They go by different nicknames—”George” and “Otto” probably are the most popular—and have become an integral part of even a basic IFR platform’s standard equipment, especially when flown single-pilot. And because the latest high-tech versions on the market can do just about anything for you except eliminate a potty stop, they’ve proliferated throughout all segments of the general aviation fleet. “They,” of course, are autopilots—electromechanical systems used to control an aircraft, and available in a wide variety of configurations and capabilities from simple wing-levelers to full-blown flight directors rivaling the modern transport jet you rode in last week.
Autopilots can function as a virtual copilot and—since we entrust to them control of the aircraft for hours at a time—it’s probably a good idea to consider how the various types are designed and deployed, along with their failure modes. Sophisticated autopilots used in meeting the common definition of technologically advanced airplanes (TAA) are capable of performing a myriad of flight tasks. Considered part of the aircraft’s avionics system, autopilots are designed to serve two basic purposes: enhance a pilot’s flight control capabilities and reduce cockpit workload by putting the airplane in an automatic flight mode. Let’s look at different autopilot systems, including a proposed classification system, and review some autopilot operating errors.
