Definition
A remote-indicating electrical system that uses synchronized AC motors — a transmitter at the source and an indicator in the cockpit — to display the position of a moving aircraft component, such as a flap, control surface, or landing gear. When the transmitter rotor turns with the moving part, the indicator rotor follows in step, showing the same angular position on the cockpit gauge.
Plain English
An electrical system that lets a cockpit gauge show the exact position of something happening elsewhere on the aircraft. As the part moves, a small motor at that location signals an identical motor in the cockpit to move the same amount, so the pilot sees a live reading of where the part actually is.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft instrument and maintenance discussions for remote indications such as fuel quantity, flap position, landing gear position, or other position-based readings.
Derivation
The name 'Autosyn' is a trade name combining 'auto' (self) and 'syn' (from synchronous, meaning 'at the same time'). It describes the core idea: two motors that automatically stay in sync with each other.
Why Pilots Care
Provides reliable cockpit indications for critical systems without mechanical linkages that can bind or fail.
Analogy
It is like turning one pointer in one place and having a second pointer somewhere else turn to the same position, but the connection is electrical instead of mechanical.
Intuition Check
Autosyn does not mean autopilot or automatic control. It is an indication system: it sends a position reading to a remote instrument.
Example Sentence 1
The flap position indicator on this aircraft is driven by an Autosyn system, so the cockpit gauge follows the actual flap angle in real time.
Example Sentence 2
Incorrect flap position readings led the crew to inspect the Autosyn system wiring.