What is the minimum altitude to engage autopilot on takeoff?

• A. 400 feet
• B. 200 feet
• C. 0 feet
• D. 1000 feet

Answer: (A)

Engaging autopilot on takeoff is limited to give the pilot hands-on control during the critical initial climb and to ensure a stable, configured takeoff before the autopilot takes over. The minimum altitude to engage autopilot after liftoff is four hundred feet above ground level. At that height there is enough room to confirm a stable takeoff, verify the airplane is in the proper climb configuration, and manage any unexpected behavior with the pilot still having control if needed. Engaging at lower altitudes could interfere with the rotation or initial climb if the aircraft isn’t yet in a stable state, while waiting much higher than this adds unnecessary manual-handling time. So, four hundred feet AGL is the appropriate threshold.