Autopilot

Competing airline advertising themes would be "Our planes have pilots."

"Ramapriya" wrote in message

Don't ask me why such Airbuses aren't certified for pilotless flight;
union pressures, perhaps )

Ramapriya

"Ramapriya" wrote in message oups.com...
Tim923 wrote:

I don't have an aviation background. Can autopilot do the takeoff and landing?


Of course. You can program any Airbus A320/330/340/380 to fly itself,
using its FMGS. All you need to do manually is taxi it to the edge of
the runway, and taxi it away again after completion of the landing
roll. The entire flight can be pilotless.

Don't ask me why such Airbuses aren't certified for pilotless flight;
union pressures, perhaps )

Ramapriya


The 747 has been capable of this for years, since ~69 or so. The pilot does have to advance the throttles though...

In article .com,
wrote:

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 am not Commercial rated but am Instrument rated PPL.
Best answer for light GA aircraft is that it depends on the flight.
If it is a long trip and/or heavy controls, i use the AP so my hand
doesn't cramp up ( using just the thumb and first two fingers on the
controls).
If flying single pilot in IMC, it is easier monitor the flight and study
approach charts, copy wx and clearances, etc with the AP engaged.
The AP will fly smoother in turbulence than by hand flying.
For just general cruising around, I don't use it at all.

rote

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?

Bryan, you have used a term that may have confused many of those
who have responded to your question.

By "commercial aviation pilot", did you mean an airline pilot who
is actually an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)or...a real Commercial
Pilot (CP) who usually flies smaller business aircraft? As you have
seen, you received a lot of BS answers from Private Pilots and even
Non-Pilots without a clue.

A Commercial Pilot (CP) certificate is simply a grade (level) of
pilot certificate and does not necessarily mean the the holder is
actually employed to fly an airplane. He may fly the same small
airplane types without an autopilot as a Private Pilot (PP).

Autopilot use by a Commercial Pilot (CP) really depends upon the
size and type of airplane that he is flying and the conditions under
which he is operating.

Now...if you really meant an airline pilot flying a jetliner, the
answer is much easier. They probably use the autopilot 95 percent of
the time. During my 25 years as an airline pilot, the autopilot
would be engaged at about 2,000' after takeoff and remain on until
2,000' above the airport prior to landing.

Bob Moore
ATP B-707 B-727
PanAm (retired)

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
If I'm in an aircraft with an autopilot, I use it constantly for the cruise
portion of the flight on cross countries. I always hand fly climbouts and
approaches.

I concurr with this philosophy and probably the majority of pilots do this.
My airplane does not have a coupled auto-pilot so I need to fly instrument
approaches by hand, which I don't mind because I don't do it multiple times
a day. If I did, then I would most definately want to have (and use) a
coupled auto pilot for the approaches as well. Of course I would occasionally
hand fly them just to break the monotony and maintain proficiency.

In article ,
..Blueskies. wrote:

The 747 has been capable of this for years, since ~69 or so. The pilot
does have to advance the throttles though...

With the 744, I don't believe VNAV kicks in until 400 ft AGL. Below
400', you've got LNAV/FD/autothrottles.

-Dan

"You have flight controls?" "Yep"
"Takeoff power set"
After about 90% of the takeoff roll: "V1" (or "Go")
3 secs later: "Rotate"
5 secs later: "Gear up"
10 secs later: "Retract all flaps"


SET THURST............. V1, Rotate, V2, posite rate, gear up, set speed
mode, set heading mode........... autopilot on (passing 500'). allow plane
to climb to "accelleration altidue" roughly 1200 agl, then transition from
initial climb speed of 190 to 250 on the autopilot, managing the transition
with vertical speed mode to keep the plane from diving for the airspeed
(changing airspeed setting changes climb rate, the CRJ does not have auto
throttles), when passing V2+20 flaps 8, V2+20 Flaps up, all done under
autopilot. Kick it off when you hear GPWS call out "100" on a precision
approach, handfly the last 80feet (bout where you will be by the time your
finger pushes the disconnect button) to touchdown, kick off and handfly when
inbound FAF and have field in sight on a nonprecision approach. Fly raw
data approaches from time to time for practice (no flight director no
autopilot, just HSI, airspeed, and altitude). CRJ actually has "footrests"
on the panel to keep the nonflying pilot from putting scuffmarks on the PFDs
and MFDs. Even single engine flying is done with autopilot, tho u need to
keep a watch out that it doesnt' take the rudder to the disconnect limit,
and if it does be ready to handfly the sucker.

wrote in message

...how much do commercial
aviation pilots use their auto-pilot?

In both the 727 and 747, my general rule of thumb was that I would take-off
and hand fly to FL250; on approach, I would disengage at 10K and hand fly
the rest of the way. Of course, weather, crew fatigue, and regulation would
take precedence.

"John Gaquin" wrote

In both the 727 and 747, my general rule of thumb was that I
would take-off and hand fly to FL250; on approach, I would
disengage at 10K and hand fly the rest of the way. Of course,
weather, crew fatigue, and regulation would take precedence.

Gee, John, that didn't leave much time to eat and read
the newspaper did it? :-)

Bob Moore

"Bob Moore" wrote in message

Gee, John, that didn't leave much time to eat and read
the newspaper did it? :-)

Of course, all plans are amendable. ;-) In the 747, there was time for
newspaper, dinner, coffee, a nice nap, and breakfast. That plane carries
too damned much fuel!!