Which system has limited flight control authority in certain AFCS modes?

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

Answer: (B)

In AFCS modes, automation doesn’t always take full control; some systems are designed to stabilize and dampen motion without overriding the pilot’s inputs completely. The Stability Augmentation System does exactly that: it provides stabilization and rate damping to improve handling, but its command authority is intentionally limited in certain AFCS modes so the pilot can still intervene and override if needed. This keeps the aircraft stable while avoiding a total handover to automation.

The other systems aren’t about this limited-control behavior. Autopilot normally takes stronger control to hold altitude or follow a flight path. Beep Trim is a trim function that makes small adjustments for neutral control feel, not overall stabilization authority. SAS/AP Cut simply disables SAS and autopilot, leaving manual control, which isn’t describing a mode where automation is intentionally limited.