Simviation Forums

Hi I just love flying the 737 on short haul Euro/American trips.. Just a question while the pmdg as with the real aircraft has an autoland function I understand that most pilots do not care for it and use it rarely. My question is do pilots use the approach auto pilot command then switch off the autopilot completely when on the localizer/ILS glide slope? If so at what alt do they take over 1000/500 feet?

As always Thanks  

I am not sure if there is one corect answer as it could change as the approach altitude can be different at each airport EXAMPLE KJAX uses 1200' for approach but KDEN would be higer due to the mountains. So what they might do is to use the approach than shut it off when turinig onto the glideslope and the altitude would be what ever ATC last cleared them for. What I usually do is turn off the auto pilot when I get ready to intercept the glide slope 8-)

Depending on the weather, and my mood; I'll usually let the plane fly itself down to about 1000 feet in good weather. After that, I take over for the last minute or so before crashing... Landing  ;)

Anything less than 5 miles visibility; and I'll go even lower. 1/2 a mile? 200 feet, then AP is off for the Flare and touch-down

There was a time, when aircraft such as the 727, and 737/100/200/300 did not have a truely functional reliable autopilot with autoland capability. Pilots handflew approaches past the Initial Approach fix.
However it is very easy to replicate modern procedures.
First and foremost know your landing fields elevation in Height above mean Sea.
Second. ALWAYS listen to your detination airports ATIS frequency a minimum of 25 miles from entering the Class B,C, or D airspace.
ALWAYS set your altimeter to the ATIS Altimeter setting of your destination airport.
Third, Set your Autopilot functions up as followed for the 737. each airplane type is going to be different, and you must know your airplanes BUG speeds for approaches. I typically approach the airport to the Outermarker at 195 Knots. this must be set on autopilot. IAS window, with A/P on and Autothrottle engaged. and IAS selected on AP. Set your Field elevation plus 1800-2000 feet in the Altitude window. your coarse Window should be set to the final approach course. your heading window can be set to the final approach course as well. Yaw Damper on is SOP. at the Outermarker dial down your airspeed to your approach speed which in 737 I typically use 152 knots at at max landing weight. as weight decreases this speed must be lowered to nothing less than 138 knots. between 145 knots and 156knots works fine, depending on runway length. SHorter runways, require advanced techniques I am not going to go into here. allow autopilot to fly the airplane down past Outermarker to the Middle Marker or 400 feet AGL. Then disengage Autopilot, and autothrottlew..and hand fly the approach to the touchdown zone. reducing power to flight idle crossing the threshold. and raising the nose to a 4 degree pitch reference on flight director, holding it there until the airplane trouches down. Auto breaking can be set to level 1 or 2 at the Outermarker is desired...
This procedure most closely approcimates the Standard procedures in use by all Airlines today. Standard cockpit resource management these days requires the use of the autopilot for all post climbout tasks, including climb to assigned cruising flight level, and descents. todays aircraft are equipped with modern Flight management Systems, that program the autopilot throughout the entire flight profile. climbs descents and appraoches. in simplistic terms.
you can closely approcimate these types of approaches by learning to use the autopilot as professionally as possible..Go to your local airport and any FBO, and ask them if you can purchase expired NOAA Approach Plates, sectionals and other charts. If not you can buy standard Sectional Terminal Charts and Approach Plates for use with Flight sim. They work just fine..and are as "real world" as you are going to get. I have flown hundreds of real approaches with flight sim, and when I owned my own airplane, would often fly the real approach on flight sim, prior to taking the trip and flying the real one, just to get familiar with the approach plate procedures, and data on the plate..Hope this helps

See if this helps, fulanito_uk.

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=COF;action=display;num=1111322151

Oddly enough, about the only subjects that I DIDN'T cover in detail is exactly when to switch off 'Speed Hold' and ILS - I tend to do those things when the mood takes me, and the earlier the better - but it will probably help a bit with many other procedures and techniques.

[quote]Depending on the weather, and my mood; I'll usually let the plane fly itself down to about 1000 feet in good weather. After that, I take over for the last minute or so before crashing... Landing  ;)]  

thats what i do except i use autopilot to keep me on my assigned approach course. When im about 3 miles from the runway(about 1000ft) i let the plane descend to the runway and make a smooth touchdown

If you watch the ITVV Boeing 747 EGLL to KSFO (Yes I know its a different aircraft) the pilot switches off the autopilot and autothrottle about a 1000 ft from the runway. I guess its a matter of preference. Some prefer to take contol earlier while others take control at the latter part of the descent.