Shaun, you need to get out into the world a little more. Where I operate, visual approaches are flown with all the automatics in, day in day out, saving hundreds of grand a year in fuel and flight time. Sometimes with LNAV and VNAV, sometimes in VS.
It's no big deal at all, and for the reasons stated they are quite appropriate, including cutting short an ILS. Using the autos reduce workload at lats initially while you work out what you are doing.
That said, and as I said before, you do need to keep on top of the aeroplane. The automatics
will lead you astray eventually, and that is what seems to have happened here. For the critics of those who "need" the automation, they are generally a product of their company's operating philosophy or indeed rules, so it's not solely their fault that they can't or won't fly with less than full automation. The trick, of course, is to know we to use what.
Quotes of the thread:
Originally Posted by Stator Vane
FD's, A/T's, A/P's, LOC's and G/S's can be useful tools but pilot must be smarter than the tools he or she is using.
Originally Posted by RAT 5
the best computer on the a/c is between your ears.
