When to disconnect autopilot on approach
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Between a rock and a hard place
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From a FO's perspective,
At my base hand flying is encouraged by the majority of my colleagues in the LHS. No excuses needed, I disconnect normally around FL100-150. IMC as well as long as it's just clouds, no CB or weather needing extra attention. I enjoy it for the fun of it. I know many will disagree but the vast SOPs these day kill pretty much every freedom there used to be in flying. It's not a breach of SOP, and I am simply doing what the AP & AT would otherwise do.
I also do it because I am trained & paid to be a pilot, it's an art I'd like to see being kept alive. Manual flying on the line gives a good foundation of flying skills the TR did not provide. When I did my ATPL ride, the TRE told me the day before he had to fail another applicant. He gave him three (3) shots at a raw data ILS from intercept heading. He just couldn't do it. He's still on the line and probably many like him..
At my base hand flying is encouraged by the majority of my colleagues in the LHS. No excuses needed, I disconnect normally around FL100-150. IMC as well as long as it's just clouds, no CB or weather needing extra attention. I enjoy it for the fun of it. I know many will disagree but the vast SOPs these day kill pretty much every freedom there used to be in flying. It's not a breach of SOP, and I am simply doing what the AP & AT would otherwise do.
I also do it because I am trained & paid to be a pilot, it's an art I'd like to see being kept alive. Manual flying on the line gives a good foundation of flying skills the TR did not provide. When I did my ATPL ride, the TRE told me the day before he had to fail another applicant. He gave him three (3) shots at a raw data ILS from intercept heading. He just couldn't do it. He's still on the line and probably many like him..
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Between a rock and a hard place
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
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Was jumpseating the other day when the A/P disconnected in climb out due to intermittent SPD LIMIT FLAG. The PF was obviously caught off gaurd, hands all over the MCP.. LVL CHG.. nothing happens, dials in low V/S. Speed is slowly decaying towards up speed and I can't help but finally saying from where I am sat "the autopilot is off".. as you might have guessed A/P disconnect horn kept singing throughout the rather messy recovery. At the end of the flight the A/P finally came out at 500 ft fully configured on a beautiful SKC day destination.
