detent position before the autopilot can be
engaged. Rotation of the turn knob out of detent cancels any other previously selected lateral mode.
When a sustained trim input is being applied to the elevator servo, the elevator trim indicator shows
an out of trim condition in the direction indicated by illumination of UP or DN in the TRIM annunciator.
The indicator should be OFF before engaging the autopilot. If the TRIM annunciator is illuminated
and the autopilot must be disengaged, the pilot must be prepared for an out-of-trim condition in the
annunciated direction.
AUTOPILOT CONTROL PANEL
Figure 3-15
Cessna Citation XLS - Instrumentation & Avionics
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