Airlines use the AP for most of the flight because they save
fuel. But still most means that some is hand flown, usually
take-off to 500 or 1,000 feet and about half of the
approach.

When I had passengers, I used the autopilot in the King Airs
because it was smoother and wasn't being asked "where is the
coffee?" But I hand flew probably 20% at cruise and split
the approach phase so I knew how to operate the AP properly
and hand fly with the needles never more than 1 dot off.

In years past, use of the autopilots was rarely taught and
even less tested during practical tests. When I got the
type rating in the King Air 300, the single-pilot test did
not allow you to turn the AP ON at all. You could use the
FD which is close to operating the AP. In the light jets, a
type rating test has required that the pilot demonstrate
mastery of the autopilot and the pilot is expect to use it
during flight. Now, the recent practical test standards
[PTS] require that the pilot be able to use all the
equipment in the airplane and that includes the autopilot.



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


wrote in message
oups.com...
| Salutations All,
|
| I know this isn't a flight-simulator group, but I've got a
question for
| all the real pilots out the In general, how much do
commercial
| aviation pilots use their auto-pilot?
|
| I've been spending time learning IFR navigation in FS
2004, and while
| up and about I'm constantly getting different instructions
from the
| controllers, things like "climb to FL200" or stuff like
that. What I've
| found, though, is that the easiest way to make these minor
course and
| altitude corrections is to just punch it into the
autopilot, and let it
| do the work. This is, of course, exceptionally boring -
and thus my
| question!
|
| Anyways, any insights anyone can give would be most
appreciated!
| Thanks!
|
| Bryan Porter
| ==
|