SOPs and Manual flight

[eahlund]

Mods, I think this was the correct place to post (The motive for this post is for my future job search :}), if not feel free to move.

Now, what airlines ban manual flight above an Alt/FL(departure and approach, I dont mean in RVSM airspace etc.).
I do not mean airlines who have an alt/FL that it should be engaged except when briefed, ie. 1000ft AAL etc. What companies BAN manual flight?

[Neon Circuits]

Ours do! Gear up, AP in....

[air_wolf]

Our SOPs encourage autopilot usage, but can be flown manually when "workload permits" and weather decent. A/P out, flight directors off, autothrottle disengaged......:D

[EvelcyclopS]

can we have names please?

or coy hints?

[rogerg]

I have never known an airline ban manual flight. Some encourage autopilot use at certain times but thats it.

[no sponsor]

I've flown a departure to cruising level completely manually (no AP and no AT) and a few mins in the cruise (by which time I found it very tedious with people moving up and down the cabin requiring constant trimming). This was unusual, and I did it with a training captain. Likewise, I've disengaged the automatics at 20,000 for a approach into a few places.

I often fly visual approaches all manually -once on QNH with the airfield in sight. This has been mostly returning to my home base, with good weather and little other traffic.

Departures are mostly flown with the AP out but AT engaged. I'll discuss this with the other guy, and normally the caveat is that if it gets busy on the RT, then I'll put the automatics in.

Our SOPs require automatic flight at 1000ft, however, it is not frowned upon to fly the aircraft manually, if conditions permit - i.e. you are not flying into busy, unfamiliar airspace. I suppose, common sense needs to play a good part, and a good briefing (for yourself and the other chap).

As a pilot, particularly before your 6 month sim check, it makes sense to do manual flying practice.

[adverse-bump]

auto pilots are for gays!

unless its cat II, hand fly it!

[hoover1]

autopilits are great but what happens when the wx is down and you have to do an approach to mins and the autopilot quits. i always think it is a good idea to alternate between coupled and manual appraoches. unless you are way too tired or finishing your crew meal or some other reason. point is everyone should be just as proficent with or without autopilot.

[G SXTY]

SOP is to get the autopilot in at 1,000'AAL, but manual flying is permitted - subject to common sense issues like RT loading and PNF's workload. I'll hand fly the odd departure or arrival every now and then, more so if there's a sim coming up. Some captains are keener on hand flying than others, so it all depends on who you are with and conditions on the day.

As for an autothrottle - in my dreams . . .

[PAPI-74]

hoover1

What are crew meals?
We have to tell the pax that we have been under-catered to get any nosh.
I have got to move on.....