diff --git a/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli.cpp b/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli.cpp
index be138cdeec..28814c9af4 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli.cpp
@@ -317,6 +317,21 @@ bool AP_MotorsHeli::allow_arming()
     return true;
 }
 
+// get_pilot_desired_collective - converts pilot input (from 0 ~ 1000) to a value that can be fed into the move_swash function
+int16_t AP_MotorsHeli::get_pilot_desired_collective(int16_t control_in)
+{
+    // return immediately if reduce collective range for manual flight has not been configured
+    if (_manual_collective_min == 0 && _manual_collective_max == 100) {
+        return control_in;
+    }
+
+    // scale 
+    int16_t collective_out;
+    collective_out = _manual_collective_min*10 + control_in * _collective_scalar_manual;
+    collective_out = constrain_int16(collective_out, 0, 1000);
+    return collective_out;
+}
+
 //
 // protected methods
 //
@@ -497,9 +512,6 @@ void AP_MotorsHeli::move_swash(int16_t roll_out, int16_t pitch_out, int16_t coll
 
         // scale collective pitch
         _collective_out = constrain_int16(coll_in, 0, 1000);
-        if (_heliflags.manual_collective){
-            _collective_out = _collective_out * _collective_scalar_manual + _manual_collective_min*10;
-        }
         coll_out_scaled = _collective_out * _collective_scalar + _collective_min - 1000;
 	
         // rudder feed forward based on collective
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli.h b/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli.h
index bf302d9cee..8d29415e92 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 #define AP_MOTORS_HELI_COLLECTIVE_MAX           1750
 #define AP_MOTORS_HELI_COLLECTIVE_MID           1500
 
-// swash min and max position (expressed as percentage) while in stabilize mode
+// swash min and max position while in stabilize mode (as a number from 0 ~ 1000)
 #define AP_MOTORS_HELI_MANUAL_COLLECTIVE_MIN    0
 #define AP_MOTORS_HELI_MANUAL_COLLECTIVE_MAX    100
 
@@ -101,7 +101,6 @@ public:
 
         // initialise flags
         _heliflags.swash_initialised = 0;
-        _heliflags.manual_collective = 0;
         _heliflags.landing_collective = 0;
         _heliflags.motor_runup_complete = 0;
     };
@@ -139,15 +138,15 @@ public:
     // has_flybar - returns true if we have a mechical flybar
     bool has_flybar() { return _flybar_mode; }
 
+    // get_pilot_desired_collective - converts pilot input (from 0 ~ 1000) to a value that can be fed into the move_swash function
+    int16_t get_pilot_desired_collective(int16_t control_in);
+
     // get_collective_mid - returns collective mid position as a number from 0 ~ 1000
     int16_t get_collective_mid() { return  _collective_mid; }
 
     // get_collective_out - returns collective position from last output as a number from 0 ~ 1000
     int16_t get_collective_out() { return _collective_out; }
 
-    // set_collective_for_manual_control - limits collective to reduced range for stabilize (i.e. manual) flying
-    void set_collective_for_manual_control(bool true_false) { _heliflags.manual_collective = true_false; }
-
     // get min/max collective when controlled manually as a number from 0 ~ 1000 (note that parameter is stored as percentage)
     int16_t get_manual_collective_min() { return _manual_collective_min*10; }
     int16_t get_manual_collective_max() { return _manual_collective_max*10; }
@@ -194,7 +193,6 @@ private:
     // flags bitmask
     struct heliflags_type {
         uint8_t swash_initialised       : 1;    // true if swash has been initialised
-        uint8_t manual_collective       : 1;    // true if pilot is manually controlling the collective.  If true then we reduce the swash range
         uint8_t landing_collective      : 1;    // true if collective is setup for landing which has much higher minimum
         uint8_t motor_runup_complete    : 1;    // true if the rotors have had enough time to wind up
     } _heliflags;