Is it possible to disengage only one axis of a two-axis autopilot?
Some autopilots found on advanced aircraft can be engaged on selected axis only, for example Boeing 737, 747-200 &amp; MD-11. There are three autopilot indicators on the Boeing autopilots: auto throttle, roll and pitch. Each can be in a different mode.

Here a Boeing 737's autopilot roll mode is set to Heading Select (HDG SEL) while the Pitch is flown manually (CWS P):



The pilot can pull or push the yoke, and the autopilot will roll the aircraft automatically. If the pilot steer the yoke left or right, the roll mode will change to CWS R.

In this image below, the pilot is manually Rolling the aircraft (CWS R), but the autopilot pitch mode is set to Vertical Speed mode.


Later models, such as the Boeing 777, does not have this feature - both pitch and roll modes must be engaged together.