AUTOPILOTACADEMY · FLIGHT MISSIONS
INSPIRED BY MSFS 2024
Games ↗
Illustrated aerial Alpine lake and mountain scenery
FLIGHT SCHOOL01 / 16

Your first
hands-off climb.

Cessna 172 Skyhawk/Alpine training area
Clear · light wind
LIVE VIEW
G1000 NXiFLIGHT DECK
TOUCH TO ADJUST
Set the heading bug. The aircraft is paused while you learn.

CAREER · AUTOPILOT ACADEMY

Choose your next flight

MISSION BRIEFING

MISSION 01

OBJECTIVE

STARTING STATE

SKILLS

PILOT REFERENCE

Read the FMA, not the button.

The flight mode annunciator (FMA) at the top of the primary flight display tells you what the automation is doing. Each manufacturer uses its own colour language — learn the one in front of you.

Who does what?
NAV/LNAV follows the lateral route. VNAV or managed vertical guidance can follow a programmed profile within selected altitude limits. Autothrottle/autothrust can regulate speed when fitted and active. The pilot still handles clearances, configuration and mode supervision. APR alone does not control thrust or guarantee autoland.
AP / AP1 / CMD
Engages the autopilot. A selected heading or altitude still needs a guidance mode.
HDG vs NAV / LNAV
HDG follows the heading selector. NAV or LNAV follows an active route from the correct navigation source.
VS vs FLC / FLCH
VS commands a climb or descent rate. FLC / FLCH commands pitch to maintain a selected airspeed; thrust determines the energy available.
ALT vs selected altitude
ALT holds the captured altitude. Turning the altitude selector alone does not command a climb or descent.
APR / APPR / APP
Arms approach guidance. ILS needs the correct radio signal; RNAV vertical guidance depends on the approach. Armed GS or GP has not been captured yet.
Airbus push / pull
Push for managed guidance from the flight plan; pull for selected guidance. A dot in the FCU window means managed; a number means selected.
CDI · NAV SRC (NAV ↕)
These choose the navigation source, not an autopilot mode. Garmin: the PFD CDI softkey cycles GPS → VOR1/LOC1 → VOR2/LOC2 (magenta GPS, green radio); this trainer uses NAV1 only. CJ4: the DCP NAV ↕ key swaps the PFD source (FMS1 ↔ LOC1/VOR1) with the preset shown in the cyan box; the trainer labels it NAV SRC. Press NAV or APPR afterwards.
GA · TO/GA
Garmin GFC 700: the GA switch on the power lever gives GA | GA (wings level, pitch up) and activates the missed approach; on the C172 and Caravan it also disconnects the AP. Re-engage AP, then press NAV for the missed-approach course. Airbus: levers to TOGA gives MAN TOGA | SRS | GA TRK. Boeing 747: the TO/GA switches give THR REF | TO/GA | TO/GA.
Airbus thrust modes (FMA column 1)
MAN FLX 58: levers in FLX/MCT, reduced takeoff thrust. MAN TOGA: levers in TOGA. LVR CLB flashes white at thrust-reduction altitude: move the levers to CL. THR CLB: A/THR active at climb thrust (CLB, OP CLB). THR IDLE: idle in DES, OP DES or EXP DES. SPEED / MACH: A/THR holds the target speed (ALT, V/S, G/S). A/THR in column 5 is cyan while armed and white when active.
Boeing A/T modes and AFDS status
THR REF: thrust to the reference limit (takeoff, climb). THR: thrust set for a climb or descent rate in FLCH. HOLD: A/T servos off, levers stay put (above 65 kt on takeoff, after idle in a descent). IDLE: levers retarding to idle. SPD: A/T holds the MCP or FMC speed. The AFDS status above the attitude display reads FD (directors only), CMD (autopilot engaged) or LAND 3 (three autopilots for autoland); a change is boxed in green for 10 s.
CJ4 · VALTS vs VALTV
With VNAV on, the armed altitude shows what will be captured next: ALTS is the preselected altitude from the FGP ALT knob, ALTV is the VNAV constraint from the flight plan. The V prefix (VALTS CAP, VALTV CAP, then VALT) means VNAV is on. The CJ4 FGP keys have no mode lights: always read the FMA.

These are guided mode exercises, not complete flight procedures. Navigation setup and capture geometry are shortened; radio tuning is included in the ILS workshop. Panels retain aircraft-specific control labels; grey buttons are not simulated in the current lesson. Performance calculations, full systems preparation and landing remain outside this trainer.

MSFS aircraft manuals ↗Garmin C172 G1000 NXi guide ↗Garmin procedure loading ↗Garmin SPD, BANK & XFR ↗TBM 930 / GMC 710 ↗MSFS CJ4 guide ↗FlyByWire A32NX FMA ↗MSFS 2024 EFB planning guide ↗

MISSION COMPLETE · DEBRIEF

You have the controls.

Mission Performances

Aviator Performances

100%
AGRADE

+0 XP

INSTRUCTOR DEBRIEF

LANDING PERFORMANCE · INDICATED AIRSPEED

What speed should you fly?

There is no single landing speed for every flight in this aircraft. Use the landing weight, planned flaps, wind and the aircraft’s performance data. The ILS/RNAV chart tells you where to fly, not your aircraft’s exact speed.

WHERE TO READ IT IN MSFS 2024

WHICH NUMBER MATTERS?

WHO CONTROLS SPEED?

Enter the speed from your aircraft to see the target in knots indicated.

Where does this flight’s speed come from?

All MSFS manuals ↗
ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG · PRACTICE PLANNER

Flight Planning

Choose departure, arrival and route, pick the approach, then send the plan to the aircraft. Fictional training airports demonstrate the EFB workflow.

LAKEVALLEYCOASTHUB RIDGEFINAL N20 NM 6,000 FTVSD

Sending to ATC and sending to avionics are separate actions. This practice planner updates this trainer; it does not connect to the running game.