autopilot or manual

[Erhan]

i realised in the 'ILS' thread, the guy asks what an ILS is, how it works etc, and peoples replies were quite a surprise to me, "landing the plane with the autopilot/flight director", dont take me wrong..im not a dummy for flight sim, i am actually a flight sim freak and know alot (been flying for 3 years), but i never knew the 'proper' way of landing was autopilot, is it actually the correct procedure, or is it only the lazy and untalent way of landing in low visibility - i have always flew manually, and never have i used autopilot to land before..

[packercolinl]

You'll sure get some answers out of this!!
I use AP to get me there then land manually with due regard to weather conditions. I don't fly ILS although one day I'll get to it. Truth being,apart from ILS,I mix and match every option available in the system but in the end I prefer 'look and land'.
So I suppose the answer is there is no 'proper' way to land.

[Craig.]

its the lazy way of landing in bad weather with heavies:)
depends what sort of mood i am in but if you can do the landing manually all the better. keeps the sim interesting

[siemerh]

Sometimes I use it if I'm having trouble finding the airport or designated runway.  Once I am sure of where I'm goind, I go manual.  I also find the EFIS useful for the same reason.  The point is - use whatever you want that gives you the most enjoyment.

[FSTipster]

I use manual landing 99% of the time but I'm usually to be found flying the Baron. If I'm flying the big iron any distance, I'd possible consider using the autopilot.

Having said all that, there really is no "proper" way to land. In real world, pilots of ALL aircraft are required to do regular check rides (in proper scheduled flights) where they will land either using only some of the autopilot controls or, less frequently, completely on manual.

Do whatever you find the most fun - it's all "proper" as long as you walk away from it.

[WebbPA]

When you say "manual" I assume you use AP to some point, then turn it off to land.  Surely you wouldn't dream of flying a 747 from Seattle to San Diego with nothing but stick, throttle and trim?

For a heavy I use AP until about a mile or 2 out, then turn it off and land "manually" - flaps, gear and speed already set.  Is this a "manual" landing?

For a prop you could, and I sometimes do for fun, turn off AP long before you enter the pattern and try your skill with stick, throttle and trim.  Having the ILS on to show the glideslope isn't cheating but it's also fun (I'm practicing this in the Learjet) to land at an uncontrolled airport with no ILS, i.e. completely visual.

[fisharno]

I usually fly military heavies, always IFR, and 97% of the time capture the ILS/Localizer beacons for precision landings. But, let's not get confused. There's a difference between using AP for landings and making an insturment landing. Landing manually STILL involves using your insturments and following the beacons in to the runway. Precision landings are done in all weather conditions and it kind of increases the difficulty, "manually" riding the Localizer and Glideslope in and keeping the needles centered.

[FSTipster]

[quote]When you say "manual" I assume you use AP to some point, then turn it off to land.

[erhan(at internet cafe)]

uhhhh ok cool, well i hardly ever use autpilot

[Ronnie]

I always use autpilot for cruise unless it is a really short hop. In heavies, I usually have the autopilot set to maintain 250 knots, runway heading, and whatever altitude I am to cruise at, and then it is switched on as soon as the gear is retracted. My landings are always done manually; I don't even have a clue how to do an ILS.

[Erhan]

lol..by the way, the only reason i hardly use ap while in cruise is because while im at the computer, i may aswell use the stick, and if i am gone i pause it, cause when you create a flight plan, you have flight following, and if you dont change stations they cancel your IFR! :@ that sucks..

[csnyfan]

I agree with you Erhan It seems if I step out of my room for no more than 2 minutes (mind you the prevous 10 minutes were silent) I come back to a cancelled flight plan - Well that just forces me to find an airport and land (or crash in my case) that bird as fast as I can - Although I must admit I did have a cancelled flight over NC and did find Charlotte Int and did land safely -

[BFMF]

csnyfan, that's why your supposed to stay at the controlls no matter what during the entire flight

.....No playing around with the flight attendants

[Craig.]

i once did a flight from JFL to Boston without the autopilot in an Md88, i cant remember why i think i forgot to install some of the required, gauges, and let me tell you this, it was tiring even for a sim trying to keep it exactly level, even with trim it wanted to constantly pitch up.

[Erhan]

i just thought, there is totally nothing wrong about flight cancellation if your out of the room on auto-pilot, this is a 'simulator' right? and in real life if a pilot has to do a p*ss or whatever, there will always be one in the cockpit..so there ya go! you realise something everyday  ;D lol