Flight director (FD) is a flight instrument that forms an element of a plane's automatic flight control system. Acting as a guidance aid, FD computes the proper pitch and bank angles required and does the calculations to determine the desired flight path. It receives inputs from sources like Air Data Computers, Inertial Reference Systems, and navigational data from Flight Management Systems. The resulting pitch and roll guidance is overlaid on the Primary Flight Display in graphic form, on the Attitude indicator. Flight director guidance can be used in both manual flight and with the Autopilot employed, and is therefore used during approach and landing as well as other phases of flight.
What is an aircraft flight director?
An aircraft flight director shows the pilot of an aircraft the attitude required to execute the desired flight path and follow a certain trajectory. The aircraft flight director is a flight instrument that is overlaid on the attitude indicator. It shows the pilot the attitude required to execute the desired flight path. The flight director displays proper pitch and bank angles required for the aircraft to follow a selected flight path. It is an element of an aircraft's automatic flight control system. The flight director computes the aircraft's attitude required to attain and maintain a preselected flight condition.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
