You Know How to Use Your Autopilot. But Do You Understand It?

For many pilots, learning to use an autopilot starts with a few basic functions.

Press HDG, and the airplane follows the heading bug.

Press ALT, and it holds altitude.

Press NAV, and it follows the GPS.

That’s a good start. But it’s only a start.

Modern Garmin autopilots can do considerably more, and understanding how those modes work together becomes increasingly important as you progress into instrument flying. The challenge isn’t simply learning what more buttons do. It’s understanding why the autopilot is doing what it’s doing—and anticipating what it’s going to do next.

More Than Buttonology

Consider a few common questions:

• What should you verify after pressing the AP button?
• What happens when you switch from HDG to NAV?
• What’s the difference between NAV and APR, and when should you use each?
• Why might the airplane turn in a direction you didn’t expect?
• What’s the difference between VS, IAS/FLC and VNAV?
• Why doesn’t APR mode necessarily level the airplane at your selected altitude?
• What should you do differently when using the autopilot to fly a missed approach?

These aren’t really questions about memorizing buttons. They’re questions about understanding the automation. And that’s an important distinction for pilots learning to fly with an autopilot.

Build Good Automation Habits Early

It’s tempting to think of the autopilot as something you can learn later. But learning how to properly use automation is part of becoming a proficient pilot.

A good autopilot workflow doesn’t mean pressing a button and looking away. It means selecting the appropriate mode, verifying that the autopilot is doing what you expect, and continuing to monitor the airplane. It also means learning to anticipate the automation.

If you’re cleared to a new heading, for example, you should already have an idea of how the airplane will turn before you engage the mode. When you’re setting up for an approach, you should understand what APR mode will—and won’t—do. And when you’re using vertical modes, you should know how the selected altitude, airspeed, vertical speed, and flight path all interact.

The goal isn’t to spend more time thinking about your autopilot. It’s to understand it well enough that using it actually reduces your workload.

Take Your Autopilot Knowledge to the Next Level

If you’re ready to go beyond the basics, PilotWorkshops has released a new online course, Garmin GFC Autopilots: Next Level.

The course uses a series of progressively complex flights to teach the principles, best practices, and workflows behind effective Garmin GFC autopilot use. It covers everything from takeoffs and departures to approaches, missed approaches, VNAV, holds, step-downs, and non-RNAV procedures.

The course is taught by Ryan Koch, an instrument flight instructor, simulator expert, and the developer behind several PilotWorkshops training programs, including Garmin GTN: Next Level and Advanced IFR.

Want to see how it works? You can see a demo of Garmin GFC Autopilots: Next Level in the Sporty’s online course portal and Pilot Training app.

Reader Poll

• Author
• Recent Posts

Eric Radtke

It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed.Eric now manages Sporty’s media network including FlightTrainingCentral.com. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.

Latest posts by Eric Radtke (see all)

• You Know How to Use Your Autopilot. But Do You Understand It? - September 4, 2026
• VFR Flight Following: A Pilot’s Guide - August 31, 2026
• Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course Keeps Getting Better - August 28, 2026