diff --git a/ArduCopter/Parameters.cpp b/ArduCopter/Parameters.cpp
index 074ab5aac6..811311d316 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/Parameters.cpp
+++ b/ArduCopter/Parameters.cpp
@@ -269,42 +269,42 @@ const AP_Param::Info Copter::var_info[] = {
     // @Param: FLTMODE1
     // @DisplayName: Flight Mode 1
     // @Description: Flight mode when Channel 5 pwm is <= 1230
-    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate
+    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate,27:Auto RTL
     // @User: Standard
     GSCALAR(flight_mode1, "FLTMODE1",               (uint8_t)FLIGHT_MODE_1),
 
     // @Param: FLTMODE2
     // @DisplayName: Flight Mode 2
     // @Description: Flight mode when Channel 5 pwm is >1230, <= 1360
-    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate
+    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate,27:Auto RTL
     // @User: Standard
     GSCALAR(flight_mode2, "FLTMODE2",               (uint8_t)FLIGHT_MODE_2),
 
     // @Param: FLTMODE3
     // @DisplayName: Flight Mode 3
     // @Description: Flight mode when Channel 5 pwm is >1360, <= 1490
-    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate
+    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate,27:Auto RTL
     // @User: Standard
     GSCALAR(flight_mode3, "FLTMODE3",               (uint8_t)FLIGHT_MODE_3),
 
     // @Param: FLTMODE4
     // @DisplayName: Flight Mode 4
     // @Description: Flight mode when Channel 5 pwm is >1490, <= 1620
-    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate
+    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate,27:Auto RTL
     // @User: Standard
     GSCALAR(flight_mode4, "FLTMODE4",               (uint8_t)FLIGHT_MODE_4),
 
     // @Param: FLTMODE5
     // @DisplayName: Flight Mode 5
     // @Description: Flight mode when Channel 5 pwm is >1620, <= 1749
-    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate
+    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate,27:Auto RTL
     // @User: Standard
     GSCALAR(flight_mode5, "FLTMODE5",               (uint8_t)FLIGHT_MODE_5),
 
     // @Param: FLTMODE6
     // @DisplayName: Flight Mode 6
     // @Description: Flight mode when Channel 5 pwm is >=1750
-    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate
+    // @Values: 0:Stabilize,1:Acro,2:AltHold,3:Auto,4:Guided,5:Loiter,6:RTL,7:Circle,9:Land,11:Drift,13:Sport,14:Flip,15:AutoTune,16:PosHold,17:Brake,18:Throw,19:Avoid_ADSB,20:Guided_NoGPS,21:Smart_RTL,22:FlowHold,23:Follow,24:ZigZag,25:SystemID,26:Heli_Autorotate,27:Auto RTL
     // @User: Standard
     GSCALAR(flight_mode6, "FLTMODE6",               (uint8_t)FLIGHT_MODE_6),
 
diff --git a/ArduCopter/RC_Channel.cpp b/ArduCopter/RC_Channel.cpp
index 8ffaa17904..066653ca6c 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/RC_Channel.cpp
+++ b/ArduCopter/RC_Channel.cpp
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ void RC_Channel_Copter::init_aux_function(const aux_func_t ch_option, const AuxS
     case AUX_FUNC::ZIGZAG_Auto:
     case AUX_FUNC::ZIGZAG_SaveWP:
     case AUX_FUNC::ACRO:
+    case AUX_FUNC::AUTO_RTL:
         break;
     case AUX_FUNC::ACRO_TRAINER:
     case AUX_FUNC::ATTCON_ACCEL_LIM:
@@ -578,6 +579,13 @@ bool RC_Channel_Copter::do_aux_function(const aux_func_t ch_option, const AuxSwi
 #endif
             break;
 
+        case AUX_FUNC::AUTO_RTL:
+#if MODE_AUTO_ENABLED == ENABLED
+            do_aux_function_change_mode(Mode::Number::AUTO_RTL, ch_flag);
+#endif
+            break;
+
+
     default:
         return RC_Channel::do_aux_function(ch_option, ch_flag);
     }
diff --git a/ArduCopter/mode.cpp b/ArduCopter/mode.cpp
index fe2fb0cdd8..2aa1265c21 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/mode.cpp
+++ b/ArduCopter/mode.cpp
@@ -197,6 +197,13 @@ bool Copter::set_mode(Mode::Number mode, ModeReason reason)
         return true;
     }
 
+#if MODE_AUTO_ENABLED == ENABLED
+    if (mode == Mode::Number::AUTO_RTL) {
+        // Special case for AUTO RTL, not a true mode, just AUTO in disguise
+        return mode_auto.jump_to_landing_sequence_auto_RTL(reason);
+    }
+#endif
+
     Mode *new_flightmode = mode_from_mode_num((Mode::Number)mode);
     if (new_flightmode == nullptr) {
         gcs().send_text(MAV_SEVERITY_WARNING,"No such mode");
diff --git a/ArduCopter/mode.h b/ArduCopter/mode.h
index 373e1d9e7f..05f209d247 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/mode.h
+++ b/ArduCopter/mode.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ public:
         ZIGZAG    =    24,  // ZIGZAG mode is able to fly in a zigzag manner with predefined point A and point B
         SYSTEMID  =    25,  // System ID mode produces automated system identification signals in the controllers
         AUTOROTATE =   26,  // Autonomous autorotation
+        AUTO_RTL =     27,  // Auto RTL, this is not a true mode, AUTO will report as this mode if entered to perform a DO_LAND_START Landing sequence
     };
 
