EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
After departure we realized that all of the flight director vertical modes; the altitude selector and the heading modes were inoperative. We departed the terminal area while troubleshooting the issue. We attempted to contact Dispatch and Maintenance via Commercial Radio but had a very difficult time with these communications (primarily due to static and not being able to hear each other). We then determined the functions did work for the First Officers side. Maintenance did not understand the issue and talked about MELing the autopilot. Since the flight director functions were inoperative for the Captain's side; we decided to return to our departure airport. On the return we had a pack overload with a burning smell. We performed the QRH items and the smell immediately went away. We continued to the airport and made an uneventful landing and returned to the gate.Everytime I have tried to contact the company via Commercial Radio; communication is horrible at best. Dial access was a much better means of communication.
An E145 flight crew opted to return to their departure airport following the failure of several autoflight related systems. While doing so they suffered a pack overload condition which emitted a burning smell but succombed to appropriate QRH measures.