HSI and autopilot

[rubber314chicken]

It says that the SkyView autopilot supports HSI nav. Does this mean if I have a garmin SL-30 nav linked to the unit that it will fly a VOR radial that I set? What about a glideslope?

And does this allow me to use the internal GPS for autopilot navigation as well? Or do I need to couple a Garmin 430W to be able to use any form of GPS navigation?

Edit- Also, with the 430W, if that was coupled and I had it set to an approach, the autopilot would fly that approach on the horizontal, but I'd have to to the vertical navigation? And there is a future plan to have it fly the vertical portion as well?

 

[dynonsupport]

Yes, the SkyView autopilot it can follow a VOR or a localizer (but not the glide slope). We plan on adding the ability to couple to the glideslope from an ILS or GPS WAAS LPV approaches in the future, but that's still a bit off.

Yes, if SkyView is navigating to a waypoint, the AP can fly it.

Actually, the general rule of thumb is that if there's a CDI on the HSI, the AP can fly it, regardless of source (internal navigation software, VOR, LOC, external GPS).

 

[k.gregory]

So the AP can't couple to the G/S, but does the HSI currently even display the Glide Slope from the the SL30?

 

[dynonsupport]

Yes, the HSI will show the glide slope from a SL30.

 

[PhantomPholly]

FWIW - For those concerned about "coupling to the glide slope," note that you can still have the AP "fly a precision approach" by simply dialing in the appropriate rate of descent, and adjusting it occasionally by +/- 100fpm if the trend is too steep or shallow.

An interesting aspect of this is that an approach flown this way is generally smoother than true vertically coupled approaches because the aircraft will never try to "climb back up" to the glide path (causing a rapid speed decrease unless you apply large power changes) if you hit a small thermal.

Dynon did not yet have their AP when I installed a competitor's, but I have found that the "coupled approach" is really not so much of an advantage over simply dialing in the descent and monitoring - so you really aren't missing anything.  Too, vertical coupling generally requires an extra step in most AP products to "arm the approach."  That's a step that is easy to miss in an already busy phase of flight, putting you in a situation where you are scrambling to get it right late in the approach.

Final thoughts - Once I got used to it I actually preferred the non-coupled assisted approach because it forces me to pay attention to the HSI needles, VVI, and trend.  To my thinking this will make it easier to transition to a manual approach (because you are already focused on it) in the event the AP takes a nap at an inopportune moment.

Opinions will vary...  

 

[llacy]

I thought a CDI would be displayed on the RMI when you had a destination selected and just had the ADI displayed and not the map
Lou