Definition
A flight director is a cockpit guidance system that computes the pitch and roll attitudes required to fly a selected flightpath, and displays those commands as steering cues (typically command bars or a flight path symbol) on the attitude indicator. The pilot — or the autopilot when coupled — flies the aircraft so that the actual attitude matches the commanded cues, thereby tracking the chosen heading, course, altitude, vertical speed, or approach profile.
Plain English
A flight director shows the pilot exactly what pitch and bank to fly to follow the route or approach that has been selected. The pilot just keeps the aircraft symbol lined up with the cue, and the aircraft tracks the desired path.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter instrument flying when using the automatic flight control system, main flight display, or selected guidance modes during departure, en route flight, or an approach.
Derivation
From 'flight' (the act of flying) and 'director' (something that gives direction or instruction). The name describes its function literally — it directs the pilot how to fly to achieve the selected flightpath.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces workload and improves precision when flying approaches or holding courses in instrument conditions.
Intuition Check
Do not read “flight director” as a person, controller, or instructor. In this context, it means a cockpit guidance system that shows the pilot what to do next.
Example Sentence 1
With the flight director engaged in approach mode, the pilot kept the command bars centered all the way down to minimums.
Example Sentence 2
With FDs on, small attitude corrections kept the helicopter centered on the approach path.