Definition
A V-shaped flight director symbol displayed on the attitude indicator that shows the pilot the pitch and bank attitude required to follow the commanded flight path. The pilot flies the aircraft symbol up to or into the vee bar to satisfy the flight director's guidance.
Plain English
A V-shaped pointer on the attitude display that tells the pilot how to position the aircraft. When the pilot lines up the little aircraft symbol with the V, the aircraft is flying the path the system is commanding.
Context Anchor
Seen on helicopter attitude displays or flight director displays when using stabilization, flight director, or automatic flight control system modes.
Derivation
Named for its shape: the symbol resembles the letter V, and 'bar' refers to its appearance as a thin indicator line on the display. The name simply describes what the pilot sees.
Why Pilots Care
Following the Vee Bar keeps the helicopter on the desired flight path with minimal pilot input during instrument approaches and en route segments.
Intuition Check
Do not read “vee bar” as a physical part of the helicopter. It is a displayed guidance symbol, and it shows commanded pitch and bank, not the helicopter’s actual attitude by itself.
Example Sentence 1
On the ILS intercept, the pilot banked the helicopter to match the vee bar and rolled out on the inbound course.
Example Sentence 2
Once established on the localizer, the Vee Bar provided roll commands to track the final approach course.