Cockpit Reference Guide

Garmin G1000 Cockpit Reference Guide for the Cessna Nav III
190-00384-08 Rev. A
SECTION 6 – AUTOMATIC
FLIGHT CONTROL
6-28
Descent
While flying the arrival procedure, the aircraft is
cleared for descent in preparation for the approach to
KCOS. Three methods are presented for the descent from
12,000 ft:
• Flight Level Change descent – Flight Level Change
Mode can be used to descend to the Selected Alti
-
tude at a constant airspeed. This descent method
does not account for flight plan waypoint altitude
constraints.
• Vertical Path Tracking descent – Vertical Path Track-
ing Mode is used to follow the vertical descent path
defined in the GPS flight plan. Altitude constraints
correspond to waypoints in the flight plan. Before
VNV flight control can provide vertical profile
guidance, a VNV flight plan must be entered and
enabled.
• Non-path descent in a VNV scenario – While
the flight director is following VNV guidance for
descent, Pitch Hold, Vertical Speed, or Flight Level
Change Mode can be used to descend to the VNV
Target Altitude prior to reaching the planned TOD.
Flight Level Change Mode is used in the example.
Flight Level Change descent:
1) Select Flight Level Change Mode:
a) Using the ALT Knob, set the Selected Altitude to
10,000 feet.
Figure 6-34 FLC Descent
Cruise Altitude of 12,000 MSL
Selected Altitude of 10,000 MSL
ALT Mode
FLC Mode
ALT Mode
1
2
3
b) Press the FLC Key to activate Flight Level Change
Mode. The annunciation ‘FLC’ appears next
to the Airspeed Reference, which defaults to
the current aircraft airspeed. Selected Altitude
Capture Mode is armed automatically.
2) Use the NOSE UP/NOSE DN keys or push the CWS
Button while hand-flying the aircraft to adjust the
commanded airspeed while maintaining the same
power, or reduce power to allow descent in Flight
Level Change Mode while the autopilot maintains
the current airspeed.
3) As the aircraft nears the Selected Altitude, the flight
director transitions to Selected Altitude Capture
Mode, indicated by the green ‘ALTS’ annunciation
flashing for up to 10 seconds.
The green ‘ALT’ annunciation flashes for up to 10
seconds upon reaching 50 feet from the Selected
Altitude; the autopilot transitions to Altitude Hold
Mode and levels the aircraft.