Definition
An electronic engine control system that uses a digital computer to manage all aspects of engine operation, including fuel flow, ignition timing, and mixture, without mechanical backup. The computer has "full authority" over the engine, meaning the pilot's throttle input is interpreted by the computer, which then commands the engine accordingly.
Plain English
A computer that runs the engine. Instead of cables and linkages connecting the throttle directly to the engine, the throttle tells a computer what the pilot wants, and the computer handles fuel, spark, and mixture automatically.
Context Anchor
You may encounter FADEC during engine start, the before-takeoff check, engine run-up, and when checking that engine indications are normal.
Derivation
"Full authority" means the digital system has complete control of the engine — there is no mechanical bypass. The pilot tells the system what is wanted; the system decides how to deliver it.
Why Pilots Care
It reduces pilot workload, prevents engine mismanagement, and delivers smoother, more efficient power, but pilots must still monitor for system faults or failures.
Analogy
Like a car's electronic engine computer that handles every detail so you only press the gas pedal, except this one has total say over the engine.
Intuition Check
“Full authority” does not mean the pilot is no longer responsible for the engine. It means the engine-control computer has direct control over the engine settings it is designed to manage.
Example Sentence 1
The FADEC automatically leaned the mixture as the airplane climbed, so the pilot only had to manage the single power lever.
Example Sentence 2
The FADEC automatically leaned the mixture as the aircraft climbed, keeping the engine running smoothly without any manual adjustment from the pilot.