The Automatic Flight Control System(AFCS) is one of the most important suystems associated with the control of the aircraft. It has the ability to interface with navigation system and allow automatic navigation on a pre-programmed track and flight profile. These features contribute considerably to the overall safety of flight operations, provided that the crew maintain situational awareness. The AFCS may consist of only the autopilot and flight director, and provided an interface with other autoflight systems such as the yaw damper and autothrottle. However, in many aircraft these other system are fully intergrated in an autopilot flight director system(AFDS).
AFCS main systems
-autopilot system;
-yaw damper;
-autopilot flight director systems;
-autothrottle