Definition
Automatic flight control equipment that maneuvers a helicopter along selected flight paths without continuous manual input from the pilot. In helicopters, autopilot systems typically command the cyclic, collective, and pedals through servos to hold attitude, heading, altitude, airspeed, vertical speed, or to track navigation guidance, while the pilot supervises and retains override authority.
Plain English
Equipment that flies the helicopter for you along a chosen path. You set what you want it to do — hold a heading, hold an altitude, follow a course — and it works the controls to make that happen while you monitor it.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter instrument flying when the pilot uses AFCS or autopilot modes to reduce workload, hold a heading or altitude, or follow a selected course.
Derivation
From Greek 'autos' (self) and 'pilot' (one who steers). The original sense was simply a system that steers itself — the helicopter version steers itself in three axes plus power.
Why Pilots Care
Lowers workload in instrument conditions so the pilot can focus on navigation, communication, and decision-making.
Intuition Check
Autopilot does not mean the helicopter is flying itself without supervision. It means a system is helping control selected parts of the flight while the pilot remains in charge.
Example Sentence 1
After leveling off in cruise, the pilot engaged the autopilot in heading and altitude hold to reduce workload during the IFR leg.
Example Sentence 2
During the instrument approach in low visibility, the helicopter's APs kept the aircraft stable on the localizer.