When a pitch trim runaway is suspected during takeoff, press and hold the AP/TRIM disc button.

Pitch trim runaway on takeoff: the one move that keeps you in control

If you’ve ever flown an ERJ in the SkyWest environment, you know takeoff is a high-energy moment. The airplane is light, the air is thin, and you’re not just climbing—you’re establishing the flight path that will carry you through the next few hours. Now, imagine a pitch trim runaway. The stabilizer keeps nudging the elevator, trying to set a pitch that you didn’t intend, and suddenly the controls feel not quite yours. It’s a situation that can wake up the adrenalin and test your muscle memory all at once.

Let me explain what’s going on and why a single, deliberate action matters a lot more than it might seem in the heat of the moment.

What a pitch trim runaway looks like in the ERJ cockpit

Pitch trim is designed to help you manage the aircraft’s nose position with less manual effort. When everything is working smoothly, the trim changes are subtle and feel almost invisible—a whisper rather than a shout. But when a runaway happens, the system keeps moving the stabilizer in one direction, often pulling the nose up or down regardless of what you tell the yoke or column. On takeoff, that can be especially dangerous. You’re already holding a high nose attitude to rotate, and if the trim keeps pushing the elevator the same way, your pitch attitude can begin to diverge from your intended climb path.

In practical terms, a runaway feels like your stabilizer is fighting you. The airplane might begin to pitch unexpectedly, and you’ll notice the control column or side-stick fighting to hold the roll and pitch where you want them. It’s unsettling, but remember: you’re not powerless. There’s a proven action that neutralizes the problem quickly and safely.

The right move: press and hold the AP/TRIM disc button

When a pitch trim runaway is suspected during takeoff, the correct action is simple and decisive: press and hold the AP/TRIM disc button. This button is there for exactly this kind of moment. It serves two critical purposes at once:

• It disconnects the autopilot. If the autopilot is engaged, a runaway can overwhelm you by continuing to command changes you didn’t authorize. Disengaging the autopilot buys you back a voice in the cockpit—your hands, your eyes, your sense of the airplane’s current state.

• It disengages the trim system. The trim run is what’s steering the nose, not your actual control inputs. By pulling the trim system out of the loop, you stop the unwanted elevator movements and restore a path where you can manually control the airplane again.

Think of it like pulling a stubborn steering wheel away from a car that’s trying to drift into the shoulder. The goal isn’t to fight the car forever; it’s to regain direct control so you can steer with intention.

Why not the other options?

The multiple-choice framing often makes the moment feel like a tactical puzzle. But in this case, only one action specifically mitigates a pitch trim runaway during takeoff:

• Pull the aileron disconnect handle. This is not the right move for a trim runaway. The aileron disconnect affects roll authority, not the nose trim system. It won’t stop the runaway and can create further confusion, especially if you’re already juggling high workload.

• Activate the emergency landing gear. That sounds dramatic—and in a lot of systems, gear actions are tied to different fault states. But deploying landing gear during takeoff when you haven’t reached a stable climb would create additional drag, weight, and potential handling surprises. It’s not addressing the root of a trim runaway.

• Set thrust to maximum. While extra thrust might help if you’re worried about insufficient climb performance, it does nothing to stop the runaway. In fact, it could exacerbate the problem by pushing the airplane higher or faster in a way you can’t manage if the trim is fighting you.

In short: the only action that directly neutralizes the runaway and hands you back manual control is isolating the autopilot and trim by pressing and holding the AP/TRIM disc button. It’s the move that changes the game from “fight the airplane” to “regain control.”

How to handle it smoothly in the cockpit

If you’re encountering this scenario—or practicing it in a simulator—here’s a practical flow that keeps things calm and focused:

• Recognize quickly. If you suspect a pitch trim runaway, don’t delay. The sooner you respond, the better your chances of a clean climb.

• Hold the AP/TRIM disc button. Keep it pressed for a moment to ensure both autopilot and trim are isolated. You should feel the airplane settling into your manual control.

• Reestablish manual control. Use coordinated inputs to bring the nose to the desired climb attitude. Keep a light touch on the yoke and be prepared to manage any residual trim effects manually.

