[QUOTE=Gone Flying;3268654]1) that’s not what you said, you said no jetliner can auto takeoff, the 350 can (at least under certain conditions)

Whaaaaaat? Fact check, please. What are those certain conditions? Is Tesla reworking the cockpit for us?
If the jet has an automatic takeoff capability, I should report to my nearest FSDO and turn in my A350 Type Rating. IQ, several CQ and currency sims and 1000+ hours in the ship, and I have never heard of this. I too saw that Airbus demonstrated automatic takeoff, but I think certified capability is in the future.

I honestly have not been following this subset of the thread (that I actually started by talking about 737 deliveries - nice thread drift btw). But this "factoid" caught my eye and I had to respond. Let me describe the A350 "auto-takeoff feature" and the human steps required to trigger it:

1) Like any other airplane, line her up and turn the lights on, etc.

2) Apply forward stick pressure and stand-up the throttles, I mean thrust levers, for initial matched spool-up at 25% N1, then take levers to the appropriate detent (FLEX or TOGA) ... no pesky buttons or lever actions required to make the auto thrust system do its thing.

3) Hang on and wait for 80 KIAS, just like all our other airplanes.

4) "V1, Vr" aft stick to achieve 12.5 degrees or follow FD if it's already up to the task.

5) "Positive rate - gear up" then NO SOONER than 5 seconds after takeoff, the autopilot can be engaged. If appropriate restrictions are in the FMS, it could be quite some time before pilot action is required to stay on the proper trajectory

6). The rest of the initial climb profile is just like any other Delta jet: human action required to reduce thrust, verify or alter vertical and horizontal nav modes and retract high lift devices.

So, that's the highest level of takeoff automation available on an A350 as far as I know. Pretty darn automatic compared to a 737, but a far cry from taking the pilot out of the loop.

Cool automatic stuff the A350 will do if you're a slacker pilot or simply unconscious: turn off course and descend to a safe altitude for a cabin decompression, perform a CFIT escape maneuver, respond to a TCAS RA (actually, we train to just let the ship do it) and turn on the radar display if hazardous wx is detected.

Cool stuff, but at the end of the day does it enrichen your life as a pilot? I don't really think so, but it sure is comfortable and quiet.