Cockpit Reference Guide

190-00763-02 Rev. A
Garmin G1000 Pilot’s Guide for the Piper PA-46 Meridian
399
AUTOMATIC FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM
SYSTEM
OVERVIEW
FLIGHT
INSTRUMENTS
EICAS
AUDIO PANEL
& CNS
FLIGHT
MANAGEMENT
HAZARD
AVOIDANCE
AFCS
ADDITIONAL
FEATURES
APPENDICES INDEX
SECTION 7 AUTOMATIC FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM
NOTE: The approved Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) always supersedes this Pilot’s Guide.
The GFC 700 is a digital Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), fully integrated within the G1000 System
avionics architecture. The System Overview section provides a block diagram to support this system description.
GFC 700 AFCS functionality in the Piper PA-46 Meridian is distributed across the following Line Replaceable
Units (LRUs):
•GDU1040PrimaryFlightDisplays(PFDs)(2)
•GMC710AFCSControlUnit
•GIA63WIntegratedAvionicsUnits(IAUs)(2)
•GSA 81 AFCS Servos (4)
•GSM 85 Servo Gearboxes (4)
The GFC 700 AFCS can be divided into these main operating functions:
•Flight Director (FD)—ThePiperPA-46Meridianhastwoightdirectors,eachoperatingwithinanIAUand
referredtoaspilot-sideandcopilot-side.CommandsfortheselectedightdirectoraredisplayedonbothPFDs.
The flight directors provide:
– Command Bars showing pitch/roll guidance
– Vertical/lateral mode selection and processing
– Autopilot communication
•Autopilot (AP) — Autopilot operation occurs within the pitch, roll, and pitch trim servos and yaw trim
adapter.Italsoprovidesservomonitoringandautomaticightcontrolinresponsetoightdirectorsteering
commands, Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) attitude and rate information, and airspeed.
•Yaw Damper (YD)—Theyawservoisself-monitoringandprovidesDutchrolldampingandturncoordination
in response to yaw rate, roll angle, lateral acceleration, and airspeed.
•Manual Electric Pitch Trim (MEPT) — The pitch trim servo provides manual electric pitch trim capability
when the autopilot is not engaged.