Tubeliners: How much "hand flying" do you do?

[HansRoaming 73]

For me it depends on the workload although do try for it as means I get more out of the sim. VATSIM usually means I use the AP a lot as need to focus on comms etc.

[Dazkent 113]

Its not bad once you get the hang of it. Have a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUI7SJYdQrs

 

Thanks for this, just what I am looking for :smile:

 

[farnetti 0]

I recently asked a pilot at the end of a European flight when he disengaged the autopilot and landed it by hand because I wasn't sure either.

 

He said it was entirely up to him to decide, but usually it would be around 1500ft AGL so he had enough time to get a feel for the conditions before actually landing.

 

I realise the more I know, the more I have to learn, so speaking to real pilots whenever possible is always useful.

 

Hope this helps

[clayton4115 56]

like the real world button pushers, not much. lol

[ArjenVdv 190]

I try to handfly as much as possible. But this can be awkward when need to pan around the cockpit to click things and use your mouse. I think as soon as I get TrackIR then handflying will become quite a bit easier for me. 

Currently I still try to fly manually as much as I can. Usually up the altitude restriction of the SID and I disengage the autopilot mostly at 1500 ft. 

[HansRoaming 73]

Over the weekend started using FS2Crew voice and that actually lends itself to hand flying more as you are now the captain and pilot flying in a team rather than just being the solo person in the cockpit. Having a FO who can set the MCP and also run the procedures is awesome.

[pinlifter 502]

I just recently bought the Saitek Pro Flight Yoke and it has added a whole new level of immersion to the meaning of "going manual."  The A/P doesn't get switched on until 8000-10000ft AGL as commanding a fully loaded MD-11 or 777 with a yoke vs joystick just cannot compare.  On landings I knock autopilot off at the FAF, unless weather dictates otherwise.  I still haven't used autoland in the 777 yet and probably won't in the near future with my new baby.

[pilottj 198]

My 777 landings have gotten better with some practice and by keeping 'power on' longer.  Before I was landing pretty hard, I notice it drops more quickly when power is pulled back.  The MD-11 by comparison seemed to 'glide' a little more when power is pulled. 

[Jerad 71]

I hand fly the entire way, especially on 14 hour flights.

[Ircghost 1]

To me it al depends on the activity of ATC around me on IVAO, if there is a lot of ATC I need to focus on them and will hit the AP earlier. But I fly some SIDs who don't allow the VNAV to be turned on so I have to fly it manually anyway. I do tend to keep AT on from start to finish, except of course for the last few hundred feet in the approach.