Hand fly the initial part of the SID - how far depends on the SID and what ATC wants - some SIDs lend themselves to being cleared direct to a waypoint that is one or two down the sequence.  Hand fly all approaches - generally AP on the initial part of the STAR, AP altimeter only for the next portion, AP off when cleared to intercept the localizer if not before.  Never use auto-throttle.  AP for the en-route portion.

For the 737 (which is what I spend the bulk of my time flying): If weather is decent enough, on departure usually hand fly up to 10000 ft or so. Usually I disconnect at 1000' agl, or higher perhaps if I've been assigned a visual approach.

 

If I'm flying the 767 or Md11, I use the AP a bit more.

I have no problem admitting that, secure in my masculinity, I use the AP for about 75% of each flight.  I let it handle most of the STAR, and I handle the SID until FL100.  Now, when wx shows up on the radar, I usually hand fly around large CB's or squall lines...

Yeah,

 

The guys I flew with strive for realism, in that many are or were pilots. Plus we're BUSY and other things with checklists, especially during shared cockpit flights.  So we do what is done on a real airliner. We'll may hand fly visual approaches, but fly via the MCP/FGCP for accuracy in congested airspace and use the FMS during SIDs and STARs.

 

Most Airlines and the FAA have guidance on the above.

 

 

 

Dave

Most of my interest in a tube liner derives from the puzzles of navigation and automated flying. I use my GA aircraft or, better yet, choppers for hand flying. Hand flying a commercial airliner sim seems kind of pointless, to me; I mean, you're not paying $100 for the textures and FDE, are you? It's the systems stuff that is fun.

 

 

 

It's the systems stuff that is fun.

 

Absolutely.  The deeper the systems the better.  I love my DC9 Classic VOR to VOR for system depth, but for ease of flight with accurate systems, the NGX.  The PMDG 777 is still being digested.  There is so much there to learn that is just different enough from the NGX to make it interesting and fun.

From our work with a real pilot team on the Q400 it appears to be pretty standard to engage the AP after flaps up at the acceleration alt, 1000 feet above the ground in the Dash. Level busts are a BIG no no and the chances of them occurring are increased massively when hand flying a departure. Most of the guys fly a visual given the chance but even then don't actually disconnect the AP until fully established. Hand flying in low viz and/or solid low cloudbases before getting visual is also a big no no.

 

Many guys also just want a quiet day and have a very low comfort threshold. They're not interested in a willy waving contest. These guys will do min handling - AP on at flaps zero and off at minimums.

 

Interestingly, knocking the AP off very late however can apparently lead to a sloppy landing as you only have a few seconds to get 'in tune' with the motion of the aircraft.

I normally engage the AP anywhere between 5000-FL150. If on Vatsim I will engage earlier (normally at 2000 or so) so I can fiddle with the radio stack and handle the ATC.

 

For approach I disconect the AP and AT about 10nm before LOC intercept. Again if on Vatsim i will disengage later, normally 8-10DME or so, after I have contacted the tower.

 

Just remember, to much automation dependency will get you in a muddle if you're not careful!!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3kREPMzMLk

Just remember, to much automation dependency will get you in a muddle if you're not careful!!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3kREPMzMLk

I wish someone would just burn that video. It's old. And it's always brought up as an example; when puts me into an argumentive mode.............in which I have to lay off the internet for a few days. Just handheld GPSs for the last 10 years, can prevent much of the circumstances that video was created for. (The AA 757 crash in Columbia). And as is natural, there are plenty of "old and bold" pilots, who will try to argue my points down.

I'm old, so I argue back.

 

All I care about, is the prevention of flight into terrain, with perfectly good airplanes. It's been an intense idea with me, for a lot of years now, for a lot of good solid reasons. Anytime someone wants to "pooh-hoo" modern technology, they post the link to that ancient video. Children of the Magenta Line....bla

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3kREPMzMLk

 

Wow!...... I thought that was the most valuable 25 mins of time I've ever spent in this hobby....  FANTASTIC video.

 

So sue me. :wink:

 

I felt I could relate to some of the points, even just in the sim.  I've been there is FSX; on finals, spotting a plane of the runway, or perhaps realizing I'm on short finals on 26L despite being cleared for 26R, etc, etc, and off I go, plugging numbers into the FMC.  I will be really integrating a lot of the points in that video into my own flying; especially around the levels of automation, that were presented.

Modern technology is fine, as long as it doesn't erode basic skills.  Landing a 777 visually by hand in beautiful VMC conditions is a basic skill.

 

I admit when the Cirrus first came out, I had a sense of dread, lots of pretty screens and buttons to push to distract from basic things like looking out the window.  Going to be like being on the road surrounded by texting teenagers LOL.

At the moment I fly pretty much all the way by hand, that is because I have not worked out the ILS approach and how it works yet :smile: ,At the moment I fly pretty short flights around the North of England and Scotland. Been trying to find some youtube videos to explain it

 

Autoland sounds scary!

 

At the moment I fly pretty much all the way by hand, that is because I have not worked out the ILS approach and how it works yet :smile: ,At the moment I fly pretty short flights around the North of England and Scotland. Been trying to find some youtube videos to explain it

 

Autoland sounds scary!

 

 

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

Real airline pilots do very little hand flying to the point that some believe it has become a safety concern. The average MD88 pilot only hand flys for 6min. (Source:Airline pilot guy podcast who is himself an Airline pilot). I do know that Atleast one airline has stressed to their pilots to do more hand flying. Unfortunately it is probably rare that pilots get a chance. As mentioned, the constraints of complicated SIDs and STARs with speed and altitude constraints.

 

But when a problem with the plane occurs, how well prepared are the pilots prepared to deal with it. I.e. AIR France

As mentioned by one Airline pilot, disconnecting the AP just before final is not really good practice on flying the plane compared to bringing her in from 30nm out and feeling the changes as flaps and gear are deployed.

 

But anyway, using the AP, 95 percent of the time in fsx is very realistic for say, the NGX or 777.

 

 

 

B.

 

 

Anytime someone wants to "pooh-hoo" modern technology, they post the link to that ancient video. Children of the Magenta Line....bla

 

Have you even seen the video? Its not about bashing modern technology, its about using the technology available to its full potential in all situations while flying. If the full potential happens to be turning the AP and AT off, well so be it.

 

 

 

I felt I could relate to some of the points, even just in the sim.

 

I felt the same when I first watched this video. I find it especially pertinent to our flying 'environment' where we have one person trying to do the work of two (when flying tubliners anyway).