Yup..agreed. Some further clarification might be required though.
The philosophy is to use ALL the automation that is available to the pilot. It's the way the airplane was built. Keep the workload to a minimum by using all the 'neat' things that the Boeing people designed in to this airplane, to make it what it is today. That said, however; the pilot has the option of using as much or as little as he/she wants.
Corporate philosophy and their flight operations manual, will stipulate in some way, when it is required to use all the automation, etc.
With respect to autothrottles again...if I were to disarm the autothrottles for a manual landing....then...I'd have to begin to do a lot of math again....wind additives...1/2 wind + full gust to Vref +20. With autothrottles engaged...the MCP speed is selected to Vref 30 +5 and the autothrottles look after things from there. It cuts the workload down.
All this said about automation however; it is still an airplane. All the automatic and convenience items can be deselected and.....wow...it's just like a big 737 without 'the works'.
Last edited by 777AV8R; 20th September 2002 at 04:56.