Back to the OP question...
If the airplane used for the IR practical test has an
autopilot, the applicant is REQUIRED to be able to properly
use the AP. Therefore, training is required. AP failures,
IAP coupled, and tansitions to and from the AP are tested.
a.. Testing in modern aircraft with electronic flight
instrument displays has been addressed.
b.. The use of autopilot and flight management during
testing has been addressed.
c.. The requirement for the use of a view-limiting device
has been clarified.
d.. The need for testing in Single-Pilot Resource
Management has been addressed and clarified.
e.. Reference to the metric system has been eliminated.
f.. The body of the PTS has been updated to include
electronic flight instrument displays, flight management
systems, GPS, and autopilot usage.
g.. The need for testing basic instrument flight maneuvers
throughout the practical test instead of being treated as
separate TASKs has been addressed in AREA OF OPERATION IV.
FAA-S-8081-4D



The applicant is expected to utilize an autopilot and/or
flight management system (FMS), if properly installed,
during the instrument practical test to assist in the
management of the aircraft. The examiner is expected to test
the applicant's knowledge of the systems that are installed
and operative during the oral and flight portions of the
practical test. The applicant will be required to
demonstrate the use of the autopilot and/or FMS during one
of the nonprecision approaches.

If the practical test is conducted in the aircraft, and the
aircraft has an operable and properly installed GPS, the
applicant must demonstrate GPS approach proficiency when
asked. If the applicant has contracted for training in an
approved course that includes GPS training in the system
that is installed in the airplane/simulator/FTD and the
airplane/simulator/FTD used for the checking/testing has the
same system properly installed and operable, the applicant
must demonstrate GPS approach proficiency. When a practical
test is conducted for a 14 CFR part 135 operator, the
operator's approved training program is the controlling
authority.

http://www.faa.gov/education_researc...-S-8081-4D.pdf



"Blanche" wrote in message
...
| Roy Smith wrote:
| Blanche wrote:
| Me, personally, have a 1/2-axis autopilot. Turn it on,
it holds
| the heading. Well, not really. Since it's not coupled
to anything,
| it doesn't know when there's any deviation, such as
winds. I can
| start out on a heading of 120, turn on the AP. If winds
| are from the north, then my actual track is more
southerly, depending
| on the strength of the winds.
|
| I assume you understand the difference between heading
and track?
|
| Heading: direction in which the longitudinal axis of the
aircraft
| points with respect to true or magnetic north. Heading is
equal to
| course plus or minus any wind correction angle.
|
| Course: intended direction of flight in the horizontal
plane measured
| in degrees from north.
|
| Track: actual flight path of an aircraft over the ground.
Also referred
| to as ground track.
|
| Ref: Aviation Dictionary, Jeppesen, 2003.
|
| OK - my bad. I should have stated "start out on a course
of 120". But
| the use of "track" is correct, true?