Which axes are typically controlled by GA autopilots?

• A. Yaw and bank
• B. Roll and pitch
• C. Roll and yaw
• D. Pitch and heading

Answer: (B)

GA autopilots are designed to stabilize the airplane about the two main attitude axes: roll and pitch. The roll axis, controlled by the ailerons, lets the autopilot hold a wings-level attitude or sustain a steady bank angle during turns. The pitch axis, controlled by the elevator, lets the autopilot maintain a specific nose position to hold altitude or follow a desired flight path. This combination directly governs the airplane’s attitude in most light aircraft autopilots.

Yaw control is not typically part of a basic GA autopilot. While some systems include a yaw damper to reduce Dutch roll, actively holding a heading or controlling yaw usually requires additional functionality or navigation inputs beyond the standard two-axis setup. That’s why the axes most commonly controlled by GA autopilots are roll and pitch.