HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) is an aviation concept that places frequently used controls on the throttle stick and control column, allowing pilots to activate them without taking their hands off the controls or breaking visual contact with the windshield. The concept has also been applied to other vehicles, such as Formula One racing cars and family vehicles.
HOTAS is the acronym for the aviation concept Hands On Throttle And Stick. This concept involves placing as many frequently used or associated controls on the throttle stick and control column of an aircraft. This location allows peripheral control activation without the rider having to take their hands off the throttle and control column or side stick. It also allows these actions to be carried out without the pilot having to break visual contact with the windshield dial. This makes a significant difference in the ease of operation during high load or stress phases of flight such as target tracking, landings, in-flight refueling or holding formation.
Performing complex, pressured flight maneuvers requires high levels of concentration and a constant series of pitch, roll, and power control inputs. That being said, the HOTAS concept makes a lot of sense as it keeps the pilot’s hands and visual focus where they should be, on the task at hand. Placing additional controls on throttle sticks and joysticks is not a new practice; Gun actuators were attached to fighter control columns in both world wars. However, new generation aircraft have created an art form of HOTAS with ergonomically shaped controls bristling with auxiliary switches and buttons.
Although the multi-function sidestick and throttle sticks of an F-16 Falcon or MiG-29 fighter are a far cry from the simple hat switch-equipped joysticks on the Spitfires or Mustangs of years past, the principle remains the same. Auxiliary controls are placed on control columns that are generally used during controlled flight and ideally linked to the main control. For example, commercial aircraft have at least one microphone key, autopilot disconnect, and trim switches on each pilot’s yoke because these functions are often activated during manual phases of flight. Modern fighter aircraft generally have thrust-related auxiliary controls mounted on the thrust stick. Automatic throttle activation and reverse thrust levers are also found on commercial aircraft throttle quadrants.
The HOTAS concept is not limited to aircraft either; many other vehicle controls lean towards multitasking. A look into the cockpit of a Formula One racing car reveals an impressive array of paddles and buttons on the steering wheel. Similar to a fighter jet, this functionality allows drivers to change gear without having to take their hands or eyes off the wheel and the road. HOTAS has also found its way into the average family vehicle; The sound system, trip computer, and cruise control buttons appear on the steering wheels of many new cars.
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