Just wanting to know. I have seen a lot of diffrent places prople do it. Thanks for your input

R. Shedd

Its up to you u can hand fly the whole flight if you want to

You turn the autopilot off when you're ready to fly the plane on your own. If it's a nice day, I'll turn it off earlier. If I'm busy setting things up for an approach, I'll turn it off later. If I'm tired, I'll turn it off later. If I'm happy and energetic, I'll turn it off earlier. If the sky is blue, I'll turn it off earlier. If the sky is grey, I'll turn it off later. Get it?

 

If you're looking for a reg, the FARs state (for 121 and 135 operations only):

Either an altitude no less than twice the maximum altitude loss specified in the AFM for a malfunction of the AP; or

No less than 50 feet below the MDA or DH for the facility.

 

 

 

 

Why does everyone think flying is so formulaic?

I have seen (before 9/11...) that pilots often turn it off after having caught the G/S.

Kind of convenient that the A/P sets the trim for you...

It varies for me. I often feel like hand flying the final approach to keep in practice, but it it's really cruddy I may leave it until minimums. Or, if I feel the passengers are getting bored, I'll turn it off and hand fly it then . But in reality, it just depends on the day as Kyle says.

 

Glenn Davy

You turn the autopilot off when you're ready to fly the plane on your own. If it's a nice day, I'll turn it off earlier. If I'm busy setting things up for an approach, I'll turn it off later. If I'm tired, I'll turn it off later. If I'm happy and energetic, I'll turn it off earlier. If the sky is blue, I'll turn it off earlier. If the sky is grey, I'll turn it off later. Get it?

 

I *love* this answer. What a great guideline. I typically turn mine off when I settle the aircraft at level flight after the descent from altitude. Sometimes I'm on a short flight and don't engage the A/P and then I start getting busy and flip it on while I get stuff done until I'm ready to take it back. Sometimes I turn it on because I'm just a little uneasy about something and I want to have a closer look at a checklist or something. Life is good up there.

Why does everyone think flying is so formulaic?

 

To be fair, it mostly is nowadays. Especially in any operation with passengers. You basically do the same thing every time with a couple of variables that change. Autopilot use might be detailed in a company policy for instance, and deviation from it might even get you remarks from higher-up about why you aren't following the company policy :P.

To be fair, it mostly is nowadays. Especially in any operation with passengers. You basically do the same thing every time with a couple of variables that change. Autopilot use might be detailed in a company policy for instance, and deviation from it might even get you remarks from higher-up about why you aren't following the company policy :P.

 

Computers snitching on their users. Buy a C208, grow a beard and fly a charter in the Caribbean. LOL.

Computers snitching on their users. Buy a C208, grow a beard and fly a charter in the Caribbean. LOL.

 

Haha, I meant more like your fellow pilots who would be 'snitching' (deviation reports, yay)... I'll stick to the J31/32 for now, they rarely have autopilots and it's a blast to handfly them in between larger jets approaching busier airports ;).

I usually fly full autopilot until turned onto finals about 5-10 miles out then hand fly it from about 2000' as I never fly an ILS approach.

Gad...that's why I shut off FS2Crew after I did an overspeed. "Ya ever heard of Vmo?" #&^$@! Don't need a critic sitting next to me.

Is there any way to modify the config to stop the "to low terrain" ? at times I like to fly through Milford sound on sight seeing trips and this is annoying

In front of the captain on the glareshield there is a button with GPWS on it. Pressing that should inhibit those callouts if I remember correctly (haven't actually flown the J41 for a while).

I almost put my finger through that button! lol