How do Flight Director inputs differ from Autopilot inputs when engaged?

How do Flight Director inputs differ from Autopilot inputs when engaged?

• A. The Flight Director provides guidance cues; Autopilot actually deflects controls; in coupled modes both can be active.
• B. Autopilot provides guidance cues; Flight Director deflects controls.
• C. They are the same function.
• D. Flight Director operates only on the ground.

Answer: (A)

The Flight Director and Autopilot do two different jobs. The Flight Director shows you where to fly by generating visual guidance cues, like command bars that indicate the desired attitude or flight path. It doesn’t move the controls itself. The Autopilot, when engaged, actually deflects the control surfaces to fly the aircraft along the path or path cues that it’s been given. In coupled modes, both can be active: the Autopilot uses the Flight Director’s guidance as its target and moves the aircraft accordingly, while the Flight Director continues to display the cues you’d follow if flying manually.

The Flight Director and Autopilot do two different jobs. The Flight Director shows you where to fly by generating visual guidance cues, like command bars that indicate the desired attitude or flight path. It doesn’t move the controls itself. The Autopilot, when engaged, actually deflects the control surfaces to fly the aircraft along the path or path cues that it’s been given. In coupled modes, both can be active: the Autopilot uses the Flight Director’s guidance as its target and moves the aircraft accordingly, while the Flight Director continues to display the cues you’d follow if flying manually.