FWIW, although both my cars are equipped with cruise control, I don't use it at
all. Anyway, I think we are pretty much in agreement that an autopilot is a
useful tool and should not be depended on as a surrogate for pilot ability. If
I can't fly as well as the autopilot, I have no business being there. That
said, my point was that (for me anyway) an autopilot is not a must have, but it
is fairly high on the list of desirables.



And as you and the article state it should be only a TOOL, not a crutch. IN
a similar vein, it should be used like cruise control in a car; it should
not cause a deterioration in the ability to drive (and no, I'm not referring
to the Urban Legend® of the guy in the motor home that turned on cruise
control and went back to fix a sam'ich. ) :~)

--
--Ray Andraka, P.E.
President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
email
http://www.andraka.com

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin, 1759