Trident Autoland - Test Pilot Ron E. Clear

[blind pew]

Originally Posted by condor17

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 .

12 years Condor - you get less for murder..I did 6 and after 4 I had had enough. Mind you in my first year I wasn’t allowed to touch much and I never did an auto land except in the sim as that was for sir especially into LHR when it was my leg.
Had an evening with the bloke who developed the Smiths panel at is home in the Alps and got a gong or title for it. Accomplished mountain glider pilot. Name escapes me but clever chappie.