Backcountry Pilot
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
Posts: 33
Location: boise id
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:53 pm
Airline pilots are all the same. Talk the talk but let the autopilot do the flying.
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JoCub,
This airline pilot retired last year with over 30,000 hours in his logbook and executed EXACTLY ONE autocoupled approach or autoland during his 35+ year career. It was to my great disappointment that the weather that day made a CAT-III/autoland approach the only option. I lamented the fact in my logbook as it had been my goal to retire without ever having used the autopilot even once for the approach or landing. With thousands of hand flown VFR approaches: hundreds of hand flown CAT-I and dozens of CAT- II approaches under my belt....I made it almost 29,000 hours before I was left with no choice. (I am not counting the line checking and checkrides where I was required to demonstrate my auto pilot/autoland proficiency.)
Yes.... 90% of the enroute cruise time the autopilot was on. Not much to prove at 43,000 ft. But in low altitude cruise: decent below 20,000 ft. and all the way to cruise during the climb...I was nearly 100% manual. Why? Because when I began my airline career in 1972....the old WW-2 captains would crack your knuckles if you turned on the autopilot. Beyond that because.... just like you I love to fly.
You are right....."many" indeed "most" airline pilots deserve your comment. I flew with hundreds who matched your description. But not ALL of us.
Like others have said. It is not what you fly....but that you fly. And ....."Backcountry flying" is the most fun that I have ever had in an airplane. (Well maybe the 2nd most. I was flying this Twin Beech and she was ......)
Bob
