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Old 21st May 2007, 04:42
  #89 (permalink)  
Dan Winterland
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Fragrant Harbour
Posts: 4,787
Received 7 Likes on 3 Posts
The Lodestar is a very different sort of aircraft. Third generation jets with glass cockpits and full automatics are very easy to fly. That's why the automatics are there - to make them easier.

And there's no need for any explanation. if the PPL (or flight attendant, or passenger) has pressed the right buttons to get it on the centreline and then armed the approach, it will fly the ILS. They don't need to know anything about how or why it has done it.

Arming the speedbrake? "See that large lever with Speedbrake written on it next to your right knee? Yes? Good! Well, pull it up and move it back until it's in line with the ARM marking. See that knob marked Autobrake about 18 inches behind the Speedbrake lever. Good! Turn it to the number three setting".

And with CAT3, there's no need to flare. It defaults to CAT3 - you actually have to intervene to stop it landing itself. It will autoland, and probably do a better job than if the crew were still conscious. And if you don't flare it? No matter. It just takes a long time to re-stow 450 oxygen masks!
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