Ok any SWA buffs in the know can help me out here. Notice the MCP in this picture http://www.airliners.net/open.file/257525/L/ and what is puzzling here is that the VNAV button is not covered (Most have a little cover that goes over the button) and it actually has the Speed Intervention option not to mention the A/T does not say INOP. What does this mean exactly for SWA? [h4]Best Wishes,Randy J. Smithhttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/betaimg.jpgAMD 64 3200+ | ASUS KV8 DELUXE | GFORCE 5700 ULTRA @535/1000 | Maxtor 6Y080M0 SATA 80 GIG | 512 DDR 400 | Windows Xp Pro | Windows Xp Pro 64 |

I saw that as well Randy. This picture or another from SWA had the same thing. I wonder if they're actually letting there pilots use VNAV, A/T, and Speed Iv? Be kinda cool if so. I can't imagine SW allowing the option if they couldn't use it.Chris

Yeah would be kinda cool if that is indeed the case. I remember a SWA pilot telling me long ago that SWA believes "if it ain't broke why change it?" in regards to the way they fly their birds. [h4]Best Wishes,Randy J. Smithhttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/betaimg.jpgAMD 64 3200+ | ASUS KV8 DELUXE | GFORCE 5700 ULTRA @535/1000 | Maxtor 6Y080M0 SATA 80 GIG | 512 DDR 400 | Windows Xp Pro | Windows Xp Pro 64 |

Randy,I have a close friend who is a Captain for SWA and he tells me that SWA does not allow the use of VNAV or Autothrottle for that matter. I have been trying to fly the way SWA does without the use of either. Dave

Dave, the reason we mentioned it was because of the picture. Why would some SWA NGs have the VNAV and A/T switches if they weren't installed? Most of them either have no switch and just a cover panel and are marked INOP.

Randy,You will see many different configuration on that SWA MCP! Some of the classics have the VNAV covered, majority of the NG's do not if any do at all! But the VNAV and Auto-throttle are disconnected! The newer NG's have even come out with a newer MCP that is produced by Honeywell! Its actually quite awesome looking! The background colors have a blueish-green tint to them! I will see if I can get a shot of them for you!

How come SWA doesnt allow the use of autothrottle or VNAV?

>How come SWA doesnt allow the use of autothrottle or VNAV?I just flew as a Southwest passenger on a Baltimore (BWI) to Long Island Macarthur (KISP) flight (737-700 w/winglets). After the flight I chatted for a few minutes with the Captain and asked him about VNAV policy at Southwest.He told me Southwest does not use VNAV or autothrottle because the autothrottle system is a very expensive item to maintain. He said "I like it better this way, you actually get to fly the airplane". They still use LNAV, though. I also asked him what altitude they climb to on such a short flight - his answer was between 21 and 23 thousand feet.

I have often wondered about the VNAV function. With airline traffic very heavy in many locations, is there any use for VNAV. I would suspect an optimum descent and approach would be rare in those enviorments. There are surely many deviations required by ATC even with medium traffic. High density traffic would surely cancel a preset descent and approach in a real world situation. Too many variables!Have things changed that much since I retired from airline flying 15 years ago? The rule of thumb governed in those days.RegardsRich Rossler

As I understand it, not having or using A/T or VNAV on Southwest's 737s allows them to have only one type rating that allows all SWA pilots to fly all 737 variants in their fleet. Of course, this simplifies and reduces training costs.