diff --git a/Tools/autotest/apmrover2.py b/Tools/autotest/apmrover2.py
index b2844756bf..cdc8208f71 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/apmrover2.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/apmrover2.py
@@ -89,17 +89,8 @@ class AutoTestRover(AutoTest):
 
         self.progress("Started simulator")
 
-        # get a mavlink connection going
-        connection_string = '127.0.0.1:19550'
-        try:
-            self.mav = mavutil.mavlink_connection(connection_string,
-                                                  robust_parsing=True)
-        except Exception as msg:
-            self.progress("Failed to start mavlink connection on %s" %
-                          connection_string)
-            raise
-        self.mav.message_hooks.append(self.message_hook)
-        self.mav.idle_hooks.append(self.idle_hook)
+        self.get_mavlink_connection_going()
+
         self.hasInit = True
 
         self.apply_defaultfile_parameters()
diff --git a/Tools/autotest/arducopter.py b/Tools/autotest/arducopter.py
index ba8e70c37d..9f6df57fc9 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/arducopter.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/arducopter.py
@@ -114,17 +114,8 @@ class AutoTestCopter(AutoTest):
 
         self.progress("Started simulator")
 
-        # get a mavlink connection going
-        connection_string = '127.0.0.1:19550'
-        try:
-            self.mav = mavutil.mavlink_connection(connection_string,
-                                                  robust_parsing=True)
-        except Exception as msg:
-            self.progress("Failed to start mavlink connection on %s: %s" %
-                          (connection_string, msg,))
-            raise
-        self.mav.message_hooks.append(self.message_hook)
-        self.mav.idle_hooks.append(self.idle_hook)
+        self.get_mavlink_connection_going()
+
         self.hasInit = True
         self.progress("Ready to start testing!")
 
diff --git a/Tools/autotest/arduplane.py b/Tools/autotest/arduplane.py
index 2992a4b951..ff65839621 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/arduplane.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/arduplane.py
@@ -83,17 +83,8 @@ class AutoTestPlane(AutoTest):
 
         self.progress("Started simulator")
 
-        # get a mavlink connection going
-        connection_string = '127.0.0.1:19550'
-        try:
-            self.mav = mavutil.mavlink_connection(connection_string,
-                                                  robust_parsing=True)
-        except Exception as msg:
-            self.progress("Failed to start mavlink connection on %s: %s"
-                          % (connection_string, msg))
-            raise
-        self.mav.message_hooks.append(self.message_hook)
-        self.mav.idle_hooks.append(self.idle_hook)
+        self.get_mavlink_connection_going()
+
         self.hasInit = True
         self.progress("Ready to start testing!")
 
diff --git a/Tools/autotest/ardusub.py b/Tools/autotest/ardusub.py
index d29b4023da..3a9b6d8588 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/ardusub.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/ardusub.py
@@ -78,17 +78,8 @@ class AutoTestSub(AutoTest):
 
         self.progress("Started simulator")
 
-        # get a mavlink connection going
-        connection_string = '127.0.0.1:19550'
-        try:
-            self.mav = mavutil.mavlink_connection(connection_string,
-                                                  robust_parsing=True)
-        except Exception as msg:
-            self.progress("Failed to start mavlink connection on %s: %s" %
-                          (connection_string, msg,))
-            raise
-        self.mav.message_hooks.append(self.message_hook)
-        self.mav.idle_hooks.append(self.idle_hook)
+        self.get_mavlink_connection_going()
+
         self.hasInit = True
 
         self.apply_defaultfile_parameters()
diff --git a/Tools/autotest/common.py b/Tools/autotest/common.py
index be280034f1..cc58663ec4 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/common.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/common.py
@@ -861,6 +861,19 @@ class AutoTest(ABC):
         self.progress("Failed to get EKF.flags=%u" % required_value)
         raise AutoTestTimeoutException()
 
+    def get_mavlink_connection_going(self):
+        # get a mavlink connection going
+        connection_string = '127.0.0.1:19550'
+        try:
+            self.mav = mavutil.mavlink_connection(connection_string,
+                                                  robust_parsing=True)
+        except Exception as msg:
+            self.progress("Failed to start mavlink connection on %s: %s" %
+                          (connection_string, msg,))
+            raise
+        self.mav.message_hooks.append(self.message_hook)
+        self.mav.idle_hooks.append(self.idle_hook)
+
     def run_test(self, desc, function, interact=False):
         self.progress("#")
         self.progress("########## %s ##########" % (desc))
diff --git a/Tools/autotest/quadplane.py b/Tools/autotest/quadplane.py
index 43d48ee622..d7ca0f1376 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/quadplane.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/quadplane.py
@@ -82,17 +82,8 @@ class AutoTestQuadPlane(AutoTest):
 
         self.progress("Started simulator")
 
-        # get a mavlink connection going
-        connection_string = '127.0.0.1:19550'
-        try:
-            self.mav = mavutil.mavlink_connection(connection_string,
-                                                  robust_parsing=True)
-        except Exception as msg:
-            self.progress("Failed to start mavlink connection on %s: %s" %
-                          (connection_string, msg))
-            raise
-        self.mav.message_hooks.append(self.message_hook)
-        self.mav.idle_hooks.append(self.idle_hook)
+        self.get_mavlink_connection_going()
+
         self.hasInit = True
         self.progress("Ready to start testing!")