Flyer From Canada, joined May 1999, 32 posts, RR: 0 Posted (14 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1804 times:
I know that many of the modern jets can 'land' themselves, but I was wondering how much can they do without the pilots touching anything. I assume it can descend and get in line with the runway on its own, but can the plane pull the nose up, reduce the speed, touchdown at the right place on the runway, pull the nose back down, and slow down all be itself. If so, what instrument would be in use (I know the autopilot, more specific). I just saw a movie and that is exactly what happened. The plane in movie was a 747.
DL757 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (14 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1809 times:
What is your definition of not touching anything ? I think that even with a autoland the pilots need to touch things on the auto pilotpanel. They can't sit their with there arms crossed. Other than that I don't know really.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 2, posted (14 years 3 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1805 times:
I never have flown a heavy but at the lab I work at here we have a FMGS trainer for the A-320. From what I have seen playing on that thing:
The line-up for the runway and the decent angle is set up by the same ILS that used on the Cadets I fly. The main height information for the final aproach is the Radar Altimter that is installed on the aircraft. This bounces a radio wave off the ground directly below the A/C giving a very accure mesurement of height above ground. The computer uses this information to calculate when exactly to pitch up for landing. It should be noted that you will NEVER have a 'greaser' with the autopilot. This is because the programming in the flight computer, the plane will decend at a fixed rate untill contact with the ground is made.
Like I said these are my observations based on a trainer, not the actual aircraft so take them with a grain of salt.
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Noel Benford From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (14 years 3 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 1805 times:
The plane will fly itself on the proper track with the autopilot's LNAV, VNAV, and speed controls engaged (or whatever they are called depending on the plane; autoflight capabilities). When the plane is set up for the ILS, the pilots turn on all 3 autopilots and the plane is set up for autoland. The plane does not lower the gear and set the flaps, so the pilots have to do that. Once the gear is down and the flaps are set and the plane is flying as it should, the pilots don't need to do anything. Of course, they must be VERY CAUTIOUS of what the plane is doing, and they need to be ready to take over if anything happens. Quite stressful! The plane will flare on its own and do the rollout on its own. The spoilers deploy and the pilots give some reverse thrust. One pilot will be looking inside the cockpit whereas the other will be looking outside for any sign of the runway. That't it in a nutshell anyway.
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