In AFCS terms, which component is primarily responsible for maintaining the helicopter's attitude automatically?

• A. Autopilot
• B. SAS
• C. Beep Trim
• D. SAS/AP Cut

Answer: (A)

The automatic attitude hold is handled by the autopilot. The autopilot is the part of AFCS that takes in sensor data and a commanded attitude, then sends control inputs to the helicopter’s flight controls to maintain that attitude automatically. Stability Augmentation System (SAS) helps by damping and smoothing control responses, making the aircraft feel steadier and easier to fly, but it doesn’t by itself maintain a settled attitude like the autopilot does. Beep Trim is just a trim function to relieve constant control pressure, not a system that holds attitude, and a SAS/AP Cut switch simply disables both systems. So the autopilot is the component that automatically maintains the helicopter’s attitude.