Lowi , I'm guessing [ sound off ] this was at the BLEU [ Blind Landing Experimental Unit ] , possibly RAE Bedford as the approach is over open country . Both of these gentlemen are test pilots , and are developing / testing the A/Land system . Not to mention demonstrating , hoping to gain sales .
In 12 yrs line flying on T1cs, 1e, 2cs , and 3bs , the SOP was for handling pilot to follow through on all control movements , ready to take over manually if Mr Smith [ the autopilot ] failed or malfunctioned.
The F/O flying the approach for the Skippers autoland . In good wx. F/Os could A/land .
I didn't seem to mind operational A/lands , sometimes up to 4 in a day [ GLA double shuttle , fog at both ends ] . But somehow seemed a bit odd belting down the Rwy at 150kts in 75m RVR , with the skipper following the PVD [ Para Visual Director , ''Barbers Pole'' ] linked to the localiser , with F/O's eyes glued to the eng. insts. And P3 monitoring P2's [F/O] flight Insts. calling speeds .
All a long time ago !
rgds condor .