In real life, do they...

[beefhole]

Thought I could start a topic for all us hotshot jet pilots who like to think we do things ultra-realistically, following our own checklists, going by real-life FAA regs and rules, etc.  Well, time to find out if what you do really is how they do it up there.  I'll start out.

Is A/T used at climb/cruise?  I've heard that speed is sometimes manually controlled throughout the entire flight.

Also, is gaia a real calsign?  And if it is, what the hell does it mean?

[JBaymore]

"Gaia" is another term for the world....and I think has the connotations of sort of a "living entity. (Use the Force, Luke.)  I think the only airline it represents exists in the MSFS world.

best,

............john

[beefhole]

First off, I didn't know there was a real aviation section...  :o

I know what gaia means, I was trying to find out what the calsign means.  I don't think it's an airline, there's no "gaia" skin (is there?).  Maybe it is an airline and there just isnt a skin for it.  I was thinking it was like a generic name, hadn't thought about it being an MS airline, guess becasue there wasn't a skin.  Maybe.

[Nexus]

If there is an Autothrottle/Autothrust system available, it is used during the whole flight often until the aircraft is fully established on the ILS (which must be regarded as the general standard for jet approaches). The autothrottle on the Boeings are so called "full time operation", meaning they work without A/P and F/D systems, from takeoff to landing

However, back to our example: After established, the pilot usually disconnects both the A/P and A/T and lands manually, unless the visibilty requires an autolanding. An autolanding MUST be used in conjunction with the autothrottle. Older aircrafts, such as the 707 (even the 727) and some regional jets are not equipped with thrust management, so the crew controls the speed manually obviously

But the answer to your question is YES. But I bet you'll find  a pilot or two who likes to manually fly the bird all the way up to cruiselevel.

[beefhole]

Hmm thanks Nexus.  I always fly instrument approaches, bad weather or good, mainly because my logitech is too touchy (it refuses to accept my settings for center spring strength).  

[Mr. Bones]

i'm not sure but i think i've heart once that Southwest doesn't equip their 737's with A/T.