The Mode Control Panel (MCP) is a vital component in the cockpit of modern airliners. It is a control panel that allows the pilots to manage and adjust various modes and settings related to the aircraft’s autopilot and flight management systems. The MCP typically consists of various knobs, buttons, and switches that enable the pilots to input commands and make adjustments during different phases of flight.
Some of the key functions and features of the Mode Control Panel include:
- Autopilot Control: The MCP allows the pilots to engage and disengage the autopilot system, which helps to automate certain aspects of flight, such as maintaining altitude, heading, and speed.
- Flight Director: The MCP often includes controls for the flight director system, which provides guidance cues on the primary flight display (PFD) to assist the pilots in flying the aircraft along a desired flight path.
- Altitude and Speed Control: Pilots can use the MCP to set desired altitude and airspeed targets for the aircraft. The autopilot will then work to maintain these settings during the flight.
- Heading Control: The MCP allows the pilots to set and adjust the desired heading or direction of flight. The autopilot can then steer the aircraft to maintain this heading.
- Mode Selection: The MCP provides selectors for choosing different autopilot modes, such as heading hold, altitude hold, vertical speed hold, and various navigation modes for following specific flight paths.
Overall, the Mode Control Panel plays a crucial role in facilitating the operation of the autopilot and flight management systems, helping pilots to manage the aircraft’s flight path, altitude, and speed with precision and efficiency.
Mode Control Panel (MCP)
The Mode Control Panel (MCP) is a crucial instrument panel found in aircraft cockpits, allowing the flight crew to manage the autopilot and associated systems. Positioned centrally in front of the pilot, above the primary flight display (PFD) and other displays, it spans a long but narrow area commonly known as the glareshield panel.
Essentially, the MCP contains various controls, either mechanical or digital, enabling the crew to select different autopilot modes and specify the aircraft’s behavior. These modes include maintaining a specific altitude, adjusting altitude at a particular rate, holding a specific heading, changing to a new heading, following a predefined route of waypoints, and engaging or disengaging the auto-throttle.
In essence, the MCP empowers pilots to activate different levels of automation during flight, ranging from fully automated operations to fully manual control. It’s important to note that while MCP is a term commonly used by Boeing, the same unit with similar functionalities in Airbus aircraft is referred to as the Flight Control Unit (FCU).