The geometry of the ATC-Pilot makes it easier for a belayer to catch (and hold) a fall by increasing the friction on the rope. The fallen climber is held by the belay device, until the belayer decides to lower the climber by rotating the device and modulating the lowering speed with their brake hand.

The ATC-Pilot is ideal at the gym or single-pitch cragging, and it is similar to the GriGri in that regard, except it is also much cheaper and lighter. The Pilot will join a growing list of semi-auto tubers on the market such as the Edelrid Jul², Mammut Smart and Salewa Ergo. And although all of these devices feel like they can catch and hold a fall on their own, the belayer should always have their hand on the brake rope.

Black Diamond worked on the Pilot for 18 months to ensure the geometry was perfect for paying out slack, taking in slack, and lowering. In typical BD style they developed a variety of iterations before landing on the final design, and then subjected that final design to tons of testing to ensure it works in almost every conceivable condition. The ATC-Pilot is intended for single rope use in the gym and outdoor cragging and not multi-pitch climbing. It is possible to rappel with the device using a single rope (like in simul-rappelling), but it’s not capable of double rope rappelling.