The ____________________ may be considered an extension of the flight controls when operating the HDG flight director mode.

The ____________________ may be considered an extension of the flight controls when operating the HDG flight director mode.

• A. Display Control Panel
• B. Audio Control Panel
• C. Autopilot
• D. Heading Control Knob

Answer: (D)

In HDG mode, the system needs a target heading to steer toward, and that target is set by turning the heading control knob. This knob provides the pilot’s direct input to the flight guidance system, updating the commanded heading that the flight director and any engaged autopilot will try to achieve. Because turning the knob translates the pilot’s manual input into guidance commands for the aircraft, it effectively acts as an extension of the flight controls—feeding the autopilot/flight director with the heading to follow. The other controls aren’t used to command a heading in this mode: the Display Control Panel only changes what’s shown on the screens, the Audio Control Panel handles radios and alerts, and the autopilot is the system that executes guidance but is not the manual input device for selecting a heading.

In HDG mode, the system needs a target heading to steer toward, and that target is set by turning the heading control knob. This knob provides the pilot’s direct input to the flight guidance system, updating the commanded heading that the flight director and any engaged autopilot will try to achieve. Because turning the knob translates the pilot’s manual input into guidance commands for the aircraft, it effectively acts as an extension of the flight controls—feeding the autopilot/flight director with the heading to follow.

The other controls aren’t used to command a heading in this mode: the Display Control Panel only changes what’s shown on the screens, the Audio Control Panel handles radios and alerts, and the autopilot is the system that executes guidance but is not the manual input device for selecting a heading.