What differentiates the flight director from the autopilot?

The distinction between the flight director and the autopilot lies in their respective roles within the aircraft's automation system. The flight director is responsible for providing visual guidance to the pilot by indicating the desired flight path or maneuvers on the Primary Flight Display (PFD). It calculates the necessary control movements that the pilot should execute to maintain or achieve the desired flight profile.

In contrast, the autopilot is designed to automatically control the aircraft by executing the control movements that the flight director suggests. When the autopilot is engaged, it follows the directives provided by the flight director, adjusting the aircraft's control surfaces and flight controls to maintain the intended flight path without direct input from the pilot.

This distinction highlights that while the flight director acts as a guide, instructing the pilot on what inputs to make, the autopilot carries out those instructions autonomously, handling the physical aspects of flight control. Understanding this relationship is crucial for pilots, as it underlines the importance of the flight director in aiding manual control and the autopilot in enhancing efficiency and reliability during flight operations.