Originally Posted by
Sig229
At my company (SWA) we are not authorized to use AB1, not sure why. Also if we're using AB we have to use at least the minimum that provides a positive stopping margin based on landing performance data. So in some cases, KMDW in the summer for example, even dry the numbers will require AB Max which discourages most people from using them. I would think it would be prudent to use 3 or even 2 so there's no delay in applying brakes but without the aggressiveness of Max. Since 1 is so tame why not just make 1 equal to what 2 is now, same for 2 equal to current 3, have 3 be somewhere between current 3 and Max, and keep Max where it is now?
Auto brake one is such a low retardation that it is achieved by cycling the brakes on and off, which reduces the life of carbon brakes. Probably the reason they don’t want you to use it.
Despite my having unnecessarily being accused of some sort of “automation dependency” or similar rubbish by an earlier poster, if you only need auto rake one you may as well go with manual braking, or even no braking and reverse and just roll to a halt if the runway is long enough. Apparently, according to the same previous poster their is no need for professional pilots to refer to the brake cooling schedules, even if you have short turn arounds, as long as you have massaged your ego by turning the automatics off, so that should be no problem.