Stone Age operations?

[DonLeslie]

I just got pointed to an article in Aviation Week on a different forum which for me is hard to believe. In "RNP Procedures Are Coming to an Airport Near You (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/aw121508p1.xml)" (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/aw121508p1.xml) dating Dec 12, 2008 they write that

"Until now, Southwest pilots have not used autopilots or autothrottles even when such equipment was installed on the 737NGs that were delivered by Boeing. Instead, the company standardized on the classic 737 cockpits and even installed metal covers on the switches of equipment it didn't want its pilots to use."

and

"The company's 5,500 pilots will first learn about autothrottles, automation and vertical navigation. The second phase will teach pilots how to perform basic GPS approaches. The final phase will focus on RNP."

:confused::confused::confused:

Having flown the 737X but not the NG I'm frankly quite astounded that one would not use installed autoflight and autothrottle systems. This does not seem like a safe operation. Can somebody more familiar with that airline please explain ?

Cheers,
DL

[captjns]

Partially true. They used the autopilot... without the A/P operations in RVSM would be prohibited.

They used LNAV with limited operation, and accomplish conventional approaches.

[411A]

And, lets us not forget, constantly make a profit.
Something some other 'highly automated' airlines might have a problem with.
Of course, it might seem strange to some younger guys, who have grown up in their airline careers letting the autopilot/autothrottles/FMS do just about everything, except sip their coffee.

Really folks, it's all about getting back to basics...and having the pilots (you remember these folks, the ones sitting behind the poles) actually fly the aeroplane.

Gosh...what an absolutely new and wonderful idea...:ooh::ooh:

[DonLeslie]

@411A:
I've flown the 737 for nearly seven years and believe me, I've done my share of hands on flying, raw data- and visual aproaches and so forth. Of course, nowadays on long haul, it's a different story. But that's not the point. There is a difference between responsible professional pilots keeping up their manual flying skills whenever weather, traffic- and/or ATC situation allow it, and a company preventing their pilots from making use of automation. While the former keeps up the pilots' skills and therefore increases safety, the latter decreases safety.

@catjns:
Thanks for the clarification. I woud have thought a well established magazine like "Aviation Week & Space Technology" did better research... :rolleyes:

Cheers,
DL

[B-HKD]

Yeah no A/T. VNAV is available but the button is covered. Some enjoy it others don't. I hear the lazy ones use some tool get behind the cover and activate it.

I've heard of a couple of stall warnings during cruise and regular flap overspeeds due to lack of A/T.

They make cash and lots of it.

After All...what's better than hand flying the thing?

Nothing.

Leo :ok: