I appreciate all the replies. The consensus seems to be to refrain from using autobrakes and use superior airman skills to get it stopped without overheating the brakes. But I'm still trying to figure out whether there was something wrong with their aircraft when a medium autobrake setting would often cause thermaling, given that the analysis (approved by Boeing) is predicated on max manual braking to a full stop. I understand that the 60% rule of 14 C.F.R. 121.195 is for dispatch purposes only and not actual landing where you can take credit for reverse, but it's difficult to believe that the numbers produced by the analysis would result in thermaled tires if actually carried out.
Last edited by cf6-80c2b5f; 21st Mar 2013 at 20:22.