     // constructor
@@ -352,7 +353,7 @@ class ModeAuto : public Mode {
 public:
     // inherit constructor
     using Mode::Mode;
-    Number mode_number() const override { return Number::AUTO; }
+    Number mode_number() const override { return auto_RTL? Number::AUTO_RTL : Number::AUTO; }
 
     bool init(bool ignore_checks) override;
     void exit() override;
@@ -406,6 +407,9 @@ public:
     // for GCS_MAVLink to call:
     bool do_guided(const AP_Mission::Mission_Command& cmd);
 
+    // Go straight to landing sequence via DO_LAND_START, if succeeds pretend to be Auto RTL mode
+    bool jump_to_landing_sequence_auto_RTL(ModeReason reason);
+
     AP_Mission mission{
         FUNCTOR_BIND_MEMBER(&ModeAuto::start_command, bool, const AP_Mission::Mission_Command &),
         FUNCTOR_BIND_MEMBER(&ModeAuto::verify_command, bool, const AP_Mission::Mission_Command &),
@@ -413,8 +417,8 @@ public:
 
 protected:
 
-    const char *name() const override { return "AUTO"; }
-    const char *name4() const override { return "AUTO"; }
+    const char *name() const override { return auto_RTL? "AUTO RTL" : "AUTO"; }
+    const char *name4() const override { return auto_RTL? "ARTL" : "AUTO"; }
 
     uint32_t wp_distance() const override;
     int32_t wp_bearing() const override;
@@ -555,6 +559,9 @@ private:
         uint8_t cmd_count;                  // number of commands in the cmd array
         AP_Mission::Mission_Command cmd[mis_change_detect_cmd_max]; // local copy of the next few mission commands
     } mis_change_detect = {};
+
+    // True if we have entered AUTO to perform a DO_LAND_START landing sequence and we should report as AUTO RTL mode
+    bool auto_RTL;
 };
 
 #if AUTOTUNE_ENABLED == ENABLED
diff --git a/ArduCopter/mode_auto.cpp b/ArduCopter/mode_auto.cpp
index e1ca19b978..e4f56cd147 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/mode_auto.cpp
+++ b/ArduCopter/mode_auto.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 // auto_init - initialise auto controller
 bool ModeAuto::init(bool ignore_checks)
 {
+    auto_RTL = false;
     if (mission.num_commands() > 1 || ignore_checks) {
         _mode = SubMode::LOITER;
 
@@ -64,6 +65,8 @@ void ModeAuto::exit()
 #if HAL_MOUNT_ENABLED
     copter.camera_mount.set_mode_to_default();
 #endif  // HAL_MOUNT_ENABLED
+
+    auto_RTL = false;
 }
 
 // auto_run - runs the auto controller
@@ -141,13 +144,35 @@ void ModeAuto::run()
         payload_place_run();
         break;
     }
+
+    // only pretend to be in auto RTL so long as mission still thinks its in a landing sequence or the mission has completed
+    if (!(mission.get_in_landing_sequence_flag() || mission.state() == AP_Mission::mission_state::MISSION_COMPLETE)) {
+        auto_RTL = false;
+    }
 }
 
 bool ModeAuto::allows_arming(AP_Arming::Method method) const
 {
-    return (copter.g2.auto_options & (uint32_t)Options::AllowArming) != 0;
+    return ((copter.g2.auto_options & (uint32_t)Options::AllowArming) != 0) && !auto_RTL;
 };
 
+// Go straight to landing sequence via DO_LAND_START, if succeeds pretend to be Auto RTL mode
+bool ModeAuto::jump_to_landing_sequence_auto_RTL(ModeReason reason)
+{
+    if (mission.jump_to_landing_sequence()) {
+        mission.set_force_resume(true);
+        if (set_mode(Mode::Number::AUTO, reason)) {
+            auto_RTL = true;
+            return true;
+        }
+        // mode change failed, revert force resume flag
+        mission.set_force_resume(false);
+        return false;
+    }
+    gcs().send_text(MAV_SEVERITY_INFO, "No landing sequence found");
+    return false;
+}
+
 // auto_loiter_start - initialises loitering in auto mode
 //  returns success/failure because this can be called by exit_mission
 bool ModeAuto::loiter_start()
@@ -528,6 +553,9 @@ bool ModeAuto::start_command(const AP_Mission::Mission_Command& cmd)
         break;
 #endif
 
+    case MAV_CMD_DO_LAND_START:
+        break;
+
     default:
         // unable to use the command, allow the vehicle to try the next command
         return false;
@@ -766,6 +794,7 @@ bool ModeAuto::verify_command(const AP_Mission::Mission_Command& cmd)
     case MAV_CMD_DO_GUIDED_LIMITS:
     case MAV_CMD_DO_FENCE_ENABLE:
     case MAV_CMD_DO_WINCH:
+    case MAV_CMD_DO_LAND_START:
         cmd_complete = true;
         break;