Quality of ride: Autopilot versus hand-flying
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 299
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From: Madison, WI
Quality of ride: Autopilot versus hand-flying
Is there a detectable difference in the quality of ride depending on if or not the Autopilot is engaged?
Would even a professional pilot flying in the cabin notice? Are there any other cues based on turns, landings, takeoffs etc?
Would even a professional pilot flying in the cabin notice? Are there any other cues based on turns, landings, takeoffs etc?
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 487
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From: over there
can't talk for the big boys, but I know in what I fly, in smooth to slightly bumpy weather the AP is a fair bit smoother an balanced, but once the bumpy stuff really kicks in it can actually make the ride worse as it constantly tries to correct the sudden changes therefore adding the the roughness of the flight. I usually hand fly in rougher conditions (if the work load isn't too high) as sometimes not actually reacting the the turbulance can make it smoother
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: I'll go and ask the Captain
I'm cabin crew and a few years ago my outfit had B737 300/500/400's and every now and again a pilot would hand fly the whole sector and yes you could feel it. The aircraft just rose and sank very gently and felt 'different'. Of course you might say that as we were informed beforehand we would be pre-programed and so our believed sensation could be a placebo. However on two occasions that I can remember I went in to ask them if they were hand flying because it felt like it. And on both occasions they were.
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Melbourne
I've hand-flown around 10 sectors due to either Yaw Damper INOP or Autopilot INOP. There is a difference.
Apart from being pretty shagged at the end of the day, the best way to describe it is that at the end of the day your body "remembers" the slight left-right-left-right rocking motion.
IMHO, frequent flyers may notice, as well as Cabin crew.
Apart from being pretty shagged at the end of the day, the best way to describe it is that at the end of the day your body "remembers" the slight left-right-left-right rocking motion.
IMHO, frequent flyers may notice, as well as Cabin crew.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 952
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From: Melbourne
EW73
6chimes...bet on two occasions you were popular!!
Mate, if a CC came onto the flight deck and asked "Are you hand-flying because it feels that way?" the answer would be either "Yes" or "No", with the appropriate explanation. No way would I feel offended
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Northern Ireland
I have noticed it quite bumpy during turbulance in the cruise due to the autopilot always trying to correct itself. Landings, I have noticed during bad weather it is smoother when the AP is disengaged rather than an ILS landing in that type of conditions.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 952
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From: Melbourne
LOL!
I have noticed it quite bumpy during turbulance in the cruise
Landings, I have noticed during bad weather it is smoother when the AP is disengaged
