Auto Pilot Usage

Derg said:
Again, it really depends on the aircraft and the situation.

Hand-flying an Airbus during an engine failure can be doofus in many situations. Not all, of course.

Trying to use the automation during a visual approach when you're downwind abeam the numbers without an ILS is pretty doofus as well, but again, not in all situations. 400 feet, engine failure, turn on the autopilot, it will trim to the beta-target (the "ball") automatically and manage your speed until you hit acceleration altitude. Do that in a mad dog and it's going to be all sorts of hilarity.

Doing it in the Airbus product doesn't make you less of a man, the autopilot is just going to do a better job at optimal trim and will run laps around you with speed targets in most situations. Engine failure, autopilot on, it trims itself, continues climbing, you hit 1000. Press to level off, hit the "EXPED" button at "Green Dot". Easy peasy. Otherwise you're going from direct law mixing in with flight mode as you climb, hopefully trimming the right direction, transitioning from "stirring the soup" to light taps of the stick as flight mode blends in and telling the NFP (non-flying pilot), who already has his hands full, to engage certain modes for you.

I think the challenge with a lot of us is we're looking for a universal answer where there is none. It really just all depends.

Analyze the situation, open your toolbox, use the best tool for the job.

There is no universal answer.
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Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid. (As my initial Brasilia instructor said: "Nobody can fly plus or minus one knot" - turns and looks at me - "...not even Dougie!" But the autopilot can.)

Humans are slow, inaccurate, but brilliant, and capable of adapting to changing situations.

They are a wonderful combination as long as these facts are kept in mind. When they're not, well, have fun!
 
PeanuckleCRJ said:
Careful, ATN will call you an yeager needing to stroke your ego for turning it off! That's when panda gets mad. :D

I can't believe they don't let you touch the tiller... That sucks! We use the expedite button for high Grid MORA mountainous departures, too. Works great, lasts long time. :)

Yet again, here's the cat, that skin has to come off!
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Nope, no F/O tiller! Since Le Bus tattles on you, they know the instant we touch the thing. It's a no-no. When I had to taxi to get my type in it, I sat in the left seat to taxi.

I think they're actually backing off their stance of no EXPED. I've seen it used a couple of times, but it's very rare.
 
Autothrust Blue said:
Stupid humans there too, incidentally.

"Oh, ze software, she cannot be wrong!"
-ZAP-
"No, no, it is not possible!"
-ZAP-
"Oh. Uh. Well. If you press SET right when that counter rolls over...uh...um...yeah, it turns out that is possible."
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Me: "... Wait... did the airspeed just select itself to 40knts? How did that happen?"
CA: "Oh roll it back quick, it's a known issue."
Me: "Que??"

CA: "Hey bud you're going to miss AMYLU"
FO: "Wait, I don't see it, the line is before AMYLU"
CA: "It's doing that thing, you'll be at 16k right now with this descent rate."
FO: "Damn you're right, it caught me again *speedbrakes*"
Me: "I don't understand, is the computer misprogramed?"
CA: "No, on these 190's sometimes the computer doesn't computer the descent correctly and even though the banana is on AMYLU you'll miss it by 5-8 thousand feet. It's a known issue, you just have to do the math in your head every descent and make sure it makes sense."
FO: "Yeah my goofup, the math looked right to me until Longhorn here told me"
Me: "Longhorn?"
CA: "Yeah I'm a big football fan and I live in Texas, you couldn't tell from the temp I keep the cockpit?"
*still missed AMYLU with brakes full out*
 
jynxyjoe said:
Me: "... Wait... did the airspeed just select itself to 40knts? How did that happen?"
CA: "Oh roll it back quick, it's a known issue."
Me: "Que??"

CA: "Hey bud you're going to miss AMYLU"
FO: "Wait, I don't see it, the line is before AMYLU"
CA: "It's doing that thing, you'll be at 16k right now with this descent rate."
FO: "Damn you're right, it caught me again *speedbrakes*"
Me: "I don't understand, is the computer misprogramed?"
CA: "No, on these 190's sometimes the computer doesn't computer the descent correctly and even though the banana is on AMYLU you'll miss it by 5-8 thousand feet. It's a known issue, you just have to do the math in your head every descent and make sure it makes sense."
FO: "Yeah my goofup, the math looked right to me until Longhorn here told me"
Me: "Longhorn?"
CA: "Yeah I'm a big football fan and I live in Texas, you couldn't tell from the temp I keep the cockpit?"
*still missed AMYLU with brakes full out*
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Sounds like a similar problem we had coming into PHX one afternoon. They had just started their newest OPDs (the ones that were effective about a month ago). Everything is loaded up. We get a "Descend and Maintain..." Level off, and a short time later get a "Descend via MAIER XX Arrival, Runway 8." It's my leg, so perfect, I dial in 6000, make sure there aren't any restrictions I'm missing and press the Altitude selector. Le Bus, she starts down on profile. Approaching the first Altitude and Speed Restriction (I think it was FL290 at 270 knots), the airplane bugs 210 knots (slowest speed restriction on the descent waaaaay down the line). I look at the MCDU and, sure enough, it shows us slowing well below the published speeds. I try to reprogram the descent speed on the PERF page and nothing.

Now, I make move that would make the training department cry with joy. I do the "I" in CAMI. I intervene and descend in Selected speed and actually be a pilot. Make all our restrictions on both altitude and speed. Chalk it up to an anomaly and send an e-mail to the cube farm to take a look at it.

Sometimes, the computers ain't that smart.
 
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