A320 Approach Question

[BAe 146-100]

Hello,

A320 Pilots, do you fly the A320 manually on approach or do you do a autoland? Does the pilot himself deside if he wants to do an autoland or do a manual approach? Thanks for reading!

Regards
BAe 146-100

[DBate]

Personally I fly the whole approach manually, and most of my colleages do that too. Sometimes they disconnect the autopilot a bit later, but basically every landing is done manually - that is if the weather permits, since in my company it's procedure to performe autoland approaches and landings as soon as the weather is CAT2 or below.

Should it be necessary to perform a manual landing during a CAT2 approach, it's allowed to disonnect the autopilot, but not later than 80'AGL.

Hope I could help you out on this.

So long, Dave

[L337]

To do an autoland, a whole host of things have to be in place. Not least that the runway has an ILS, and that ILS is approved for autoland use.

You can't just "do" an autoland.

L337

[m&v]

337,your absolutely correct re' the sterility' aspects for an 'autoland'..Unfortunately this isn't emphasised in training(getting the guys to know/do the magic)ergo this sterility factor in not in the minds for everyday performance.Having said that normally the guys/girls disconnect on 'final'with the autothrust engaged.....
cheers.

[DBate]

L337: You are absolutely correct. But I didn't want to bother BAe 146 with all the details of an autoland approach, since he's not (yet) a pro, but an interested kid (no offense 146!).

DBate

[BAe 146-100]

Hello,

Thanks for all your reply's. No offence taken DBate!.

Regards
BAe 146-100

[jet_breeze]

I guess some pilots like to do the landing themselves anyway, the 320's are pretty much fully automatic must get boring.
The autoland ( as far as i know ) can really only be performed when the winds are below 25knots.... not sure

[longarm]

the A320 family can be autolanded on any ILS subject to a few limitations to do with glideslope angle. You only need a runway approved for autolands if you want to go below Cat 1 limits.

[jet_breeze]

ah ok i don't know where i read these things.