Which AFCS subsystem provides autopilot capability to maintain the aircraft's flight path?

Which AFCS subsystem provides autopilot capability to maintain the aircraft's flight path?

• A. Flight Director
• B. Stabilator
• C. FPS
• D. SAS

Answer: (C)

The autopilot capability in the AFCS is provided by the Flight Path Stabilization system. This subsystem continuously monitors the aircraft’s actual flight path and compares it to the commanded path, using sensor data to generate automatic control inputs to the cyclic and pedals. That lets the helicopter maintain a selected flight path automatically, reducing pilot workload and helping ride through gusts or disturbances. Flight Director, on the other hand, supplies steering cues or commands to the pilot (or autopilot) to follow a desired path, but it doesn’t by itself move the controls. The Stabilator is a control-surface-based stability aid, and SAS (Stability Augmentation System) enhances stability and reduces control effort without maintaining a flight path on its own.

The autopilot capability in the AFCS is provided by the Flight Path Stabilization system. This subsystem continuously monitors the aircraft’s actual flight path and compares it to the commanded path, using sensor data to generate automatic control inputs to the cyclic and pedals. That lets the helicopter maintain a selected flight path automatically, reducing pilot workload and helping ride through gusts or disturbances.

Flight Director, on the other hand, supplies steering cues or commands to the pilot (or autopilot) to follow a desired path, but it doesn’t by itself move the controls. The Stabilator is a control-surface-based stability aid, and SAS (Stability Augmentation System) enhances stability and reduces control effort without maintaining a flight path on its own.