Flight Simulator 2020 Autopilot
The autopilot in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 allows you to have an AI control different aspects of the flight, or the entire aircraft. It’s a bit different than in previous games, and there’s no keyboard shortcut that simply lets you turn it on and off. If you’re wondering how to use Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 autopilot, this guide will explain how it works.
How to use autopilot in Flight Simulator 2020?
During the flight, you’ll notice a bunch of icons on the upper edge of the screen. The fifth one from the left, the one that looks like a head with a pilot’s cap, is the autopilot menu. Click on it and a drop-down menu will appear. From there, you’ll be able to select what you want the AI to control. There are three options:
- Checklist Assist – This one makes the AI do all the pre-flight checks in your stead.
- Manage Radio Comms – This one lets you stop worrying about talking to the folks from air traffic control.
- Control Aircraft – This one is the true autopilot; the AI will take care of everything while you enjoy the scenery.
Back when we said there’s no keyboard shortcut for the autopilot, we lied a little – there’s a shortcut for turning it off. It’s Ctrl+Alt+X. So if you ever need to wrest control of the plane back from Skynet in a split second, for whatever reason – like really, really wanting to dive into a volcano or land on a highway – that’s the way to do it.
Also, keep in mind that autopilot stays on between flights, so if you end a flight with it on, the next one will start with the helpful blow up doll doing everything in your stead. That’s a realistic situation in which having a shortcut would be helpful.
