Flight Management System (FMS)

What Does a Flight Management System (FMS) Do?

A flight management system, or FMS, is a computer system onboard many aircraft. It helps to reduce the workload of the crew on an aircraft by handling such tasks as using GPS sensors and radio in order to navigate. FMS also manages the flight plan and guides the aircraft along that plan towards the input coordinates. By using FMS, civil aircraft can avoid needing to use a navigator or a flight engineer, thereby reducing personnel costs.