What is autopilot CWS mode, and how do you use it?
Control wheel steering (CWS) is an autopilot mode that keeps the autopilot engaged while the pilot uses the yoke or control wheel to command a new pitch or bank attitude. When control pressure is released, the system generally holds the resulting attitude, though exact behaviour varies by aircraft and autopilot.
In aviation and real-world flying, CWS sits between conventional command-mode autopilot operation and fully manual flight. It retains automation assistance but lets the pilot manoeuvre without first disconnecting the whole autopilot. Our explanation of how autopilot feedback loops and selected modes work covers the underlying principles.
How does control wheel steering work?
CWS changes the autopilot's pitch or roll reference in response to pilot input rather than following only the targets selected on the mode-control panel.
- Force-sensing CWS: pressure on the control column is detected while the autopilot servos remain active. The system changes pitch or bank in proportion to that pressure and holds the new reference when the controls are released.
- Momentary CWS switch: pressing and holding a yoke-mounted switch temporarily releases or unloads the servos so the pilot can reposition the aircraft. Releasing the switch re-engages or synchronises the autopilot at the new attitude.
These designs feel similar to the pilot but are not operationally interchangeable. On Boeing 737 installations that provide CWS, for example, CWS P and CWS R annunciations identify pitch and roll CWS operation. Some general-aviation autopilots instead use a momentary CWS button, with no permanently selected CWS mode.
| Control state | What the pilot commands | What the automation does |
|---|---|---|
| CWS | A new pitch or bank attitude through control pressure | Moves or resynchronises the servos, then maintains the resulting reference |
| Command mode | Targets such as heading, altitude or vertical speed | Flies the selected or captured mode |
| Manual flight | The aircraft controls directly | Autopilot servos are disengaged, although separate stability systems may remain active |
How do you use CWS mode?
Use CWS by confirming the aircraft's particular implementation, engaging the correct autopilot mode and applying smooth control pressure until the desired attitude is reached.
- Check that CWS is installed. Consult the aircraft flight manual, operating handbook or add-on documentation. A label on a yoke button does not prove that it operates like a dedicated Boeing CWS mode.
- Stabilise the aircraft. Establish suitable power, airspeed and trim before engaging the autopilot. CWS is easier to control when the aircraft is not already accelerating or badly out of trim.
- Engage and verify the mode. Select CWS if it has a dedicated control, or hold the momentary CWS switch if that is how the system works. Confirm the pitch and roll annunciations on the flight-mode annunciator; do not rely solely on a button light.
- Apply gradual pressure. Move one axis at a time at first. Pull or push to change pitch, or apply lateral pressure to establish the required bank.
- Release the controls smoothly. A dedicated CWS system should retain the resulting attitude. With a momentary system, stabilise the aircraft before releasing the switch so the autopilot synchronises to a sensible reference.
- Check the result. Monitor attitude, airspeed, altitude, heading and the active mode annunciations. Select a conventional heading, altitude or navigation mode when precise tracking is required.
Do not manually trim against an engaged autopilot unless the aircraft procedure specifically requires it. Trim input disconnects some autopilots, while other systems may counter the input and leave the aircraft badly out of trim when the autopilot is eventually disconnected.
What does CWS hold after you release the yoke?
CWS normally holds an attitude reference, not necessarily altitude, vertical speed or heading.
In pitch, holding a fixed attitude does not guarantee level flight. A power change, speed change, configuration change or rising and descending air mass can alter the flight path while the same pitch attitude is maintained. In roll, holding a bank angle means the aircraft continues turning rather than settling on a particular heading.
Some systems introduce extra logic near wings level, such as rolling level and holding the resulting heading. Others blend CWS with altitude or heading capture under defined conditions. Those thresholds and transitions are aircraft-specific, so the flight-mode annunciator is the authoritative indication of what the autopilot is doing.
When should you use CWS instead of a command mode?
Choose CWS when you want to hand-fly a modest attitude change while retaining autopilot assistance; choose command modes when an exact flight-path target matters.
- Use CWS for smooth, manually judged pitch or bank changes where permitted by the aircraft's procedures.
- Use heading, navigation, altitude or vertical modes for precise tracking and altitude constraints.
- Use fully manual flight when direct control is required or when the autopilot has reached an operating limitation.
- Use CWS during an instrument approach only when the aircraft documentation and operating procedure explicitly permit it.
The mistake we see most often is treating CWS as another name for altitude hold or heading hold. It is not. The pilot remains responsible for thrust, speed and flight-path monitoring throughout the manoeuvre.
Do all aircraft have CWS mode?
No; CWS is found only on certain autopilot designs, and the same label can describe different control logic.
Airbus A320-family aircraft do not provide a Boeing-style, pilot-selectable CWS mode. Sufficient sidestick input or use of the takeover control normally disconnects the autopilot instead, after which the aircraft's fly-by-wire control laws continue to assist the pilot. Our A320 autopilot mode-selection walkthrough explains that different operating philosophy.
Even within one manufacturer, equipment fit and software logic may differ by model and operator. The aircraft's manual and its mode annunciations take precedence over generic CWS instructions.
Why does CWS behave badly in a flight simulator?
Simulated CWS often behaves incorrectly because the aircraft does not model it fully or because controller input is being interpreted as an autopilot-disconnect command.
- Incomplete modelling: a cockpit may show a CWS-labelled control even though the underlying mode is simplified or inactive.
- Controller noise: a worn potentiometer or an inadequate dead zone can produce continuous pitch or roll commands.
- Conflicting bindings: the CWS button may also be assigned to autopilot disconnect, trim or another control.
- Spring-centred controls: a desktop joystick measures displacement rather than the control force used by many real CWS systems, making small inputs harder to reproduce.
- Wrong engagement conditions: an invalid flight-director state, disengaged servo channel or existing control input may prevent the mode from arming.
Watch the simulated flight-mode annunciator after every selection. If the autopilot or CWS channel will not arm at all, work through our Microsoft Flight Simulator autopilot engagement checklist before assuming the aircraft is faulty.