One of many dangerous situations that can arise in the cockpit is when there is confusion about who is flying the airplane. Whether you are transferring control to an autopilot, a copilot or a student, it is critical that you verify that the transfer is complete and that the other source knows that it, he or she is taking over.
Autopilots are becoming more precise and easier to use as they are integrated into the ever-developing technological equipment in the cockpit. With the integration of autopilots into technologically advanced avionics systems that allow you to fly more accurate approaches down to lower and lower minimums, flying has the potential to become safer and safer. But if you don’t get in the habit of verifying that the autopilot is engaged and set to the desired modes the flight could turn into a disaster. If the autopilot is not properly engaged, who is flying the airplane? Nobody!
