Cherokee_Cruiser
Bronteroc
In the not too distant past.......
Just one leg across the country. You have flown with the guy before, competence established, no issues in terms of handflying the aircraft. Not multiple leg day, so no one is tired, no fatigue, easy flight. You briefed autothrust off into LAX. CA doesn't counter with anything. Weather is good, not busy ATC environment. You're on the Rivrr2 arrival for 25L which is basically a straightshot from 30 miles out. So at 12,000 feet when ATC tells you to slow to 250 knots, you command a thrust idle open descent, and then pull the thrust levers to idle and turn off AT. CA asks why is the autothrust off, and you say (nicely) that it was briefed that way. You see the uncomfortable squirm on his face. Then he says "put it on." Not wanting to create any CRM issues, you comply. Later in the approach once I turn the AP off and we are literally fully configured (gear , flaps down) maybe about 1,200 AGL he says ok you can turn AT off now if you want.
WWYD?
I complied with the request to put it back on at 12,000 ft. But understand the dynamics of this approach, this is literally straight in without any turns. Not only that, all fixes are at or above altitudes, and on top of that SoCal always has you slow up from 250 to 220, then to 180, then final approach speed. Point being, your thrust is going to be at idle anyway literally the whole way down. Hell, you'll have the boards out too. I put it on but inside I was just flabbergasted (is that the right word?). Unbelievable.
Anyway I then left the AT on entirely the whole way down and landed. If you're going to stop it from being off, then don't insult intelligence and then "allow" it to be off when you are literally fully configured and on speed just ~90 seconds from touchdown.
To me it says only two things: either incompetent or uncomfortable and neither are good qualities for a Captain. Crap like this is why Asiana happened.
On the A320, the AT can be deferred. Would like to see that MEL on a plane he has to sign. I literally think he'd refuse the plane.
Just one leg across the country. You have flown with the guy before, competence established, no issues in terms of handflying the aircraft. Not multiple leg day, so no one is tired, no fatigue, easy flight. You briefed autothrust off into LAX. CA doesn't counter with anything. Weather is good, not busy ATC environment. You're on the Rivrr2 arrival for 25L which is basically a straightshot from 30 miles out. So at 12,000 feet when ATC tells you to slow to 250 knots, you command a thrust idle open descent, and then pull the thrust levers to idle and turn off AT. CA asks why is the autothrust off, and you say (nicely) that it was briefed that way. You see the uncomfortable squirm on his face. Then he says "put it on." Not wanting to create any CRM issues, you comply. Later in the approach once I turn the AP off and we are literally fully configured (gear , flaps down) maybe about 1,200 AGL he says ok you can turn AT off now if you want.
WWYD?
I complied with the request to put it back on at 12,000 ft. But understand the dynamics of this approach, this is literally straight in without any turns. Not only that, all fixes are at or above altitudes, and on top of that SoCal always has you slow up from 250 to 220, then to 180, then final approach speed. Point being, your thrust is going to be at idle anyway literally the whole way down. Hell, you'll have the boards out too. I put it on but inside I was just flabbergasted (is that the right word?). Unbelievable.
Anyway I then left the AT on entirely the whole way down and landed. If you're going to stop it from being off, then don't insult intelligence and then "allow" it to be off when you are literally fully configured and on speed just ~90 seconds from touchdown.
To me it says only two things: either incompetent or uncomfortable and neither are good qualities for a Captain. Crap like this is why Asiana happened.
On the A320, the AT can be deferred. Would like to see that MEL on a plane he has to sign. I literally think he'd refuse the plane.
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