To provide FD heading guidance at 400 feet when ATC issues a heading after takeoff, which action is required?

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Multiple Choice

To provide FD heading guidance at 400 feet when ATC issues a heading after takeoff, which action is required?

Switching to the heading mode is what enables the airplane to follow the newly assigned heading. Pressing the heading select switch arms heading mode, so the flight director provides roll guidance to achieve that precise heading, and, if the autopilot is on, it will fly the aircraft onto the heading as well. Using this mode immediately adapts the nav guidance to ATC’s instruction, which is exactly what you need after takeoff. Choosing the other options wouldn’t guarantee compliance with a heading: engaging the autopilot without selecting a heading mode may leave the aircraft on its current path or in a different mode; using NAV would command a navigation source instead of a direct heading; turning the autopilot off removes automation and increases workload at a critical time.

Switching to the heading mode is what enables the airplane to follow the newly assigned heading. Pressing the heading select switch arms heading mode, so the flight director provides roll guidance to achieve that precise heading, and, if the autopilot is on, it will fly the aircraft onto the heading as well. Using this mode immediately adapts the nav guidance to ATC’s instruction, which is exactly what you need after takeoff.

Choosing the other options wouldn’t guarantee compliance with a heading: engaging the autopilot without selecting a heading mode may leave the aircraft on its current path or in a different mode; using NAV would command a navigation source instead of a direct heading; turning the autopilot off removes automation and increases workload at a critical time.

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