Definition
Automatic flight-control, guidance, thrust, and related systems that support aircraft control and navigation.
Why it matters
Automation can reduce workload and improve precision, but mode misunderstanding or overreliance can allow path or speed deviations to develop unnoticed.
Questions that turn reading into a defensible review
A strong review separates the event description, possible precursors, recorded evidence, approved criteria, and the final safety decision.
What exactly is being examined?
Automatic flight-control, guidance, thrust, and related systems that support aircraft control and navigation.
Which conditions could build the exposure?
Incorrect selection or data entry; Mode transition not noticed.
What evidence would strengthen the picture?
Autopilot, flight-director, and autothrottle modes Command-versus-response around mode changes
What must remain authoritative?
Current approved aircraft data, operator procedures, investigation findings, and the source document’s own scope control any operational conclusion.
Timeline, aircraft state, relationships, and recurrence
Vertical speed, Calibrated airspeed, Pitch attitude, Engine thrust, Autopilot status can contribute to a synchronized event picture when their mappings, units, sampling, and flight-phase logic are validated.
Cause, intent, compliance, and technical disposition
An FDM alert or pattern is not by itself a causal finding, judgement of individual performance, regulatory conclusion, or aircraft maintenance and airworthiness determination.
Reports, approved criteria, context, and authoritative evidence
Combine the recorded picture with applicable procedures, crew and operational reports, weather or airport information, technical evidence, and the linked official publications and investigation sources.
Command–mode–response loop
The crew selects, confirms the active mode, observes response, and intervenes when response differs from intent.
Common causes and precursors
- →
Incorrect selection or data entry
- →
Mode transition not noticed
- →
Expectation bias and weak manual-flight readiness
Operational risks
- R1
Unstable approach
- R2
Loss of control
- R3
Altitude, speed, or path deviation
Guidance themes
These are cross-source themes for orientation. Apply only the current, approved material for the aircraft and operation.
- Announce and verify modes
- Monitor aircraft response
- Revert to a simpler level when appropriate and trained
Safety actions to consider
Train realistic mode surprises
Decode software-standard-specific states
Review interface and procedure feedback
Parameters that help explain the event
A useful event picture comes from signal relationships—not a single exceedance or a generic threshold.
Vertical speed
It helps describe energy management, approach stability, flare development, and the severity context of a touchdown.
Open parameter guide ↗ktCalibrated airspeed
Speed relative to the applicable target and configuration is central to energy management, approach stability, runway performance, and stall margin.
Open parameter guide ↗degPitch attitude
Pitch shows rotation, flare, stall response, and potential tail-clearance context when combined with gear geometry and radio altitude.
Open parameter guide ↗% / ratio / aircraft-specificEngine thrust
Thrust is a primary part of energy control and is essential for understanding approach corrections, takeoff, go-around, and engine malfunctions.
Open parameter guide ↗discrete / modeAutopilot status
Mode transitions can explain changes in path, speed protection, pilot expectation, workload, and manual-control readiness.
Open parameter guide ↗Recommended monitoring questions
Autopilot, flight-director, and autothrottle modes
Command-versus-response around mode changes
Cases that add context
ASIP provides a concise learning index. The investigation authority report remains the definitive source.
Editor-reviewed starting points
These records include a deeper ASIP editorial review. Continue to the full evidence index below for direct matches and broader manufacturer, regulator, and investigation reading.
Safety Management Manual (Doc 9859), Fourth Edition
ICAO's fourth-edition manual explains how safety data, risk management, assurance, culture, and governance work together in State and service-provider safety management.
Official sourceGo-Around Decision-Making and Execution Project — Final Report
The Flight Safety Foundation project examines go-around policy compliance, decision biases, operational pressures, and the risks that also need to be managed during go-around execution.
Official sourceTitle or indexed metadata explicitly matches this topic.
Related collection material for adjacent systems, phases, and defenses.
Manufacturer, regulator, investigation, and safety-organization sources.
Where the reading comes from
55 source records
Official links · no copied report files55 source records match the current evidence filters.
SAFO 14002 — SAFO 14002, Global Positioning System ( GPS )/Global Navigation Satellite System ( GNSS ) Navigator/Autopilot Compatibility
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for flight controls and automation and navigation and surveillance. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 08005 — Preflight of helicopter hydraulic systems to include validation of control movement smoothness and identification of adverse flight control “stick-jump.”
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for flight controls and automation and airworthiness and systems. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 08015 — Preflight check of helicopter hydraulic systems to include validation of control movement smoothness and identification of adverse flight control “stick-jump”
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for flight controls and automation and airworthiness and systems. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 06017 — Equipment Training and Checking for Helicopter Operators on the SPZ-7000 or SPZ-7600 Dual Digital Automatic Flight Control Systems
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for flight controls and automation and human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 05002 — Multiple full deflection, alternating flight control inputs
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for flight controls and automation. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceA380 Development of the Flight Controls
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceDual Side Stick Inputs
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for flight controls and automation. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceInadvertent Autopilot Engagement during Takeoff on A220 Aircraft
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for takeoff and flight controls and automation. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceInappropriate V/S Target during Autoflight Mode Reversion
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for flight controls and automation. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceNTSB Safety Alert SA-048 — Flight Control Locks: Overlooking the Obvious
Official U.S. National Transportation Safety Board material indexed for flight controls and automation. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSystem Reset: Use With Caution
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for airworthiness and systems. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceThe importance of the pre-flight flight controls check
Official Airbus Safety First material indexed for aviation safety. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 24002 — Recognizing and Mitigating Global Positioning System (GPS) / Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Disruptions
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for navigation and surveillance and airworthiness and systems. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 24004 — Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Transmitter Anomalies
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for navigation and surveillance. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 24006 — Potential for Jammed or Restricted Rudder on Boeing Model 737 Series Airplanes Equipped with Optional Collins Aerospace SVO-730 Rudder Rollout Guidance Actuators (RRGA)
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for flight controls and automation. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 22003 — SAFO 22003, Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) Alerts at Denver International Airport (DEN)
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for navigation and surveillance and airworthiness and systems. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 21004 — SAFO 21004, Air Traffic Control (ATC) Notification and Pilot Awareness When Conducting an Instrument Landing System (ILS) Autoland Procedure
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for approach and landing and human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceSAFO 20014 — SAFO 20014, Boeing 737-8 and 737-9 Airplanes: Pilot Training and Flight Simulation Training Devices ( FSTD ) Updates
Official U.S. Federal Aviation Administration material indexed for human factors. Open the publisher source for the complete document, scope, and current status.
Open official sourceLessons learned
1Automation executes its logic, not the crew's unexpressed intent
2Verification closes the command loop