Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS)

When AFCS is installed and not activated, AUTOPILOT caution comes on while collective lever is raised. This is only for information of pilot. Acknowledge the caution by pressing SELECT on CAD or CDS/AUDIO RESET on cyclic stick and ignore it.

The Automatic Flight Control System is EC 135's autopilot. The system is very complex and works in many different modes. The principle is similar to that of other airplanes' autopilots, but there are also many differences.

Control Panel for AFCS is installed in the slant console or the center console, depending on other equipment.  

Engagement and Disengagement of AFCS

AFCS is engaged by pressing AP button. Amber indication light OFF will disappear. System is now active in A. TRIM mode. 

Pressing AP button again will disengage AFCS. Pressing SAS/AP CUT button at cyclic stick will also disengage AFCS and additionally all SAS functions. When AFCS is disengaged amber OFF in AP button is illuminated.

After disengaging AFCS warning light AP A.TRIM, caution AUTOPILOT and warning gong come on for 10 seconds.

Overriding AFCS

Pilot can override AFCS temporarily by pressing FTR button.

1. To change the reference attitude press FTR. 
2. AP is now overrides. Fly hands-on to the desired attitude while holding FTR pressed. 
3. When desired attitude is reached, release FTR button. 
4. Bring stick quickly back in it's neutral position. Autopilot will hold the new attitude (A. TRIM Mode) or reference airspeed or altitude (depending on engaged upper mode). 

Also BEEP TRIM overrides AFCS functions. Details depend on active mode and are described there. 

At departure or approach flight autopilot may work against pilot's intensions. We strongly recommend to disengage AFCS during this time or fly hands-on by holding FTR button pressed. 

A. TRIM Mode

This is standard mode after activation of AFCS. While A. TRIM mode is active, amber indication OFF in A. TRIM button is off. AFCS's status lines in PFD are empty. In this mode autopilot will hold the helicopters flight attitude as it was when activating the system. 

Disengage: Press A. TRIM button. OFF is illuminated. System goes to AFCS SAS mode. 

Override: BEEP TRIM buttons change the reference for desired flight attitude in pitch and roll. 

Upper Modes

In addition to A. TRIM Mode AFCS provides 10 Upper Modes. When an upper mode is armed an amber indication light A is illuminated in the respective button, when engaged a green C (coupled) or ON comes on. Activated HDG or ALT.A Mode is indicated by a green ▸ next to the caption. At PFD active modes are indicated by a green text, armed modes by a cyan text. 

Upper modes can only be activated if AFCS is on. Source for the upper modes is always the selected source on the pilot's side.

When an upper mode is disengaged caution DECOUPLE will come on for 10 s at CAD. Pressing A. TRIM button will disengage all upper modes an switch to AFCS SAS mode. 

ALT Mode

Holds altitude (vertical mode). 

Engage: Press ALT button. 

Disengage: Press ALT button oder select other vertical mode. 

Override: BEEP TRIM forwards and afterwards change reference altitude.

IAS Mode

Holds indicated airspeed (vertical mode). 

Engage: Press IAS button. 

Disengage: Press IAS button oder select other vertical mode. 

Override: BEEP TRIM forwards and afterwards change reference speed. 

VS Mode

Holds vertical speed (vertical mode). 

Engage: Press VS button. 

Disengage: Press VS button oder select other vertical mode. 

Override: BEEP TRIM forwards and afterwards change vertical speed. 

GS Mode

Follows glide path of an ILS (vertical mode). 

Engage: Press GS button. 

Disengage: Press GS button oder select other vertical mode. 

HDG Mode

Holds heading (lateral mode).  

Engage: Press HDG button. Set desired heading with HDG rheostat. (From V5.10)
Set desired heading with HDG rheostat. Press HDG button. (Up to V5.03)

Disengage: Press HDG button or select other lateral mode. 

Override: BEEP TRIM left or right and HDG rheostat change reference heading. 

APP Mode

Follows VOR or locator of an ILS (lateral mode). 

Engage: Tune in frequency of VOR or ILS. Press APP button. APP mode will be armed and automatically engaged when the nav source is captured. As long as APP mode is armed another active lateral mode stays engaged. 

Disengage: Press APP button or select other lateral mode. 

NAV Mode

Follows a course given by GPS/NMS, VOR or HSI (lateral mode).

Engage: Tune in frequency of VOR or programm GPS/NMS. Press NAV button. NAV mode will be armed and automatically engaged when the nav source is captured or GPS/NMS is selected. As long as NAV mode is armed another active lateral mode stays engaged.

Disengage: Press NAV button or select other lateral mode. 

ALT.A Mode

Holds a predefined altitude (vertical mode). 

Engage: Select target altitude by ALT.A rheostat. Press ALT.A button.

Disengage: Press ALT.A button or select other vertical mode. 

Override: BEEP TRIM forwards and afterwards change vertical speed.  

GA Mode

Go Around Mode is used to abort approach. It will hold a indicated airspeed of 75 kt.  

Engage: Press GA button at collective lever (assign the joystick command sim/autopilot/take_off_go_around to a button). 

Override: BEEP TRIM forwards and afterwards change reference speed. 

BC Mode

Back Course Mode is not supported.