Definition
Visual symbols on a flight director display that show the pilot the precise pitch and bank attitude required to capture and hold a selected flight path, such as a heading, altitude, course, or glideslope. The pilot flies the aircraft so that the aircraft symbol matches the command cues, and when they are aligned, the aircraft is following the commanded path.
Plain English
Markers on the attitude display that tell the pilot exactly how to pitch and bank the aircraft to fly the path the autopilot system is asking for. Line up the aircraft symbol with the cues and the aircraft is on the correct path.
Context Anchor
Seen on an attitude direction indicator during instrument flying when flight director guidance is selected.
Derivation
"Command" comes from the Latin commandare, meaning "to order" or "to entrust." "Cue" comes from theater, where it meant a signal telling an actor what to do next. Together the term means "a signal telling the pilot what to do next" -- in this case, what attitude to fly.
Why Pilots Care
They convert computed navigation commands into immediate visual attitude targets, reducing pilot workload and improving accuracy during instrument approaches.
Grounding Statement
If the command cues move above or to one side of the aircraft symbol, they are asking the pilot to adjust the airplane until the symbol lines up with the cues.
Intuition Check
Do not assume command cues show what the airplane is doing right now. They show what the guidance system wants the pilot to do next; they also do not mean the autopilot is flying unless the autopilot is actually engaged.
Example Sentence 1
After intercepting the localizer, the pilot kept the aircraft symbol centered in the command cues all the way down to minimums.
Example Sentence 2
During the ILS approach the command cues directed a steady descent while maintaining the localizer course.