Quote:
Originally Posted by jtrain609  Erm...what ever happened to kicking off george, grabbing onto the plane and then looking outside to see if things are going to ####? I mean you can see pretty quickly that you're developing a sink rate, probably faster than it's going to register on your VSI (even if it is an IVSI).
Or have I been hand flying too long? |
Definitely been hand flying too long
But seriously, I do think that hand flying would probably be easier in this case, especially since it's a visual. However, I would argue that in the event of a go around, having the autopilot coupled will greatly reduce the workload, especially in a place like LGA. The liklihood of the go-around is also the primary reason to use a reduced flap setting (it would minimize altitude loss and re-configuration time during the go around). However in this particular secenario it's probably too late to be digging through the books looking up new speeds and req'd landing distances for the new flap setting. I also have agree with "the book" in thinking that it's much easier to notice trends when the autopilot is engaged than when you're hand flying. It's always easier to sit back and critique the autopilot than it is to critique yourself on something while you're doing it. In addition, I don't see how having the autopilot engaged is going to prevent you from visually identifying any excessive sink rate, same as you could if you were hand-flying.
Also, in a non-autothrottle equipped airplane having the autopilot engaged allows you to focus more carefully on power settings....you could call it tunnel vision but it's pretty easy to lose track of just how much thrust you're commanding when you're focusing on a visual maneuver and cross-reference your primary flight instruments.
Hope I don't sound like an RJ-driving sissy autopilot addict. To be honest I would probably *not* use the autopilot in this situation simply because I rarely use it below 3000 AGL, especially on visual approachs, but I could certainly see the wisdom in turning it on if someone chose to do that.
Good discussion. Just my 2 cents.