Good.

A real pilot can hand fly.

Mike C.

Which doesn't take much practice, but knowledge that once learned, is retained well.

Hand flying requires both knowledge AND regular practice. If not regularly practice, the tactile skill fades rapidly. This is like a musician in that they can read notes with just knowledge, but it takes practice to play them properly.

Autopilot cripples are easy to spot in the sim. They can, just, fly an ILS by hand, but give them anything else to do and its game over. Meanwhile, a true pilot can handle that (like Mark doing an OEI missed in IMC with no AP). You are a true pilot when you can hand fly subconsciously and devote your conscious mind to another task at the same time.

Mike C.

Mark,

I have never flown a jet OEI. It seems like that would be child's play compared to a piston twin. How do they compare?

I'd hate to be in a situation where I trust my autopilot more than my hand flying. Anytime it's coupled up my skepticism meter goes way up.

Yes, but I have seen and experienced when someone has an approach all loaded, it enters the hold, they try and exit, and then given a vector and then and then........

agree with Mike C on hand flying skills too.......very important.

I'm just stating that most people rely on their autopilot a lot more than the realize and should be fully aware that it may not be doing the right thing, even though it's doing EXACTLY what it was being programmed to do.

Which begs the question.....

If in solid IMC and your autopilot goes Tango Uniform, do you let the controller know? Is that not considered some type of emergency?

It is a required report, if on the MEL for aircraft, but not an emergency. Unless it is, an emergency, for the PIC flying. If my memory serves me any required item on MEL that is inoperable or goes inoperable in flight would require a report. In my experience ATC will ask if you need any help or...

RVSM aside, where the AP is required, no, it isn't an emergency by itself.

Couple it with an autopilot crippled pilot, and it is an emergency.

I've flown entire trips with no AP for the practice, including in IMC. It is amazing how that tunes your responses so well to the airplane that it becomes second nature, like riding a bicycle. Just flying by hand for a few minutes never gets you to this level of proficiency.

Mike C.

A lot easier although I hate to use the term "child's play"

There are camps of people who take a pretty illogical approach to SP in a jet. "Never do it. Unsafe!" Uhhh compared to what? "Well...your 310". Gee. Ok. NOT.

Engine out performance being just one reason that is a ridiculous claim.

Jesse- maybe one day you will accept my invite and come see for yourself.

Working AP is required to fly SP per the waiver.

As Mike said, AP use optional. Our mutual friend who fly's an MU2 his auto pilot seems to never be turned on. Hand fly's everything. I feel quite safe with him at the controls as I'd assume Mike does... Please don't remind me what "ass ume" means, I know.

Working AP is required to fly SP per the waiver.

Which doesn't take much practice, but knowledge that once learned, is retained well.

Hand flying requires both knowledge AND regular practice. If not regularly practice, the tactile skill fades rapidly. This is like a musician in that they can read notes with just knowledge, but it takes practice to play them properly.

Autopilot cripples are easy to spot in the sim. They can, just, fly an ILS by hand, but give them anything else to do and its game over. Meanwhile, a true pilot can handle that (like Mark doing an OEI missed in IMC with no AP). You are a true pilot when you can hand fly subconsciously and devote your conscious mind to another task at the same time.

Mike C.

Knowing pitch, power settings probably would have saved Air France coming out of Brazil.

Continuing on from my Single Eng missed with No AP....ILS4R. I get a FD failure so I complete the last part of the ILS with primary data only. The biggest issue of this failure is that it is a distraction that I have to sort through...


[youtube]https://youtu.be/bOwF0wxwSRI[/youtube]

Windshear on Landing. Almost biffed it. Didn't see it for what it was.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/W10a5W-2OGo[/youtube]