System information

Co-Pilot II reference manual 16 FMA Direct
When using Co-Pilot™ II, you’ll need to add one or two routines
to your normal preight checks:
n Co-Pilot™ II preight check — before each ight, as part of
your regular preight check.
n Infrared eld calibration (only if the Vertical Sensor Module
is not installed) — before your rst ight of the day, and any
time there is a signicant change in the weather.
Co-Pilot II preight check
1. Turn on the radio receiver and transmitter, and turn on the IR-
Net Programmer.
2. Link up the Programmer with the IRNet Router (see “Using
the Programmer” for details).
3. Navigate to the Co-Pilot II Main Menu.
4. In the Main Menu, select “Preight,” then press ENTER.
5. Check the information in each screen, until you return to the
Main Menu (see the “Preight” owchart for details).
Infrared eld calibration
Note: Infrared eld calibration is only required if the Vertical Sen-
sor Module is not installed.
IMPORTANT:
n Calibrate before your rst ight of the day, and any time the
weather changes signicantly.
n Calibrate outside, near the area where you will be ying.
n Calibrate before every ight at night.
Infrared eld calibration precautions
Flight stabilization derives precision and exibility from the cali-
bration procedure. Please read and observe the following guide-
lines for the best, safest operation with the greatest margin:
n As nearly as possible, calibrate ight stabilization over the
type of terrain that will be under the aircraft when it is ying.
For example, do not calibrate over bare dirt if the aircraft will
be ying over light vegetation.
n Grass provides the best, most consistent reference terrain, but
snow is the coolest reference terrain.
n If the ying area has variable terrain, calibrate over the coolest
part. This provides a conservative, lower calibration number,
and assures a greater margin over warmer reference terrain.
Typical infrared temperatures, in order from coolest to warm-
est are: snow, water, grass, light vegetation, sand, and asphalt
or concrete.
n If you calibrate over an articially warm medium such as
asphalt or concrete, the infrared temperature over anything
else will be lower, which reduces the temperature difference
(between earth and sky) available for ight stabilization to
work with. If at all possible, don’t calibrate over asphalt or
concrete.
Preparing to y
n If the aircraft will be ying over patchy snow, calibrate over
the snow.
n A calibration reading of 7°F or less is rare. If a reading of 7°F
or less is obtained, Co-Pilot II will turn itself off and you will
not be able to use ight stabilization.
n Helicopters require extra precision to hover. For that reason,
you should only use ight stabilization on a helicopter when
the calibration reading is 20°F (11°C) or greater.
Performing the infrared eld calibration
Note: Again, infrared eld calibration is only required if the Verti-
cal Sensor Module is not installed.
1. In the IRNet Programmer, navigate to the Main Menu.
2. In the Main Menu, select “Do Field Calib.,” then press EN-
TER.
3. Position the aircraft with the nose pointed down (i.e., fuselage
is vertical) or with one wing down (i.e., wings are vertical).
Make sure the Main Sensor Module is not “seeing” any parts
of your body during calibration. While the aircraft is in this
position, press ENTER on the Programmer (and remember to
keep the Programmer pointed toward the IRNet Router).
Tip: It may be easier if two people perform step 3. One person
can hold the aircraft nose down or wing down at arms length,
while the other person operates the Programmer.
4. The Programmer will display the results: Good, Okay, Bad or
OFF.
Note: If the Programmer displays OFF, weather conditions do not
permit use of Co-Pilot II. Flight stabilization has been disabled
and cannot be used at this time.
5. Press ENTER to return to the Main Menu.