The autopilot can be engaged in any reasonable attitude; however, unless touch control steering
(TCS) is used in conjunction with autopilot engagement, the autopilot will roll wings level if engaged
while in a bank. If the bank is less than 6° at engagement, the autopilot will hold the heading
indicated when the autopilot is engaged. If the bank is over 6° at engagement, it will hold the heading
indicated when the airplane rolls through 6° of bank on the way to wings level. If a lateral mode is
disengaged, the autopilot will hold the heading existing at the moment of disengagement. If the turn
controller is out of the center detent position, the autopilot will not engage.
ALTITUDE ALERTING SYSTEM
The altitude alerting system is automatically engaged in conjunction with the altitude preselect mode
(ASEL). The desired altitude is set into the system for use of the ASEL mode. The altitude is set into
the lower right corner of the MFD and on top of the PFD altitude tape scales with the ALT Sel knob.
The desired flight director mode which is to be used to reach the designated altitude is then selected
on the flight director/autopilot mode control panel. Refer to Altitude Hold and Altitude Preselect,
below. If the pilot does not desire to select a flight director mode, the airplane can be flown manually
and the altitude alerting system will still provide the appropriate annunciations.
TOUCH CONTROL STEERING
Touch control steering (TCS) enables the airplane to be maneuvered manually during autopilot
operation without cancellation of any selected flight director modes. To use touch control steering,
press the TCS button, maneuver the airplane and release the TCS button. TCS is operable with all
autopilot modes. During TCS operation the yaw damper will remain engaged.
If the autopilot is engaged in a bank and it is desired to hold the bank, press the TCS button, engage
the autopilot and release the TCS button. The bank will be maintained if it is in excess of 6°. The
airplane may be rolled level with the turn knob. The memory function holding the autopilot in a bank
will be canceled when the turn knob is moved out of detent.
In the case of Flight Level Change (FLC) (IAS or MACH annunciated) mode, vertical speed (VS)
mode or altitude hold (ALT) mode, the TCS button may be depressed and the airplane maneuvered
to a new reference. When the TCS button is released, the flight director/autopilot will maintain the
new reference.
HEADING MODE (HDG)
The heading mode (HDG - annunciated in green letters in the top left of the ADI) can be used with
the flight director (FD) only, or in conjunction with the autopilot. When the heading (HDG) mode is
selected on the MS-560 Mode Selector, the command bars will come into view and display a steering
command that is controlled by the HDG cursor (bug) on the HSI. The heading bug is set by means of
the RI-553 Remote Instrument Controller located on the pilot’s pedestal. The command bars will
synchronize vertically to the pitch attitude at the time of HDG selection. Heading mode will be
engaged automatically if another lateral mode is selected and the airplane is outside the capture
parameters of that mode. In this case, HDG mode will remain ON until the airplane arrives at a point
where capture can occur. The selected mode will then capture and be annunciated in the mode
selector and in green letters at the top left side of the HSI, and HDG will cancel. If the autopilot is also
engaged, the autopilot will receive steering commands according to the selected mode(s). NAV and
APR modes can be armed with the HDG mode ON. When intercepting a VOR radial or localizer
course with the NAV or APR modes selected, the system will switch from ARM to CAP when within
the capture limits and the armed mode will be captured.
Cessna Citation XLS - Instrumentation & Avionics
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