USMCFLYR

FAA Urges Maintenance Of Manual Flight Skills

SAFO 13002
1/4/13

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviat.../SAFO13002.pdf

Convair5800

Our CP just sent us that. I always new those SD3 skills would come in handy!

highflyer87

I'd kill for at least a wing leveler in our SD3's. Although after flying through the night with sleep nowhere in sight the hand flying keeps me alert.

UnderOveur

QUESTION: Is the FAA talking out of both sides of it's mouth here???

For example:

and yet

Hey presto! It seems (<--please note the qualifier) that the FAA has now created a broad position where it can take whichever stance is necessary under any given circumstance to ward off any political(ly correct) heat that will inevitably arise when the next disaster occurs.

But hey...nothing like a little duplicity to CYA. After all, if the politicians do it (and they do), why not a gov't agency too?!


--->muttering under my breath<---

Airhoss

I think it's pretty clear that the FAA is saying that when you have the opportunity to hand fly do so. But if you are getting jacked up and overloaded that automation is still a good tool.

That's how I do it. I hand fly every chance I get but there are times when I need the extra brain cells so I turn the autopilot back on. I find most guys do the same.

Timbo

I fly so little at work (because there are 4 pilots but only 2 landings) that I also fly a light airplane on my days off, just to keep the eye-hand thing up to snuff.

Still I have notieced a serious degredation in my own instrument skills, so I always hand fly as much as possilbe when at work. I know it drives some of the guys crazy, as they have to watch me every minute, to be sure I'm going to level off when I'm s'posed to, etc. but I need the practice, so do they.

I'm always amazed when a guy puts on the A/P at 1000' on t/o and doesn't take it off until 500' on landing. 28 years ago, when I was flying freight at night in a DC9-10F, I would hand fly to cruise, and down from cruise. One Capt. jabbed me with, "You know, it pays the same if the auto pilot is on."

I replied, "Yeah, but I'm one of those crazy pilots, who actually likes to fly airplanes..." I used to drive my MD-11 Capt.s nuts because I would turn off the auto throttles too. But after a couple grease jobs, they let up on me.

CaptainCarl

Hand fly, all day, everyday. Like a boss.

cardiomd

Interesting memo.

Is all Class A RVSM? That is, can you hand fly in flight levels? Obviously I never get up that high.

CaptainCarl

1. No, not all Class A is RVSM.
2. Yes.
3. You ain't missin' much.

jordansinthesky

I have about 20 with the autopilot on. Trust me, someday I'd love to fly the fancy stuff that flies itself, but GAWD I love hand flying an otter all day every day