Definition
A single cockpit power control used in FADEC-equipped aircraft that commands engine power through one lever, with the digital engine control unit automatically managing fuel flow, mixture, and propeller settings to deliver the requested power.
Plain English
One lever in the cockpit that controls engine power. The computer handles all the other engine adjustments behind the scenes, so the pilot only has to push or pull this one control.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft with FADEC, where engine power may be controlled by one lever instead of separate power, propeller, or mixture controls.
Derivation
Throttle originally referred to the throat, then to restricting flow through a narrow opening. In engine use, it became the control for how much power the engine is allowed to make. Here, “single” emphasizes that one lever sends the pilot’s power request to the FADEC system.
Why Pilots Care
Cuts pilot workload and prevents mixture or propeller mismanagement that can damage the engine or reduce performance.
Analogy
Like the accelerator pedal in a modern car: you press it and the engine computer figures out how much fuel and air to deliver. You don't separately control the choke or transmission.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a single throttle lever works like every traditional throttle. In a FADEC aircraft, moving the lever gives the engine computer a power command; the system then manages the detailed engine settings.
Example Sentence 1
Because the aircraft was FADEC-equipped, the pilot used the single throttle lever to set climb power without touching a mixture or propeller control.
Example Sentence 2
In cruise the pilot made a small change to the single throttle lever and the system maintained the desired power automatically.