Definition
The set of cockpit controls and linkages a pilot uses to manage engine operation, including power output, fuel-air mixture, propeller setting (if applicable), ignition, and starting. In a typical light airplane this includes the throttle, mixture control, propeller control (on constant-speed installations), carburetor heat or alternate air, magneto/ignition switch, and starter.
Plain English
All the knobs, levers, and switches the pilot uses to start, run, and adjust the engine.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in airplane systems descriptions, cockpit familiarization, checklists, and training for airplanes with more than one engine-related control.
Why Pilots Care
Correct operation prevents engine damage, maintains performance across altitudes, and supports safe flight.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an engine control system means just the throttle. In many airplanes, it includes several connected controls that manage different parts of engine operation.
Example Sentence 1
Before the first flight in a new airplane, the instructor walked through each part of the engine control system and explained what each lever did.
Example Sentence 2
On the preflight checklist the pilot verified that all three levers in the engine control system moved smoothly through their full travel.