Final answer:
Flight Director (FD) SYNC button functionality and available modes such as Heading Mode, Altitude Hold Mode, Vertical Speed Mode, Airspeed Mode, and Approach Mode can vary depending on the aircraft’s specific avionics system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Flight Director (FD) SYNC button is used to synchronize the FD modes to the current state of the aircraft. This feature is particularly important for ensuring that the automated guidance provided by the FD aligns with the pilot’s desired flight path.
However, the available FD modes that can be adjusted using the FD SYNC button depend on the specific aircraft and its avionics system. Here are five general types of flight director modes that might be synchronized in various aircraft systems:
- Heading Mode (HDG): Synchronizes the FD to the aircraft’s current heading.
- Altitude Hold Mode (ALT): Synchronizes the FD to maintain the current altitude.
- Vertical Speed Mode (VS): Syncs the FD to maintain the current vertical speed or climb/descent rate.
- Airspeed Mode (SPD): Synchronizes the FD to maintain the current airspeed.
- Approach Mode (APP): Synchronizes the FD for an approach, aligning with a glideslope or localizer, as appropriate.
Note that the exact names and availability of these modes can vary by aircraft model and the FD system in use, and not all modes may be available for synchronization with the FD SYNC button on every aircraft.