Definition
A cockpit-mounted valve control used by the pilot to choose which fuel tank (or tanks) feeds the engine, and in many aircraft to shut off fuel flow entirely. Typical positions include LEFT, RIGHT, BOTH, and OFF, though exact options vary by aircraft.
Plain English
A switch or knob in the cockpit that lets the pilot pick which fuel tank the engine drinks from, or shut the fuel off completely.
Context Anchor
You check the fuel selector during the visual preflight assessment, before engine start, and any time the airplane procedure calls for changing tanks.
Why Pilots Care
Correct positioning prevents one tank from running dry while fuel remains in others and maintains lateral balance.
Intuition Check
Do not treat the fuel selector as a fuel gauge. It does not show how much fuel is in a tank; it controls which tank is feeding the engine.
Example Sentence 1
During preflight, the pilot moved the fuel selector through each position to confirm it turned smoothly and detented properly at LEFT, RIGHT, BOTH, and OFF.
Example Sentence 2
In cruise the pilot switches the fuel selector to the right tank to keep the wings balanced as fuel burns.