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DGCA Technical General · 23 questions

Autoflight: DGCA Technical General Questions and Answers

23 practice questions on Autoflight with answers and explanations, plus the key concepts and formulas, from the TrueHeading question bank.

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About this topic

Use this page to revise Autoflight for the DGCA Technical General paper. Below are the key ideas first, then 12 practice questions with answers and explanations, picked from the 23 questions in the TrueHeading bank for this topic.

In short: HDG, ALT, VS, LNAV, VNAV, LOC, APPR. The FMA shows what is engaged.

Open the full set in the student zone to answer every question, track your accuracy and take timed mock tests.

Key concepts: Autoflight

2 ideas to know cold.

Common autopilot modes?

HDG, ALT, VS, LNAV, VNAV, LOC, APPR. The FMA shows what is engaged.

  • Autothrottle manages thrust
  • Fail-passive autoland: two or more autopilots; fail-operational: three
  • Always monitor the FMA

What are the levels of autoland capability?

Fail-passive: single failure leaves a safe flight path but needs the pilot. Fail-operational: continues after one failure.

  • CAT IIIA: DH < 100 ft; RVR ≥ 200 m
  • CAT IIIB: DH < 50 ft or none, RVR 50–200 m
  • CAT IIIC: no DH, no RVR

Practice questions: Autoflight

Tap “Show answer” after you have tried each one.

Q1The autopilot controls the aircraft by:

  1. changing the engine only
  2. controlling the radios
  3. sending commands to the servo actuators on the flight controls
  4. controlling the lights
Show answer

Answer: C. sending commands to the servo actuators on the flight controls

It maintains the selected modes.

Q2The autothrottle system controls:

  1. the elevator trim
  2. the aileron
  3. the landing gear
  4. engine thrust to maintain a speed or thrust target
Show answer

Answer: D. engine thrust to maintain a speed or thrust target

It holds speed in approach and climb.

Q3An autopilot channel is a:

  1. complete set of computing and servo components
  2. radio channel
  3. single gyro
  4. TV channel
Show answer

Answer: A. complete set of computing and servo components

Dual or triple channels provide redundancy for autoland.

Q4A fail-passive autoland system:

  1. is only for ground use
  2. will not cause a significant deviation from flight path if one failure occurs, but needs manual takeover
  3. has no redundancy
  4. continues the autoland after failure with no loss
Show answer

Answer: B. will not cause a significant deviation from flight path if one failure occurs, but needs manual takeover

Operational for CAT IIIA.

Q5A fail-operational autoland system:

  1. is manual only
  2. is for take-off only
  3. stops on the first failure
  4. continues to operate automatically after a single failure
Show answer

Answer: D. continues to operate automatically after a single failure

Needed for CAT IIIB/IIIC with no decision height.

Q6In a typical autopilot, the VOR/LOC mode captures:

  1. the airspeed only
  2. the altitude only
  3. the glideslope only
  4. the selected radial or localiser and tracks it
Show answer

Answer: D. the selected radial or localiser and tracks it

It is armed first, and when intercepted becomes active.

Q7The altitude hold mode keeps:

  1. the ground speed
  2. the pressure altitude at which it was engaged
  3. the heading
  4. the radio altitude
Show answer

Answer: B. the pressure altitude at which it was engaged

It uses ADC data.

Q8The "flare" mode of an autoland begins at about:

  1. 50 ft radio height
  2. 500 ft
  3. 1 000 ft
  4. 10 ft
Show answer

Answer: A. 50 ft radio height

Roughly 40–50 ft, rounding out to touchdown.

Q9The autopilot disengages automatically when:

  1. a significant failure is detected or the pilot overrides it
  2. the gear is down
  3. the aircraft starts to descend
  4. the radio is on
Show answer

Answer: A. a significant failure is detected or the pilot overrides it

An aural warning sounds.

Q10Control wheel steering (CWS) lets the pilot:

  1. set the radios
  2. manoeuvre by applying force to the controls while the autopilot holds the new attitude
  3. increase the speed
  4. switch off the autopilot
Show answer

Answer: B. manoeuvre by applying force to the controls while the autopilot holds the new attitude

On release the autopilot holds the attitude.

Q11The yaw damper is a part of:

  1. the autopilot/stability augmentation system
  2. the radio system
  3. the landing gear
  4. the fuel system
Show answer

Answer: A. the autopilot/stability augmentation system

It provides turn coordination.

Q12Autotrim compensates for:

  1. the yaw
  2. the temperature
  3. the pitch change due to speed or configuration changes under autopilot control
  4. the fuel
Show answer

Answer: C. the pitch change due to speed or configuration changes under autopilot control

It prevents autopilot disconnect jerk.

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More DGCA Technical General topics

Aerodynamics & Performance181 QFlight Controls & Stability38 QAirframe & Structures25 QPowerplant79 QPropellers32 QAircraft Systems116 QPitot Statics35 QBarometric Altimeters61 QRadio Altimeters37 QVertical Speed Indicators (VSI)32 QAirspeed Indicators24 QAirspeeds41 QMach55 QGyroscope52 QAttitude Indicators20 QTurn and Slip50 QINS, IRS and FMS32 QEFIS24 QFlight Director21 QEICAS / ECAM24 QEngine Instruments29 QTemperature Indicators34 QFuel Systems35 QCompass54 QWarning & Recording Systems33 QTCAS39 Q
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