A flight instructor is explaining the difference between a flight director and an autopilot to a client transitioning to a technically advanced airplane. What is the correct distinction between the two systems?
- AThe flight director automatically controls the throttle, while the autopilot only controls pitch and roll
- BThe flight director displays command cues on the attitude indicator for the pilot to hand-fly, while the autopilot uses servos to physically move the flight controls
- CThe flight director and autopilot are two names for the same system with no functional difference
- DThe autopilot works only with VOR navigation, while the flight director works only with GPS
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. The flight director displays command cues on the attitude indicator for the pilot to hand-fly, while the autopilot uses servos to physically move the flight controls
The flight director computes steering commands based on selected modes and displays them as command bars on the attitude indicator, guiding a pilot who is hand-flying the airplane. The autopilot uses the same computed commands but drives servos connected to the flight controls to actually fly the airplane, often coupled to the flight director's commands.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Throttle/autothrottle control is a separate system and not exclusively tied to the flight director.
- C. They serve related but distinct functions; the FD is a guidance display, not a control-moving system.
- D. Both systems can use various navigation sources; neither is restricted to only VOR or only GPS.
Flight Director vs Autopilot
The flight director calculates and displays pitch/roll steering commands on the attitude indicator for manual flying, while the autopilot uses servos to move the actual flight controls, often following the same computed commands.
- Flight director = visual guidance (command bars)
- Autopilot = physical control via servos
- Autopilot can be coupled to follow flight director commands
- Both can pull data from various navigation sources
Memory trick: Flight director shows the way; autopilot drives the car.