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Making the Transition to IFR

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During my two-week course, however, not one instructor uttered one word about autopilot use, and that deprived me of a crucial piece of the IFR safety puzzle. Read more at http://www.flyingmag.com/training/instrument-flight-rules/making-transition-ifr?page=0,2#LDExPDAIZ5gsIVr0.99 (www.flyingmag.com) More...

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preacher1
preacher1 4
Technolgy is wonderful and I started making the technolgy transition from a 707 into a 752, the 707 being nothing but steam guages and then going to all glass. The Auto pilot was the biggest thing we had that made life halfway simple. That said, I have lost one at various times for whatever reason, in a variety of conditions and even on the 752, had a whole panel go dark on final for the house. I was lucky on that deal as I was over the marker, already cleared and lined up,and it was daylight/VFR. The whole point is this; all the technology is wonderful and is a pilot's best friend or worst nightmare. You had better know how to FLY THE PLANE.
THRUSTT
THRUSTT 2
Preach on Preacherman!!!
hench289
kevin henchey 2
you need to learn to fly the airplane first before you get the luxury of autopilot. An instructor teaching an instrument student would be doing then a disservice if he had them use the autopilot. What if the autopilot failed?
rgmahoney
rgmahoney 2
What if the pilot fails? The autopilot is a usefull tool to help you stay ahead of the airplane especially in single pilot IMC. Although I've never had to perform an emergency disengagment it's only one convenient button push away. You are correct that you need to learn to fly the airplane but they should then teach you how to correctly operate ALL the available equipment. Part of my factory training when buying an aircraft included uncoupled and coupled IFR approaches. I found it very useful.
preacher1
preacher1 2
Nobody is saying it's not a good thing but it seems to me in the story he puts way too much emphasis on it's use and not enough on what to do without it. Nothing macho about it. You just need to make sure you know what to do without it.

[This poster has been suspended.]

preacher1
preacher1 1
Somebody must have taught him Phil as the whole story centers around automation and not having to do it him self. He dates himself though, age wise, by saying it's the best thing to come out in the last 10-15 years.LOL
wendellsmith1964
Wendell Smith 1
I thought y'all would get a kick out of this story. I agree with all of you, seems like the author has it bass ackwards.

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