Microsoft Flight Simulator has a variety of keybinds and shortcuts in order to make flying a little easier for players. While there are a lot of gauges, dials, buttons, meters, and other things to keep track of, players have the option to turn all of those things off for themselves if they choose. There is even an option to turn on autopilot while Microsoft Flight Simulator players fly to their homes, unique locations, or just over some beautiful scenery.
Autopiloting in Microsoft Flight Simulator
Regardless of which of the many planes from Microsoft Flight Simulator players choose to fly, autopiloting works basically the same way. Players choose a route with their takeoff point and their landing point (and anything they may want to fly over in between). Once the flight path is in the books, players can turn on the autopiloting to manage their takeoff checklists, take care of radio communications, control the takeoff, altitude, speed, and landing of the airplane, and do it all smoothly and perfectly. The best part is that players can turn off this system at any time; this means those who haven't quite mastered the art of landing can handle everything else up until that point.
How to Turn on Autopilot
No matter what beautiful sights players fly over in Microsoft Flight Simulator, there are two ways to turn on the autopiloting setting; one way is through menuing, and the other with a keyboard shortcut. In order to get to the setting through the menu, players first have to open the toolbar.
- Open toolbar
- Select AI Control
- There are three options: Checklist Assist, Radio Comm Assist, and Control Flight.
- Select the options desired
- Have a great Microsoft Flight Simulator flight
If players are playing Microsoft Flight Simulator on the Xbox Series X, they will have to go through the menu to turn these features on. But if players are using a PC, the keyboard shortcut for Autopiloting just turns the Control Flight on or off and not the Checklist or Comm assistance. These shortcuts are:
- Autopilot on - ALT + Z
- Autopilot off - SHIFT + ALT + Z
Other Helpful Autopilot Keyboard Shortcuts
- Hold the current speed in Autopilot Mode - ALT + R
- Lower the Autopilot altitude - CTRL + PGDOWN
- Raise the Autopilot altitude - CTRL + PGUP
- NAV1 Hold - CTRL + N
- Lower Autopilot N1 - CTRL + END
- Raise Autopilot N1 - CTRL + HOME
- N1 hold - CTRL + S
- Decrease speed - SHIFT + CTRL + DEL
- Increase speed - SHIFT + CTRL + INSERT
- Turn Approach Hold on or off - CTRL + A
- Turn Altitude Hold on or off - CTRL + T
- Localizer on and off - CTRL + O
- Mach Hold on and off - CTRL + M
- Wind level on and off - CTRL + V
- Lower Reference Vs - CTRL + END
- Raise Reference Vs - CTRL + HOME
Microsoft Flight Simulator is now available for PC and Xbox Series X/S.