In cockpit flight guidance, what distinguishes managed mode from selected mode?

• A. Selected mode controls the flight path automatically.
• B. Managed mode automatically controls the flight path.
• C. Selected mode requires autopilot engagement at all times.
• D. Managed mode requires manual guidance input.

Answer: (B)

In cockpit flight guidance, the key difference is who/what sets and follows the flight path. Managed mode uses the Flight Management System to compute and command the aircraft’s path along the planned route, handling lateral and vertical guidance automatically to meet constraints like altitude, speed, and waypoints. Selected mode, on the other hand, is pilot-driven: you manually choose targets (such as heading, altitude, or airspeed) and the automation follows those inputs rather than optimizing the route on its own. So the main distinction is automatic path control versus manual target selection, and that’s why the correct statement is that managed mode automatically controls the flight path.