TruTrak Altrak VS - Manual (Page 7)

TruTrak Flight System 5 Altrak Installation & User Guide
January 2009 8300-014 Rev B
Altrak VS Operation
Note: Zero vertical speed (Altitude hold) must be selected or Altrak VS will NOT engage.
To engage the Altrak VS, ensure that zero vertical speed is selected on the VS control knob (The VS control
knob should be at the center detent.) Push the ALT button to engage the Altrak VS. When Altrak VS is
engaged it will be in altitude hold mode. If the aircraft is out of trim the light in the Altrak engage/disengage
button will enunciate the need for trim, with a rapid flashing of the light for trim up, and a slow flashing of the
light for trim down.
If Altrak is coupled with the Digitrak / Pictorial Pilot, the Altrak can only be engaged if the Digitrak / Pictorial
Pilot are engaged. When the control wheel switch is pushed, the Digitrak / Pictorial Pilot will enter control
wheel steering mode as normal, but the Altrak will remain engaged while the pilot manually flies the aircraft to
the desired track. Upon release of the control wheel switch the Digitrak / Pictorial Pilot will re-engage and
synchronize to the track being flown at the time, Altrak will remain engaged throughout the maneuver. It
should be noted that if Altrak is in altitude hold during this maneuver, it will lose some altitude while the
aircraft is turning. The altitude loss could be as much as 50 to 100 feet depending upon the bank angle. The
Altrak will recover the lost altitude on its own after the turn is complete.
Changing the desired altitude can be done by simply rotating the VS control knob to the right to command a
vertical speed climb, or to the left to command a vertical speed descent. The maximum possible vertical
speed in either direction is approximately 800 feet per minute. As when in the altitude hold mode, the Altrak
VS will always enunciate the need for trim, with a rapid flashing for trim up, and a slow flashing for trim down.