What is the function of a flight director?

The function of a flight director is to give visual instructions to pilots to help maintain the aircraft on a desired flight path. The flight director presents information typically in the form of guidance cues displayed on the cockpit instruments. These cues indicate the required aircraft attitude and direction to achieve the selected flight goals, such as altitude or heading, without directly controlling the aircraft's control surfaces. This allows pilots to manually fly the aircraft while still adhering to specific flight profiles, effectively blending automatic flight management with pilot input.

Other options do not accurately represent the role of a flight director. For example, while wind speed information might be displayed elsewhere in the cockpit, it is not the primary function of the flight director. Additionally, the flight director does not take over manual control of the aircraft; it provides guidance rather than controlling the autopilot system. Finally, reporting engine performance data is outside the function of a flight director, as this is typically managed by other instruments and systems concerning engine monitoring.