Out of curiosity, do any insiders on here know how much actual hand flying is typical on VS flights?
For example, what proportion of approaches and landing plus takeoff and climb to altitude are flown by the pilots?
I'm interested as I see a lot of debate these days suggesting that in many airlines, lack of stick and rudder time is reducing the capability of the pilots to hand fly if the automation throws a wobbler or there is a technical issue.
Many airlines appear to think that the route to safety and efficiency is via automation, but this is perceived as degrading the skills of those that would need it the most once the automation quits for any reason. Tere is also a suggestion that it could lead to complaisancy meaning unusual events aren't always spotted in time.
For example, I know that many airlines used to encourage pilots to fly the takeoff and climb, engaging automation at cruise level, then on decent, fly from say FL15 to landing by hand. Many of those same airlines now have sops (standard operating procedures) that engage autopilot at 1000/5000 etc, and only disengage on approach at 2000.
Anyone have views or info?
For example, what proportion of approaches and landing plus takeoff and climb to altitude are flown by the pilots?
I'm interested as I see a lot of debate these days suggesting that in many airlines, lack of stick and rudder time is reducing the capability of the pilots to hand fly if the automation throws a wobbler or there is a technical issue.
Many airlines appear to think that the route to safety and efficiency is via automation, but this is perceived as degrading the skills of those that would need it the most once the automation quits for any reason. Tere is also a suggestion that it could lead to complaisancy meaning unusual events aren't always spotted in time.
For example, I know that many airlines used to encourage pilots to fly the takeoff and climb, engaging automation at cruise level, then on decent, fly from say FL15 to landing by hand. Many of those same airlines now have sops (standard operating procedures) that engage autopilot at 1000/5000 etc, and only disengage on approach at 2000.
Anyone have views or info?
Concorde RIP - the most amazing machine to grace our skies