Flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6298 posts, RR: 6 Posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 3301 times:
I am just wondering around when do the pilots turn the autopilot on after takeoff is it only a minute or two after or is it five minutes after. Also when does the pilot push the TO/GA button. Is it around 80?
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
AJ From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 2376 posts, RR: 27 Reply 1, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 3241 times:
Hi Flymia.
Autopilot limitations normally specifiy a minimum connect height, it's 200 feet on the 767. I normally don't engage it until I've cleaned up the aircraft, about 3000 feet or so. On a good flying day I'll hand fly up to the cruise. Dealer's choice.
On aircraft equipped with a TO/GA button (not the 767) it is engaged after stabilising the engines. Engine manufactureres recommend a stable setting, ie 70% N1 on a CF6, 1.1 EPR on a JT9/RB211. The thrust levers are advanced manually to this setting, stable settings are observed, then TO/GA or it's equivalent is selected.
80kts is where many Boeing types autothrottle clutches disengage to allow the thrust levers to be closed in a rejected takeoff, if takeoff power is not set by this point it must be done manually.
Flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6298 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3191 times:
Thanks for the INFO AJ! That just about sums it all up. Anyone know the procedures on the 737NG or 777?
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
CX flyboy From Hong Kong, joined Dec 1999, 6341 posts, RR: 56 Reply 3, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3194 times:
The 777 sounds pretty much similar to the 767 AJ mentionned.
The altitude at which we turn on the autopilot depends on the day. If it is really turbulent, or just generally bad with low cloud base etc... I will engage the autopilot earlier, at around 1500ft, or in extreme conditions, at 200ft! On a nice clear day I might fly manually to around 15000ft before engaging it. it all depends on workload. Flying manually takes away a lot of brain space, and also means the other pilot has to spend a lot of time monitoring your flying as well, so it increases workload for both of you. On a complicated departure, or bad weather which you may be planning on avoiding, it is best to keep workload down so that you can cope with everything that needs your attention, so having the autopilot engaged is a huge help. On nice days when there isn't much going on, little brain power is needed, so we can enjoy ourselves by manually flying a little.
AJ, how was your recent trip? Did you go spotting or did you avoid the extreme haze and bad weather and go out into town?
411A From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 1826 posts, RR: 9 Reply 4, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3154 times:
With the Lockheed TriStar, only manual thrust can be set for takeoff, however once airbourne, if FMS equipment is fitted (-200's and -500's) thrust management can be engaged (no altitude limitation) for the climb thrust desired. Once the V/S in the climb decreases to <500 ft/min, the next higher climb thrust setting is automatically selected, depending on aircraft weight.
Also, with the TriStar, the autopilot can be engaged on the ground, just before takeoff, in CWS. Once airbourne, command can be selected, with no altitude limitation.
Flymia From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 6298 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3129 times:
Yea 411A an ATA L1011 captain said the same thing. That plane can really fly itself but it was just to advanced for its days.
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
XFSUgimpLB41X From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 3958 posts, RR: 36 Reply 6, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3122 times:
The CRJ is a bit different- we don't have autothrottles, so TOGA is pressed upon taking the runway (or just before) in order to autoupdate the FMS for the runway. Thrust is set manual into the thrust carrots (T/O or FLEX, whichever is necessary or desired).
The autopilot may be engaged anytime after 600 feet AGL.
AAR90 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3410 posts, RR: 50 Reply 7, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 3062 times:
Anyone know the procedures on the 737NG or 777?
AA 738 normal procedures are to spool the engines to ~40% N2 then press TOGA button. A/P may be engaged above 500' AGL, but most folks I know will hand fly to 10,000' MSL minimum.
*NO CARRIER* -- A Naval Aviator's worst nightmare!
Beechcraft From Germany, joined Nov 2003, 828 posts, RR: 46 Reply 8, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 3028 times:
Hi,
same here as in XFSUgimpLB41X´s post. And in the CRJ 700 you don´t have to set thrust into the carrots, you just push the levers forward into the TOGA detent.
Also a lot of pilots like to fly it manually up to and down from 10´000ft.
Denis
That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college!
SlamClick From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 10062 posts, RR: 71 Reply 9, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 2814 times:
Airbus autopilot can be put on at 100' after takeoff, even with an engine failure, but the plane must be in trim. Most guys will hand fly up to a couple thousand or even up to some intermediate level off altitude. The few who hand fly all the way up to 370 are regarded as a bit strange.
No TOGA button on Airbus. Just set the TLAs (little green donut) on 50% N1 and let the engines stabilize there, then advance the levers to FLEX/MCT for a normal takeoff or TOGA detent for a max-blast takeoff. At leveloff height you will get a LVR CLB (lever climb) caption and just bring it back to the CLB detent and leave it there until you get the "Retard" annunciation in the landing flare. Drop dead simple!
Happiness is not seeing another trite Ste. Maarten photo all week long.
Rick767 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2000, 2662 posts, RR: 52 Reply 10, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2733 times:
"when do the pilots turn the autopilot on after takeoff is it only a minute or two after or is it five minutes after"
If I'm feeling eager on a beautiful Summer afternoon, maybe take it up to FL100 before asking George to take it, but the more common reality is an 05:00 report on a drizzly and cloudy British day, then I'm happy for it to go in at 3,000 - 4,000ft.
On the 6th sector of the day, whack it in at 1,000ft and let's get home.
I used to love the smell of Jet-A in the morning...
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