HOTAS

HOTAS is an acronym for Hands On Throttle And Stick. It refers to a cockpit or flight-simulation setup in which the primary flight controls—the throttle and the control stick—are configured so the operator’s hands remain on the controls while most essential functions are accessible via programmable buttons and switches on the two devices. The arrangement enables rapid input of power and attitude without removing hands from the controls.

Origins trace to military aviation, where integrated control layouts were designed to maximize control efficiency during demanding maneuvers. In consumer flight simulators, HOTAS became popular in the 1990s and 2000s as joystick and throttle quadrant technology advanced, and it remains a common choice for both combat and aerobatic simulation.

A typical HOTAS pairing consists of a joystick (stick) and a throttle quadrant. The stick provides pitch and roll input; the throttle controls engine power. Many models include a rudder axis on the stick and numerous buttons, hats, or thumb switches on both units, with software to map controls to aircraft functions such as weapons, flaps, landing gear, autopilot, and radios. Some setups can be expanded with separate rudder pedals for additional yaw control.

Advantages of HOTAS include reduced hands-off time, enhanced accessibility to complex aircraft systems, and a more immersive flight experience. Limitations include higher cost, space requirements, and the need to customize control mappings for different aircraft or simulators, which can be challenging for beginners.

Popular consumer HOTAS products include Thrustmaster Warthog, Thrustmaster Cougar, CH Products Fighterstick and Pro Throttle, Saitek X52 and X56, among others. In professional aviation, HOTAS describes the cockpit layout where pilots use both stick and throttle for primary controls, with additional controls within reach.