F406 AutoPilot

[SuperSixBravo]

The pitch dial behaves weird. I have to dial it up to +8000 ft/min for it to climb at around 1000ft/min

[cpschulz]

Hello, some observations to engage the AP. From cold&dark mode, the rocker switch springs always back in the OFF position on my system. At "ready for TO" mode on the runway, the AP works as expected. Regards, Claus-Peter

[Denny Knepper]

That's because all three of the Avionics switches on the left wall are turned on when you select "Ready for T.O." The A/P will not work unless all three are on (i.e. in the forward position). If you start the plane from Cold & Dark, you have to make sure all three of those levers are on if you want the A/P to work. They did not make that clear in the checklist, apparently it just says "as required".

[Cpt. Alvarez]

Hi folks, I can't get the AP to capture the target altitude. I'm using the PMS 650 and the Logitech AP panel, which both work, except for the altitude. It doesn't matter which mode I use. 'Alt Sel' is active, but the autopilot doesn't level off at the selected altitude, regardless of whether 'Auto Arm' or 'Manual Arm' is selected. I also disconnected the panel, but that didn't help.

Otherwise, I have no problems. The AP follows GPS and heading (I haven't tried ILS and RNAV yet).

[dresoccer4]

23 hours ago, Cpt. Alvarez said:

Hi folks, I can't get the AP to capture the target altitude. I'm using the PMS 650 and the Logitech AP panel, which both work, except for the altitude. It doesn't matter which mode I use. 'Alt Sel' is active, but the autopilot doesn't level off at the selected altitude, regardless of whether 'Auto Arm' or 'Manual Arm' is selected. I also disconnected the panel, but that didn't help.

Otherwise, I have no problems. The AP follows GPS and heading (I haven't tried ILS and RNAV yet).

there's an altitude select input? where do you see that? mine is just hold altitude or hold pitch

[Cpt. Alvarez]

1 hour ago, dresoccer4 said:

there's an altitude select input? where do you see that? mine is just hold altitude or hold pitch

As far as I know, you can only do this using the GTN 650s “Autopilot” function (found under “Utilities”).

[dresoccer4]

5 hours ago, Cpt. Alvarez said:

As far as I know, you can only do this using the GTN 650s “Autopilot” function (found under “Utilities”).

ah yeah, that imo is kind of "cheating" as its not very realistic and a lot of the time doesn't integrate well in msfs anyway (since it's a work around). better to use the build in autopilot which works just fine

[Cpt. Alvarez]

On 7/14/2025 at 10:37 PM, Cpt. Alvarez said:

Hi folks, I can't get the AP to capture the target altitude. I'm using the PMS 650 and the Logitech AP panel, which both work, except for the altitude. It doesn't matter which mode I use. 'Alt Sel' is active, but the autopilot doesn't level off at the selected altitude, regardless of whether 'Auto Arm' or 'Manual Arm' is selected. I also disconnected the panel, but that didn't help.

Otherwise, I have no problems. The AP follows GPS and heading (I haven't tried ILS and RNAV yet).

Okay, I figured it out (partly).

I can set the altitude on the AP panel, the F406 then starts climbing at 1000 ft/min on its own and automatically captures the altitude.

I have no idea what I did differently from last time, but it works.

 

4 hours ago, dresoccer4 said:

ah yeah, that imo is kind of "cheating" as its not very realistic and a lot of the time doesn't integrate well in msfs anyway (since it's a work around). better to use the build in autopilot which works just fine

Well, then I have to revise my answer from yesterday: To my knowledge, there is no altitude select input in the cockpit.

Edit: changed "altitude select button" to "altitude select input"

Edited July 16 by Cpt. Alvarez

[Lazare]

[F406 – Autopilot NAV Issue: Won’t Follow Any Route]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been experiencing a major issue with the F406 for almost a week now: none of the autopilot NAV modes are working properly. The aircraft won’t follow any navigation source—whether it’s a tuned VOR frequency, a GPS flight plan, or manually entered waypoints.

Here’s what I’ve tried:

• NAV frequencies correctly set and identified

• NAV/GPS source switch properly selected

• GPS flight plan fully loaded

• NAV mode armed after stabilization

Nothing works. The autopilot activates, but the aircraft just ignores the route—regardless of whether I’m in VLOC or GPS mode.

At this point, I’d really like to know if:

1. Other users are facing the same issue

2. A fix or update is planned soon

Because right now, the aircraft is basically unusable for serious flights or RP missions, and after nearly a week of troubleshooting, it’s honestly getting frustrating.

