How do I use autothrottle without autopilot heading control?

Yes. In flight simulators generally, autothrottle or autothrust can manage engine power while you steer and pitch manually. Arm the thrust system, select a valid speed or thrust mode, leave the autopilot and any simulator heading-control assist disengaged, then verify the active mode on the flight-mode annunciator. Aircraft-specific logic still applies.

How do I use autothrottle while steering manually?

Use the thrust-control system independently and keep the autopilot disconnected. Autothrottle controls engine thrust; the autopilot’s lateral modes control bank and direction.

1. Confirm that the aircraft has autothrottle. Look in the cockpit for A/T, A/THR or an equivalent thrust-control switch. A speed selector or an autopilot IAS mode does not prove that automatic throttle control is fitted.
2. Remove automatic heading control. Disconnect the autopilot and disable any simulator-level heading assistance. The flight director may remain on: its bars provide guidance but cannot move the controls while the autopilot is disconnected.
3. Select the appropriate target. For a speed mode, set the required indicated airspeed or Mach number. In a fixed or limited thrust mode, automatic thrust may command climb or take-off power while you control speed with pitch.
4. Arm and activate the thrust system. An autothrottle arm indication only makes the system available. A compatible speed or thrust mode must also become active before it controls engine power.
5. Position the thrust levers correctly. Airbus-style autothrust normally requires the levers in the prescribed detent for the phase of flight. With conventional autothrottle, avoid moving a hardware throttle unless the simulated aircraft expects manual intervention.
6. Read the flight-mode annunciator. Confirm an active thrust indication such as a speed, Mach or thrust-reference mode. The exact wording varies by aircraft, so do not rely solely on an illuminated arm switch.

Test the setup at a safe altitude by making a gentle manual turn and commanding a modest speed change. The aircraft should follow your roll input while engine thrust responds. Autothrottle can only maintain speed within the available idle-to-maximum thrust range; an excessive climb or descent angle can still produce an underspeed or overspeed.

Is a separate auto throttle or thrust mode possible on MSFS?

Yes, provided the selected aircraft models an independent autothrottle or autothrust system. Microsoft Flight Simulator does not add universal automatic throttle control to every aircraft.

This principle applies to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 on PC and Xbox, and MSFS 2024 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro. The aircraft’s systems determine what is possible; the platform mainly changes how you access and bind the controls.

For the differences between speed modes, thrust modes and phase-specific protections, see our phase-by-phase explanation of airliner thrust automation.

Does a flight sim throttle quadrant add autothrottle?

No. A physical flight sim throttle or throttle quadrant is an input device; it cannot add autothrottle to an aircraft that does not model it. A switch labelled for autothrottle arm also works only when the loaded aircraft supports the corresponding command.

Throttle-axis movement can override or disconnect automatic thrust in some simulations. If the system drops out without an obvious reason, check for axis jitter, duplicated assignments and a button bound to both autopilot and autothrottle disconnect functions.

Are you sure this works with autopilot mode off?

Yes, in a properly modelled aircraft with independent thrust automation. Autothrottle and autopilot are separate systems even though both report their status on the flight-mode annunciator.

• Autopilot: should show as disconnected, allowing direct pitch and roll control.
• Flight director: may remain active and display heading or pitch guidance, but it does not move the aircraft by itself.
• Autothrottle arm: should be armed where required, but an active thrust mode must also be displayed.
• Manual turn: should follow your yoke or sidestick input without the autopilot resisting the bank.
• Thrust response: should follow a sensible speed command or the active thrust schedule.

Airbus thrust levers generally remain stationary while autothrust changes commanded engine power, so lever animation is not a valid test. Watch engine indications and the active mode instead.

Why can’t I find the autothrottle or make it engage?

The aircraft probably lacks autothrottle, the system is only armed, or its engagement conditions have not been met. If there is no cockpit control labelled A/T, A/THR or equivalent, do not assume a speed-hold button performs the same job.

• No fitted system: many light aircraft have autopilot but no automatic throttle control.
• Armed but not active: ARM gives the system permission to engage; it does not mean thrust is being controlled.
• Wrong autopilot or thrust mode: the selected mode may use pitch for speed or command fixed thrust rather than hold the selected airspeed.
• Incorrect lever position: Airbus-style systems use thrust-lever detents to define the autothrust range.
• Aircraft not configured: electrical power, flight-control computers, flight directors or other required systems may not yet be operating.
• Hardware interference: throttle-axis noise or a moved quadrant can override automatic thrust in some aircraft.
• Control-binding conflict: a duplicated or combined disconnect assignment may cancel both autopilot and autothrottle.
• Simulator assistance: piloting or heading assistance can produce control inputs unrelated to the cockpit autothrottle system.

Our systematic checks for an autothrottle that will not engage cover mode selection, control bindings, throttle axes and aircraft configuration in more detail.

Why does speed hold change pitch instead of the throttle?

Speed hold changes pitch when IAS or flight-level change is an autopilot pitch mode rather than an autothrottle mode. During a climb or descent, the pilot sets power while the autopilot raises or lowers the nose to maintain the selected speed.

If the aircraft has no dedicated thrust automation, it cannot maintain speed by changing engine power automatically. Our guide to how pitch and thrust divide airspeed control explains how to identify which system is controlling speed.

Why does heading control assist still steer the aircraft?

Heading control assist is separate from cockpit autothrottle and may continue steering after the autopilot is disconnected. Turn off the simulator assistance option if you want completely manual lateral control; its name and location can vary between simulator versions and platforms.

A selected heading bug does not steer by itself. It becomes a command only when a heading mode is coupled to the autopilot or an assistance system, as explained in our guide to how heading mode and the heading bug behave. Also remember that an aircraft already in a bank will keep turning until you manually roll the wings level.

Can I hold altitude while steering manually?

Usually not with a conventional autopilot because engaging altitude hold also gives the autopilot control of the roll axis, often through roll hold, wings-level or another lateral mode. Trying to steer against it can cause abrupt control inputs or an autopilot disconnect.

Some aircraft model control-wheel steering or separately coupled axes, but those are aircraft-specific features. For unrestricted heading control, leave the autopilot off, keep autothrottle active and hold altitude manually with pitch and trim. Autothrottle manages power; it does not hold altitude.