7.3.1. ESP
The GFC 500 will provide Electronic Stability and Protection when the autopilot is not
engaged. Electronic Stability and Protection uses the autopilot servos to assist the pilot
in maintaining the airplane in a safe flight condition within the airplane’s normal pitch,
roll and airspeed envelopes. ESP provides an opposing force to the pilot command on
the stick. This feature automatically arms when the aircraft is above 500 feet AGL and
the autopilot is not engaged, and disarm when below 200 feet AGL. Electronic Stability
and Protection is invoked when the pilot allows the airplane to exceed one or more
conditions beyond normal flight defined below:
Pitch attitude beyond normal flight
Roll attitude beyond normal flight
Low airspeed beyond normal flight
High airspeed beyond normal flight
The conditions that are required for ESP to be available are:
Pitch and Roll servos available
Autopilot not engaged
The GPS altitude above ground is more than 200 feet (for low airspeed protection)
When ESP has been engaged for more than ten seconds (cumulative; not necessarily
consecutive seconds) of a 20-second interval, the autopilot is configured to engage with
the flight director in Level Mode, bringing the aircraft into level flight. An aural “Engaging
Autopilot” alert is played and the flight director mode annunciation will indicate ‘LVL’ for
vertical and lateral modes. Level mode as activated by ESP is limited by altitude. ESP
will not be able to activate Level mode until the aircraft climbs above 2000 feet AGL.
The pilot can interrupt ESP by pressing and holding the Autopilot Disconnect (AP DISC)
button on the stick. Upon releasing the AP DISC, ESP force will again be applied. ESP
can also be overridden by overpowering the servo’s torque limit. ESP is enabled or
disabled from the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) page.
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