Editing Autopilot (section)

== Flight Director ==
{{Main article|Flight director (aeronautics)}}

[[File:Primary Flight Display Garmin G1000.jpg|thumb|Depicted here is the PFD of a G1000. The purple triangle in the center above the yellow attitude indicator is the Flight director. ]]

A flight director (FD) is a [[flight instrument]] that is overlaid on the [[attitude indicator]] that shows the [[aviator|pilot]] of an [[aircraft]] the attitude required to execute the desired flight path. While the flight director is separate from the autopilot, they are closely linked. With a [[flight plan]] programmed into the [[Flight Management system|flight computer]], the flight director will command rolls when turns are required.

Without a flight director, the autopilot is limited to more basic modes, such as maintaining an altitude or a heading, or turning on to a new heading when commanded by the pilot.

When the autopilot and flight director are used together, more complex autopilot modes are possible. The autopilot can follow flight director commands, thus following the flight plan route without pilot intervention.