Tee Emm, you will have to fiddle with something on the MCP anyway, since we all agree that the use of the autopilot is very helpfull while you are
looking out.
Instead of fiddling with the HDG SEL to achieve wings level-correct track and on the extended centerlline, you can use the bank angle selector to "tighten" or "open" your tradjectory. Trust me, after two or three adjustments, you will not have to touch it again beyond half way through the turn.
Obviously, Boeing makes no mention about this procedure in the manuals. It has no guidance for the use of the MCP for this maneuver...period. Bank angle selector is there, so it can be used. It is just another roll control feature. There is no limitation about it.
We are just using it for the bank angle 15 on one engine, and we think that this is all it is meant to do. If that was true, it would have only selection "15" and "AUTO". It does not though.
By all means, I am not saying that this is the God sent method of flying circling aproaches and everything else is wrong. All am saying is that I have being using this for some years now and it works very well with no long faces from TREs.
It is just food for thought.
