Plain English Meaning

Two linked systems that work together. One shows the pilot the exact attitude needed to follow a chosen course, climb, descent, or approach. The other can be switched on to physically move the controls and fly that path for the pilot.

Full Definition

A combined cockpit system in which the flight director computes and displays the pitch and bank commands needed to fly a selected flight path, and the autopilot can be coupled to those commands to fly the airplane automatically through the flight control system. The flight director shows the pilot what to do; the autopilot, when , does it.