FMC all the way?

[D Bergendorf]

Non-pilot (occasional flight student) question:

In the PMDG videos for the 747, the FMC apparently controls the take-off. Is this the case in real life? Or does the FO do the actual flying? Does it depend on the particular airline?

 

[Screaming_Emu]

Non-pilot (occasional flight student) question:

In the PMDG videos for the 747, the FMC apparently controls the take-off. Is this the case in real life? Or does the FO do the actual flying? Does it depend on the particular airline?

I think it depends on a lot of different things. Airplane, airline, airport, crew, etc all could change the situation.

I can only speak for the CRJ, but our aircraft is incapable of taking off or landing on its own. But the FMS can provide lateral guidance for us in the case of RNAV departures. Company specific, for RNAV departures out of busy airports such as Atlanta, we are required to use the FMS for the departure, but the use of the autopilot is "strongly encouraged." But leaving out of a smaller airport it's not uncommon for a crew to not use any automation at all.

It really all just depends on the situation.

 

[Polar742]

Non-pilot (occasional flight student) question:

In the PMDG videos for the 747, the FMC apparently controls the take-off. Is this the case in real life? Or does the FO do the actual flying? Does it depend on the particular airline?

The FMC is programmed with the info to provide lateral guidance and a takeoff profile.

No autopilot until at least 250'AGL.