Thanks in advance for any info or official feedback.

—
Cpt Lazare

[dresoccer4]

just tried my first ILS approach with the AP and it picked up both lateral and vertical guidance, however it struggled to actually follow the vertical glidepath. it kept dipping below it and eventually i had to take over manual control as to not fly into the ground. 

anyone else had issues with ILS AP?

[ARR2]

On 7/18/2025 at 5:53 PM, dresoccer4 said:

just tried my first ILS approach with the AP and it picked up both lateral and vertical guidance, however it struggled to actually follow the vertical glidepath. it kept dipping below it and eventually i had to take over manual control as to not fly into the ground. 

anyone else had issues with ILS AP?

Have been trying ILS approaches in FS24 & FS20 at different airports, with no success.

In neither case will it engage the Glide Slope when I hit GS & VLOC1 during the approach. Issue appears to be related to lack of an LOC button ?, as I can't get any 'morse' when dialed in to the ILS frequency on Nav1. 

ARR2

[dresoccer4]

30 minutes ago, ARR2 said:

Have been trying ILS approaches in FS24 & FS20 at different airports, with no success.

In neither case will it engage the Glide Slope when I hit GS & VLOC1 during the approach. Issue appears to be related to lack of an LOC button ?, as I can't get any 'morse' when dialed in to the ILS frequency on Nav1. 

ARR2

mined picked up LOC and GS fine, just couldn't hold the GS. LOC worked as normal. strange yours isn't

Edited July 21 by dresoccer4

[ARR2]

2 hours ago, dresoccer4 said:

mined picked up LOC and GS fine, just couldn't hold the GS. LOC worked as normal. strange yours isn't

Stumbled upon the VOR/LOC button on the 9 button AP panel, located at the top right.

On my aircraft it is dead. 

On yours?

AR

Edited July 21 by ARR2

[ARR2]

In case someone from Inibuilds reads this - could you have a look at activating the VOR/LOC button, top right of AP buttons cluster. Currently unable to do ILS landings on my PC & I think it may be because that button is dead.

Thanks

AR

[Eddie]

12 hours ago, ARR2 said:

In case someone from Inibuilds reads this - could you have a look at activating the VOR/LOC button, top right of AP buttons cluster. Currently unable to do ILS landings on my PC & I think it may be because that button is dead.

Thanks

AR

Hello. We'll take a look, thank you 🙂

[JoKing]

You all have really helped me. I was having some what the same problem. I could never get the A/P to engage. Switch kept flipping down. Tonight I again will try the A/P. Was so looking forward to this and once I got it, no A/P. Vey disappointed so far. 

[Denny Knepper]

Make sure the switch on the left side of the cockpit is on. It controls the A/P power. That fixed it for me.

[dresoccer4]

1 hour ago, JoKing said:

You all have really helped me. I was having some what the same problem. I could never get the A/P to engage. Switch kept flipping down. Tonight I again will try the A/P. Was so looking forward to this and once I got it, no A/P. Vey disappointed so far. 

did you try hitting your keyboard A/P master switch? this did it for me. it kept flipping down as well until i did this

[JoKing]

I got the A/P to work. But I have a couple questions. First, how do you change altitude once you are flying with the A/P on plus during the one flight how do I get a display on the GPS. Nothing I pressed got the GPS to come on. 

[Denny Knepper]

Are you using the TDS GPS (TDSGTNXi 750)? If so, you have to make sure it is included in the exclusions for your virus software. I had to do that when I was using Norton.

Also, you may either have to manually start the TDSGTNXiFlightSimEXE.exe for it to show up, or make sure you start MSFS2024 in Administrator mode to get it to load automatically. 

I have to load manually because running the sim in Admin mode disables my Stream Deck. Go figure! 

If I select the PMS GTN750, I don't have any issue.

[dresoccer4]

3 hours ago, Denny Knepper said:

Are you using the TDS GPS (TDSGTNXi 750)? If so, you have to make sure it is included in the exclusions for your virus software. I had to do that when I was using Norton.

Also, you may either have to manually start the TDSGTNXiFlightSimEXE.exe for it to show up, or make sure you start MSFS2024 in Administrator mode to get it to load automatically. 

I have to load manually because running the sim in Admin mode disables my Stream Deck. Go figure! 

If I select the PMS GTN750, I don't have any issue.

good info to know