In article .com, wrote:
Salutations All,

Greetings and Salutations, Earthling. :-)

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'm neither IFR rated nor a CPL holder, but another good place to ask is
in rec.aviation.ifr.

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!

The way you're using it sounds like it's being used as a crutch.

The AP is indeed a very nice tool, but not infallible.

Best to master the basics 'the long way', *then* use the AP as needed.

Why? This article sums it up nicely:

https://flighttraining.aopa.org/cfi_...m?article=5121

(Login not required to read, I think?)

As for your question on when the AP is used by CPL pilots... well, it
depends. Often, it will be used in high workload situations.

Best examples: within the terminal area of a major airport or when
encountering rough weather. In both cases, the use of the autopilot
allows them to spend greater attention on higher priority things.

(But as someone else with autopilot use here recently noted, if the
weather is really rough, the autopilot may disconnect due to deviation
past maximum limits.)

Some people like to use them when not required. That's ok; they know how
to do things 'by hand' if needed, and could do it right there and then
if required.

-Dan