Originally Posted by
Smokey23
I'll be the first to admit that our flight ops leadership at times feels they are legends in their own minds. Is yours really any better about that?
Actually, we started using VNAV in 2010 and as any SWA flight attendant will tell you, the rides on the descent (and climb) most certainly did NOT get smoother! V/S and CWS pitch may seem like anachronisms to many, but in reasonably competent hands they absolutely provide a smoother ride than George chasing the airspeed.
The other fact is that many around here just love to engage in tired old stereotypes. Kind of like how uptight all those double-breasted u-boat commanders seem to be.
Touche on the ops leadership- however southwest seems to be raising the bar higher with the ignorance of what others have done for years.
VNAV works great if you know how to use it. I'm very much a V/S or LVL CH guy as need be as I will always do what needs to be done to be smoother and accurate. However, I had very few issues with the 737 using VNAV. The newest software uploads seem work great unless you're flying right up against the barber pole. I had the hamster totally fall off the wheel one time going into BWI- ATC jacked with our speed a couple times and the plane went crosseyed about 30 seconds later.
It was pretty funny seeing the VNAV go "I got it... I got it.... I got it... LOL NOPE."
All in all, throw in the predicted winds and altimeter setting, and it will do a nice smooth job the vast majority of the time.