How do I use autopilot to hold altitude and speed in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
To hold altitude in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, engage the aircraft’s autopilot and select an altitude mode such as ALT or ALT HOLD. To hold speed, you either need an aircraft with autothrottle/autothrust, or you must set power manually; in many light aircraft, the autopilot cannot control throttle at all.
What autopilot can and cannot do in MSFS 2024
The first thing to clear up is that altitude hold and speed hold are not the same kind of function.
Altitude is usually controlled by pitch, so most autopilots can maintain it. Speed is mainly controlled by power. That means the sim can only truly hold a selected airspeed automatically if the aircraft is fitted with some form of autothrottle, autothrust or another throttle-coupled system.
In a Cessna, Bonanza or similar GA aircraft, the autopilot often manages roll and pitch only. In an Airbus or Boeing, it may also manage thrust. So the correct answer depends on what you are flying.
| Aircraft type | Can hold altitude? | Can hold speed automatically? | Typical modes you will see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light GA aircraft | Yes | Usually no | AP, HDG, NAV, VS, FLC, ALT |
| GA aircraft with advanced avionics | Yes | Sometimes only in specific modes | AP, FLC, IAS, VS, ALT, VNAV |
| Airliners and business jets with autothrottle | Yes | Yes | AP, SPD, A/T or A/THR, ALT, VNAV, FLCH |
How do I hold altitude and speed in most GA aircraft?
If you are flying a typical single-engine aircraft, the normal method is to let the autopilot hold altitude while you set the throttle for the speed you want.
- Stabilise the aircraft in straight and level flight first. Trim it reasonably well, clean up flaps and gear as required, and make sure you are not close to a stall or overspeed condition.
- Set your desired altitude on the autopilot if the unit uses a selected altitude window. Some simpler systems let you press ALT to hold the current altitude immediately.
- Engage autopilot with the main AP button or switch.
- Select altitude hold by pressing ALT, ALT HOLD or the equivalent. If you are climbing or descending to a target altitude, use VS or FLC first, then let the aircraft capture altitude.
- Adjust throttle manually to the cruise speed you want. In these aircraft, this is the part many people miss: the autopilot is holding altitude, but your power setting is what determines airspeed.
- Fine-tune trim and mixture or propeller settings if your aircraft model uses them. Poor power management can make the aircraft wander in speed even though altitude is stable.
That is the normal, realistic workflow in many non-airliner aircraft. If you pull the power back, the autopilot will pitch to keep altitude and the aircraft will slow down. If you add power, it will usually hold altitude and speed will rise.
How do I hold altitude and speed in airliners with autothrottle?
If the aircraft has autothrottle or autothrust, you can normally hold both at the same time. In simple terms, the autopilot handles pitch and the autothrottle handles thrust.
- Get the aircraft stable first. Avoid engaging everything while still badly out of trim or in a high-workload phase of flight.
- Arm or engage autothrottle if the aircraft requires it. Depending on the aircraft, you may see A/T, AT or A/THR.
- Dial in the target speed on the mode control panel or flight control unit, then select SPD or the relevant speed mode.
- Set the target altitude and use the required vertical mode to get there, such as VS, FLCH/FLC or VNAV.
- Capture and hold altitude with ALT, ALT HOLD or the aircraft’s altitude capture mode.
- Monitor thrust and flight mode annunciations. Do not assume the system is doing what you think; check the active modes on the primary flight display or mode annunciator.
Once established, you will usually see the aircraft maintain the selected altitude while the autothrottle keeps the chosen speed. If either mode drops out, speed or altitude will drift.
Which autopilot mode should I use: ALT, VS, FLC or SPD?
These modes do different jobs. Using the wrong one is the main reason people think the autopilot is broken.
| Mode | What it controls | Best use | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALT / ALT HOLD | Altitude | Level flight at the current or selected altitude | Expecting it to hold speed by itself |
| VS | Vertical speed | Climb or descent at a set feet-per-minute rate | Choosing too high a climb rate and bleeding off speed |
| FLC / FLCH / IAS | Speed by pitch | Climb or descent while maintaining a chosen indicated airspeed | Thinking it also holds altitude during the climb or descent |
| SPD with A/T or A/THR | Speed by thrust | Holding selected speed in aircraft with automatic thrust control | Forgetting to arm autothrottle first |
| VNAV | Managed vertical profile | Following a programmed climb, cruise or descent profile | Using it without a valid route or altitude constraints |
Why won’t autopilot hold speed?
If altitude is stable but speed is not, one of these is usually the cause:
- The aircraft has no autothrottle. This is the most common explanation in GA aircraft.
- You are in ALT HOLD only. That mode maintains altitude, not airspeed.
- You meant to use FLC/IAS. That mode holds speed during a climb or descent by changing pitch, but it is not the same as level-flight speed hold.
- Autothrottle is not armed or not active. In airliners, the switch may be armed but the active mode may still be something else.
- There is not enough power available. If you ask for too much speed at too high an altitude, the aircraft cannot do it.
- The aircraft is badly configured. Flaps, spoilers, speedbrake or draggy gear settings can upset both speed and altitude control.
- You are too close to the flight envelope. Very slow flight, steep climbs or turbulence can make the system struggle.
Can autopilot hold altitude and speed at the same time?
Yes, but only in the right aircraft and with the right modes.
In a light aircraft, the realistic answer is usually altitude hold plus manual power setting. In an airliner or advanced jet with autothrottle, the answer is altitude hold plus automatic speed control. Those are two different systems working together.
Best practice for reliable autopilot operation in MSFS 2024
- Trim before engaging. Autopilot works far better when the aircraft is already close to stable.
- Use sensible climb rates. If you command an aggressive vertical speed, the aircraft may slow to an unsafe speed.
- Watch the mode annunciator. Always confirm what is actually active rather than what you intended to press.
- Do not use altitude hold to fix poor power management. Set power first, then refine the mode selection.
- Know your aircraft. The labels and logic in a G1000-equipped single are not the same as in an Airbus or Boeing.
Helpful control bindings to set up
If you do not want to click the cockpit every time, it is worth assigning buttons for the most-used autopilot functions in MSFS 2024. The exact names can vary by aircraft, but these are the ones we usually recommend binding:
- Autopilot master
- Altitude hold
- Vertical speed
- Flight level change or IAS hold
- Heading mode
- NAV mode
- Autothrottle arm if your aircraft supports it
That makes it much easier to test whether the issue is with the aircraft system itself or simply a missed cockpit switch.
If you just want the short version
Press AP, then use ALT to hold altitude. For speed, either set the throttle yourself in GA aircraft, or engage A/T or A/THR and select SPD in aircraft that support automatic thrust. If speed will not hold, the aircraft probably does not have throttle control through the autopilot.