controls indicator symbology

[skypickle]

I see a red X, a white diamond, and a green cross. From their behavior, I guess that the white diamond is where the cyclic is positioned. The red X seems to be where the cyclic is commanded to be by the FMC when you release the force trim button. and I dont know what the green cross is.

I cannot seem to find this explanation in the manual.

[Poptart]

The red X is the trim center location. The white diamond is the location of your joystick input relative to the trim. With a traditional joystick with springs the diamond will always be over the X when you take your hands off the stick. The green plus sign is the output to the rotors after SCAS augmentation. The authority of the SCAS system is bound by the light shaded box. If the SCAS system isn't augmenting your inputs it will always stay attached to the diamond.

[UncleStains]

The red X is trim position, white diamond is physical stick position, and the green cross is SCAS system output. The SCAS system takes the positions of the red X and white diamond, does some math, and outputs the green cross. The closer together the red X and the white diamond are, the easier it is for the SCAS to maintain stability.

I find it works best if you hold the trim release up when doing large maneuvers. This locks the red X to the white diamond, guaranteeing full SCAS authority. Once you're settled in cruise or hover, periodically tap the trim release up as you are making small attitude corrections to keep that offset minimized.

[Nealius]

On 8/18/2023 at 10:24 AM, Poptart said:

If the SCAS system isn't augmenting your inputs it will always stay attached to the diamond.

Is the SCAS supposed to always be augmenting my inputs, or only in certain scenarios? I keep having issues with all crosses centered on the white diamond, centered inside the SCAS box boundary, yet SAS SATURATED warning with ALT HOLD engaged. 

[Tholozor]

18 hours ago, Nealius said:

Is the SCAS supposed to always be augmenting my inputs, or only in certain scenarios? I keep having issues with all crosses centered on the white diamond, centered inside the SCAS box boundary, yet SAS SATURATED warning with ALT HOLD engaged. 

SCAS has authority in all controls, not just the cyclic. Check the other indicators for collective and pedals for maxed-out control authority (denoted by green bars inside the shaded regions).

[Nealius]

I saw no green bars in the shaded regions for any of the controls.

They didn't register in my brain last time I flew. I checked them this time to see what's going on. So here's what's happening to me:

ATT HOLD, ALT HOLD engage, collective green bar gradually falls (sometimes rises) along with my torque until it hits the SAS limit. When I disengage ALT HOLD the green bar goes back to center, with my torque rapidly returning to the % it was at the time I first engaged ALT HOLD. During this time the collective itself is not moving.

Green bar for rudder and cyclic are centered throughout these events.

Edited August 27, 2023 by Nealius