Okuzeka
Aviation vocabulary · Navigation & Instruments

Autopilot

Meaning in aviation, with examples

/ˈɔːtoʊpaɪlət/nounCore term

In aviation, autopilot means: A system that flies the aircraft automatically, holding a selected heading, altitude, speed or route, while the pilots monitor it.

In Turkish: otopilot, otomatik pilot

How it is used

Pilots engage and disconnect the autopilot, often written AP; speed is controlled by the autothrust or autothrottle. In low visibility the autopilot can also fly an automatic landing.

Example sentences

  1. I'll engage the autopilot passing 1,000 feet.

  2. The autopilot disconnected in turbulence, so the captain flew manually.

Common collocations

  • engage the autopilot
  • disconnect the autopilot
  • autopilot on
  • autopilot off
  • fly manually
  • headingThe direction in which the nose of an aircraft is pointing, given in degrees from 001 to 360 and usually measured from magnetic north.
  • altitudeThe vertical distance of an aircraft above mean sea level, usually given in feet. Height, by contrast, is measured from the ground or the airport.
  • cruiseThe longest and usually level part of a flight, flown at a steady altitude and speed between the climb and the descent.
  • ILSInstrument landing system: radio signals from the ground that guide an aircraft left-right and up-down to the runway, so it can land in low cloud and poor visibility.

More terms: Navigation & Instruments

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