0) DC-9, A310, B-727/737/757/767
1) As required for workload management. F/D + A/T for departure. Approach required below 200/.5.
2) A/P typically on between 5,000-20,000'...or sooner if I've had enough. Sometimes sooner if terrain, weather, or departure procedures create a higher workload (see point #1).
Cruise? No. Or handfly to TOC? No. It's a waste of time in my opinion to hand fly that long. I used to talk about the need to practice hand flying with my hands off the yoke(to demonstrate my point). With the a/c trimmed to 'on speed', while using slight rudder pressure to control roll, you can 'hand fly' for thousands of feet while never touching the yoke.
On arrival A/P typically comes off between 5,000'-10,000' for VFR arrivals. Typically hand fly approaches with weather greater than 300' and 2 miles vis.
A/T's can stay on as long as they behave. If it's bumpy, or gusty, they're off(power up, power back, power up, power back...
how about bracketing the power required??? Oops, that requires a pilot)