• Reconfirm attitude and flight path. Once you’ve regained control, verify your pitch, airspeed, and climb rate. If needed, trim manually to a new, stable configuration once you’re confident in your control.

• If needed, re-engage or re-trim carefully. Depending on the airplane’s systems and your airline’s SOPs, you may re-engage the autopilot later in the climb or maintain manual flight until you’re clear of higher-workload segments.

A steady mindset while flying through a scare

Here’s a truth many pilots live by: the moment you feel something unusual in the flight controls, you don’t panic—you productively identify, isolate, and act. That mindset keeps the cockpit safer and your passengers calmer than they have any reason to be.

In a pitch trim runaway, the calming action is to disconnect the automation that’s driving the unwanted motion. It’s a clear boundary between the machine doing what it’s told and you taking command again. The rest is about flight path management, airspeed control, and situational awareness.

Relatable analogies that land

If you’ve ever piloted a sailboat and a gust suddenly shifts the sails, you know the feeling: the boat could stall or accelerate toward an unnecessary direction if you don’t ease the tension on the lines. In the ERJ cockpit, the AP/TRIM disc is like that quick release you pull to stop over-controlling the sail. Once you’ve disengaged the autopilot and trim, you regain the flexibility to steer toward your desired route, the horizon, and your climb performance.

Another analogy: think of driving a car with a stuck accelerator. The fix isn’t to floor it or slam on the brakes every moment; it’s to cut power at the source and regain manual control. In the cockpit, the AP/TRIM disc button is that decisive cut.

Training realities you’ll notice in the real world

What makes this particular action so reliable in the ERJ cockpit is the combination of visibility, tactile feedback, and quick access. The AP/TRIM disc is positioned so a pilot can reach it with a natural movement from the stance you already adopt during takeoff: hands lightly on the wheel, eyes scanning the horizon, and feet ready for the thrust levers.

You’ll also notice that the flight deck often provides audible cues when the autopilot or trim is disconnected. There’s a distinct, almost tangible moment when the autopilot relinquishes control and the airplane responds more directly to your input. That feedback loop—what you feel, hear, and see—helps you reset with confidence.

A few practical notes for ERJ crews

• Stay proactive with your checklist. As you transition through the takeoff phase, you’re not just flying a path—you’re managing systems. The autopilot and trim status should be part of the standard scan.

• Communicate clearly with the crew. If you’re flying with a first officer or a captain, quick, concise communication about “AP/TRIM disc hold” can keep everyone aligned and maintain a calm crew flow.

• Don’t overreact to normal trim adjustments. In normal operation, trim changes can feel odd when you’re learning the airplane’s response. Distinguish those moments from a true runaway.

• Know your airplane’s specifics. ERJ cockpits in SkyWest operations have a particular arrangement for the AP/TRIM disc and related protections. Being familiar with its exact location and feel—along with your airline’s SOPs—helps you act without hesitation.

The bigger picture: flight discipline and safety

A lot of the day-to-day of flying is about building a habit of precise, deliberate actions under pressure. The pitch trim runaway scenario is a test of that discipline. It’s not about thrill or bravado; it’s about safety, repeatability, and confidence in your own hands. The AP/TRIM disc button isn’t a magic fix; it’s a tool that lets you reset the situation so you can safely complete the takeoff, climb, and subsequent phases.

If you’re newer to the ERJ fleet, you’ll notice how quickly you learn to blend technical clarity with an instinctual rhythm. You learn to recognize early signs of automation conflicts, you learn to apply the right control inputs with minimal delay, and you learn to trust your training when the workload spikes. That fusion of precision and calm is what keeps you moving forward, even when the air around you gets a little too lively.

A closing thought: preparation pays off in the moment

The moment a pitch trim runaway is suspected during takeoff is not a time for improvisation. It’s a moment for confident, practiced action—press and hold the AP/TRIM disc button, regain manual control, and ride the climb with a clear plan. That single action sets the stage for a safe, controlled ascent and a flight path you can own.

If you’re ever at the controls and the air feels like it’s pulling you toward an unexpected direction, remember this: the simplest, most direct move is often the one that saves the day. You’ve trained to recognize the signal, you’ve learned the right button, and you’ve got the experience to bring the airplane back to a stable, confident flight. That’s what makes flying both challenging and incredibly rewarding.