Definition
An automated aircraft system that, when activated, takes full control of the airplane and lands it safely at a suitable airport without any pilot input. Once engaged, it selects an appropriate runway based on weather, fuel, and terrain, communicates its intentions via automated radio transmissions to air traffic control, navigates to the chosen airport, configures the aircraft for landing, and performs the touchdown and rollout, including bringing the aircraft to a stop on the runway.
Plain English
A system the passenger or pilot can switch on if the pilot becomes unable to fly. The aircraft then flies itself to a nearby airport and lands on its own.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of advanced aircraft safety equipment, passenger emergency actions, and avionics descriptions for some modern general aviation aircraft.
Derivation
Emergency comes from a Latin idea meaning “to arise or bring forth,” which fits a sudden situation that must be handled right away. Autoland combines “auto,” meaning self, with “land,” meaning to bring the aircraft to the ground. Together, the term means a self-landing system used for a serious, unexpected situation.
Why Pilots Care
It offers a last-resort method to bring the aircraft and any passengers to the ground safely when the pilot is incapacitated.
Intuition Check
Do not read “autoland” as meaning the aircraft can land itself anywhere, anytime. An Emergency Autoland System depends on the aircraft, airport, runway, weather, and system limits.
Example Sentence 1
After the pilot lost consciousness, his passenger pressed the guarded button and the Emergency Autoland System landed the aircraft at the nearest suitable airport.
Example Sentence 2
During preflight planning the crew confirmed that the Emergency Autoland System was armed and ready for any in-flight emergency.