Originally Posted by shackone

Here is a more familiar type of single cue flight director:



The 'bird' that you refer to are the yellow command bars that move laterally and vertically to indicate the desired direction of flight. The aircraft symbol (the orange triangle) is flown to tuck into the bottom of the 'bird'.

In the ERJ-170, the 'command bars' are represented by the magenta flight directors...either the dual cue 'crossbars'...or the single cue magenta diamond.

Other than for takeoff, the single cue FD is used.

During takeoff, the black 'airplane symbol' is flown to the intersection of the magenta crossbars. That provides the needed lateral and vertical guidance.

Once above 1000'AGL, we change to the dual cue FD...and when flying it, we no longer reference the black airplane symbol. It is ignored during normal flight, and the FD becomes the primary reference for desired flight path performance.

The flight path is the green circle and shows actual flight path angle above and below the horizon. It is flown such that the magenta diamond is maintained inside the circle. The green circle is 'where you are' and the diamond is 'where you want to be'.

Unfortunately, it is a lot easier said than done.