Definition
A fire protection system, typically installed in turbine engine compartments, that automatically detects a fire or overheat condition and discharges an extinguishing agent without requiring any action from the flight crew.
Plain English
A system that spots a fire in the engine area and puts it out by itself, without the pilot pushing a button.
Context Anchor
Seen in turbine-engine operation, especially during engine start, bad weather, turbulence, icing conditions, or in-flight engine relight procedures.
Derivation
From 'auto' (Greek 'autos' — self) and 'ignition' (Latin 'ignire' — to set on fire). The name describes a system that acts on ignition automatically, without human input.
Why Pilots Care
It restores engine power quickly after a flameout, reducing the chance of a forced landing.
Grounding Statement
The key idea is automatic spark: the system senses a need and turns ignition on without the pilot having to do it first.
Intuition Check
Autoignition system does not mean the fuel catches fire randomly by itself. Here it means an automatic system that turns on controlled engine sparks when needed.
Example Sentence 1
The technician inspected the autoignition system in the APU compartment to confirm the extinguisher bottle was properly charged.
Example Sentence 2
The mechanic tested the autoignition system on the ground by simulating a flameout condition.