SkyView A/P & GTN Flight Plan

[CaptainJS]

I am writing to ask for help understanding how to use the SkyView’s AutoPilot (AP) and Flight Planning (FP) capability, and the GTN 650. FWIW, I am a VFR pilot and do not have training in departure and approach procedures. I have a SV Classic, with the SV AP Control Panel, and a 2-axis Dynon AP. I also have a GTN 650 interfaced to the SV using the Dynon ARINC 429 module.

Desired Outcome: I want to engage the AP and have it fly the airplane to Airport B (B) shortly after departing Airport A (A). I have 2 Way Points (WP1 & WP2) between A and B. I want to create the FP in the GTN 650 and use the GTN GPS as the position source for controlling the SV AP.

I am following the procedure described below and it doesn't seem to be working. Please review what I believe are the steps needed to accomplish this and then note the questions that follow.

Before Take Off:

GTN 650​

1. Create a WP1 --> WP2 --> B flight plan in the GTN
2. Set the OBI to the GPS not the NAV Radio

SkyView​

1. MAP – FPL and use the knob to select the GTN 650 tab at the top of the screen. The FP shown on the SV display matches the GTN FP just created
2. Scroll down and select the “GTN650 FPL SHOWN ON MAP” option. This results in the GTN FP being shown on the SV map.
3. PFD – HSI SRC and select the GTN 650 GPS, This will result in Magenta text listing GTN GPS as the source
4. Set an Altitude in SV of say 3,500ft
5. Hit the FD button on the AP Panel to provide guidance during departure and climb out

Once Airborne:

1. Establish an appropriate climb rate and establish a heading in the general direction of WP1
2. Engage the AP by pushing the AP button on the SV AP Controller – The AP will maintain the bank angle and climb rate that were present when the AP button was pushed. If I am below the 3,500 ft altitude set prior to take off, the airplane will continue to climb at the current rate of climb until it reaches 3,500 ft at which time it will transition to the ALT hold mode at 3,500 ft.
3. With the GTN WP1 --> WP2 --> B FP displayed on the SV Map, and the GTN GPS set as the HSI SRC in the PFD, Push the NAV button on the AP Controller. This will cause the AP to adopt a Direct heading\track toward WP1 while maintaining an altitude of 3,500 ft. (A few items worth noting here. This is typically where things don’t go as expected. I don’ know if it’s related to the GTN FP being Active or not. Note, that when the GTN FP is selected as the source, I don’t get the NAVIGATE tab option on the MAP -- FPL page.)
4. If the previous step were to occur as described, the SV AP will fly the airplane at 3,500ft to WP1, then perform a Flyby Transition at WP1 toward WP2, perform another Flyby Transition at WP2 toward Airport B, and then on to Airport B.

Questions:

1. Please indicate if the steps described above will result in the desired outcome. If not, what do I need to do differently? Does it have to do with the NAVIGATE option? How could this be accomplished more efficiently? Step 3 after Once Airborne is where I run into difficulty.
2. What is the quickest process for clearing a SV or GTN FP from the Map? Is it different for the GTN FP compared to the SV FP? I ask because I don't get the same options when in the MAP -- FPL screens for the SV and GTN 650 tabs\pages.
3. Other than cutting power to the Servos, it there another way to “turn off” the AP such that there is no information in the AP info block at the top of the SV display. Pushing the AP button causes the AP to be disconnected but all of the setttings remain the same.

Hope I wasn't too long winded. Thanks in advance for the help.

Jerry
Vans RV 9A

 

[lancair360]

Jerry, really good writeup, makes things clear.

Q3 - The blocks at the top of the PFD are your flight mode annunciator panel. It shows what flight modes you are in, ie HDG, NAV, ALT, VS.... This is a display of what your flight director is doing. if AP is on then you'll have AP in green, if not, it won't be. To clear the flight director turning the AP off will clear all FD modes, OR just hit the "FD" button on the AP control head to turn the flight director off. Then you're back to raw data.

Q1 - You should already have GTN as nav source on the PFD in magenta so no need to change it to GTN once airborne. The flight plan is A-WP1-WP2-B so if you take off and hit NAV the FD and AP will direct you/the aircraft to intercept the course between A and WP1 depending on where you are. If you are right on course it'll be pretty direct WP1. If not it will do some intercept based on it's internal programming/logic/algorithm. Onec airborne, let's say you are not right on course A-WP1 due to trafffic pattern or vector away from the airport the only way to then go direct to WP1 is, on the GTN FPL, activate direct WP1. Then you will go present position to WP1 and then flight planned route after that.

Q2 - The Dynon at this point is just displaying the info from the GTN, like the GTN is a DVD player and the Dynon is your TV. So you will control wnat's on the TV NOT with the tv controls but with the DVD controls. So.....use the GTN to control what is displayed on your Dynon. I think you can just go in the FPL page on the GTN and clear flight plan or delete. I have a GPS175 so similar but I've never really looked that close.

Notes - once you have selected the option on the Dynon of "show GTN FLP on map" you should never need to reselect it again. You change your NAV source to GTN and it will remember the setting to display on map. For takeoff I would use HDG on the FD and set this ruwnay heading. This way on takeoff you have guidance straight ahead and if you need to quickly engage the AP you know exactly what it is going to do. If you have ANYTHING else set in there (like you bug the heading for your first turn) then the FD command bars will be turned that direction and I can gurantee you will not be able to maintain ruwnay heading, you will put the plane into FD command bars no matter how much you tell yourself not to.

The Dynon Map->FPL page is pretty useles once you are using the GTN to navigate.