Definition
An electronic flight instrument system that computes and displays steering commands on the attitude indicator, showing the pilot the precise pitch and bank attitudes required to follow a selected flight path, such as a heading, course, altitude, or instrument approach.
Plain English
A guidance system that draws cues on the attitude display showing exactly how to pitch and bank the aircraft to fly the path you've selected. The pilot still hand-flies; the flight director just shows where to point the airplane.
Context Anchor
Seen on aircraft with instrument displays, especially during instrument flying, climbs, descents, course tracking, and approaches.
Derivation
“Flight” refers to the act of flying. “Director” comes from a root meaning “to guide” or “to lead straight.” That fits the aviation meaning: the system does not fly by itself; it guides the pilot toward the selected path.
Why Pilots Care
Enables precise manual control of complex procedures with reduced workload and greater accuracy than raw instrument interpretation alone, especially in instrument meteorological conditions.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a flight director is the same as an autopilot. A flight director gives guidance to follow; an autopilot moves the controls only if it is engaged and connected to that guidance.
Example Sentence 1
After intercepting the localizer, the pilot followed the flight director cues to maintain glideslope down to minimums.
Example Sentence 2
With the heading bug set, the flight director provided visual guidance for the turn to the final approach course.