9014.20.40.00 - Automatic pilots

HTS Code 9014.20.40.00 specifically classifies "Automatic pilots." These devices are sophisticated instruments designed to automatically control the flight path and altitude of aircraft. Unlike simpler navigational instruments that provide raw data, automatic pilots actively process this data and make steering corrections to maintain a desired course, speed, or altitude without continuous human intervention.

This category is distinguished within its parent heading (Instruments and appliances for aeronautical or space navigation) by its focus on automated control systems. While other navigational instruments provide information such as heading, position, or speed, automatic pilots are characterized by their active intervention in the control surfaces of the aircraft to execute navigational commands. This proactive control function is the defining feature that sets automatic pilots apart from instruments that merely display navigational information.

As a leaf node in the HTS database, there are no further subdivisions under this specific code. Therefore, the classification of goods under 9014.20.40.00 relies on the primary function and design of the device being an automatic flight control system for aeronautical applications. This includes systems ranging from basic autopilots that maintain heading and altitude to more complex flight management systems that can also control airspeed, climb/descent rates, and follow programmed flight plans.