What does AFCS stand for in helicopter systems?

• A. Aircraft Flight Control System
• B. Automatic Flight Control System
• C. Autonomic Flight Control System
• D. Augmented Flight Control System

Answer: (B)

Automatic Flight Control System is what AFCS stands for in helicopter systems. This refers to an automated set of avionics that helps stabilize the aircraft and manage flight-path control, using sensors, flight control computers, and actuators to drive the cyclic, collective, and anti-torque inputs. It enables features like hover hold, altitude or vertical speed hold, and precise attitude stabilization with less pilot workload. The other options don’t match the common terminology used in helicopter systems: “Aircraft Flight Control System” describes the overall control surfaces rather than the automatic automation, while “Autonomic” or “Augmented” flight control systems aren’t the standard terms represented by the acronym AFCS.