[General Battuta]

Anyway, to steer this topic back on track... how do I lock the controls of the player ship?

Player-use-AI is, in my opinion, the best way.

[Axem]

Just remember to make the player clear his orders and play-dead so he won't go off doing something silly like attack hostile fighters.

[Galemp]

Yeah, I've tried a few things and it seems play-dead is the only way to make sure it doesn't drift off to one side.