Definition
An autopilot function that automatically holds the aircraft's wings level by sensing roll deviations and applying corrective aileron input to keep the bank angle at zero degrees. It is the most basic form of lateral autopilot control and is often the only roll function provided by single-axis autopilots.
Plain English
A simple autopilot mode that keeps the wings flat so the airplane does not roll left or right on its own. The pilot still controls direction; the autopilot just stops the airplane from tipping into a turn.
Context Anchor
Seen in autopilot system discussions, especially when describing basic roll modes or what the autopilot does when no heading or course is selected.
Why Pilots Care
Automatically stabilizes the aircraft in roll, reducing workload and preventing unintended turns during autopilot use.
Grounding Statement
If the airplane begins to bank, wing leveling gently moves the controls to bring it back toward level flight.
Intuition Check
Wing leveling does not mean the autopilot is flying a route or holding altitude. It only means the system is trying to keep the airplane from banking left or right.
Example Sentence 1
After hand-flying through the climb, the pilot engaged wing leveling so the aircraft would hold a steady attitude while she set up the radios.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot selected wing leveling to maintain straight flight while handling other cockpit tasks.