B737 Autopilot Disengage Bar
On the newer MCP the Autopilot Engage Paddles have been replaced by switches;
under those switches there is an Autopilot Disengage Bar.
What is your policy concerning that Bar?
The Boeing manuals leave us alone, for a change, on this matter.
We have two philosophies, and the partisans of each one is crusading against the other, so I'd like to know....
1) Keep the bar down; when you want to engage the AP lift it up and press the engage switch.
When you want to disengage the AP push the bar down.
The reason?
Now that we don't have paddles anymore, a simple circuit "short" or malfunction might engage the AP when least needed, on short final for example.
2) The others say: keep the bar up.
There's no danger of an unwanted engagement, and if you forget to raise it, you won't be able to engage the AP.
Personally I think the first one is correct, but we don't have any official source to refer to...
Or maybe yes?
Thanks
LEM