TruTrak Pictorial Pilot - Manual (Page 3)

Power Up
NOTE: When powering up the autopilot ensure that the aircraft is as still as possible
for 10 seconds.
The power up of the autopilot takes approximately ten seconds. During the power cycle it is very important that the aircraft be
as still as possible for the initialization of the internal gyro. While the autopilot is in the power up the display will show three
flashing
(“–”) characters. If there is a GPS signal present the display will now change to read (“OFF”) . If there is not a
valid GPS signal present the display will show three non-flashing (“–”) characters.
Basic Operation
If a valid GPS signal is present, and the autopilot is not engaged the display of the autopilot is a digital DG displaying a
gyroscopically smoothened GPS track. Once the aircraft is off the ground and at a safe altitude, the autopilot can be engaged.
There are two ways to engage the autopilot. Clicking the knob will engage the autopilot and the “AP” light will light up. If a
GPS signal is present, the autopilot will display the ground track before being engaged and will now hold the track. If there is
no GPS signal the display will show
“–| – |–” and will be in “heading hold” mode instead of track hold mode. The second
way to engage the autopilot is with the Control-Wheel Switch, pushing and holding the control wheel switch for approximately
1-1/2 seconds and releasing will engage the autopilot and the “AP” light will light up.
Changing the selected track can be done two different ways. One way in which the track can be changed is to rotate the knob.
Each detent will be a one-degree change in selected track. If the knob is pushed in and rotated each detent will be a 5 degree
change in selected track. If there is no GPS signal present rotating the knob will change the heading by approximately one-
degree per detent, pushing in and turning will result in approximately 5 degrees per detent. The other way to change the
selected track is with the Control-Wheel Switch. Pushing and holding the Control-Wheel Switch will disengage the servo and
the display on the autopilot will be a Digital DG .While holding the Control-Wheel Switch, fly the aircraft manually to the
desired track using the Digital DG display as a reference. Upon release of the Control-Wheel Switch, the servo will re-engage
and the autopilot will now fly the new selected track. If there is no GPS signal present the Digital DG will not be displayed.
Disengaging the autopilot can be done in two different ways. Pressing and holding the knob for approximately 1-1/2 seconds
will disengage the autopilot. The second way to disengage the autopilot is with the Control-Wheel Switch. Momentarily
pushing and releasing the Control-Wheel Switch will disengage the autopilot.
Nav Mode Operation
When there is a flight plan present in the GPS the autopilot can follow the programmed flight plan. To enter the Nav Mode,
click the knob and the “NAV” light will light up. (Take care not to hold the knob for more than 1-1/2 seconds or the autopilot
will disengage.) The autopilot display will now once again become a Digital DG, showing the current ground track. The
Pictorial Pilot will intercept the Nav track at about a 45 degree angle. Clicking or rotating the knob on the autopilot will exit
the Nav Mode. When on course, 1 or 2-degree excursions are normal. When the end of the flight plan is reached or the flight
plan is cancelled on the GPS unit, the autopilot will continue flying the track it was flying when the flight plan ended. If the
flight plan has multiple waypoints, the autopilot will make the necessary turn at each waypoint. Because, typically, the
information from the GPS to the autopilot does not change until the waypoint is crossed, the autopilot will over-fly the
waypoint, and then will fly back to intercept the new course line. Some GPS units have a “turn anticipation” feature, and if
this feature is enabled on the GPS the autopilot may turn prior to reaching a given waypoint.
TruTrak Flight Systems Pictorial Pilot Installation & User Guide
December 2009 1 8300-011 Rev B