Originally Posted by
KZ1000Shaft
Even back to my probation days I never had to ask for permission to not use the autopilot. If I wanted to hand fly I would just have to simply not engage the autopilot. No getting away with anything. I still hand fly up to atleast an intermediate level off, and usually higher before letting Otto take over. It gets turned off on descent too. Doesn't matter if it is VFR or IFR. I can leave it off the whole trip if I'm not too lazy (but usually am). Most of the guys I fly with operate the same way.
You are correct that most airline flying is straight and level with some shallow banked turns, but then again, all instrument flying is mostly just straight and level with some shallow banked turns, no matter what or who you are flying for. It just so happens 121 flying is always instrument flying because you are always on an instrument cross country, even if it is VFR.
I'm sure that I am not the only one who can hand fly until their heart's content. You must have had some really bad captains at your old flying job if you weren't even allowed to keep your flying skills current. I encourage everyone to hand fly as much as possible because if the box breaks its up to you. The sharper you skills the better off you are.
I'll grant you that the companies I worked for were restrictive, but as you advance to larger more fancy planes you will see less and less hand flying. International heavy pilots are lucky to get three landings in a month. Both the airlines I worked for required the use of AP at certain points. What the real question was is how much is it used during IFR and emergencies.
Over all it can be said with certainty that there is no other form of aviation that offers less responsibility, satisfaction and control than the airlines. The entire system is designed to minimise pilot input and control. You fly the same aircraft type to the same handful of airports on the same routes using the same procedures day in and day out. It is an unending string of 25 degree banked turns from ILS to ILS. Every pilot function is carefully scripted and cataloged in the manual. Every decision is made for you or is guided through the manual. The aircraft is flown through computer inputs that are closely monitored by both bored pilots. McDonalds and Burgerking would be proud.
Soon the flight deck will be a flat panel of celluloid contact switches. When cleared for an approach the pilot will read back and punch the "ILS" button with fries.
To those of you who think I am joking. I wish I was.
SkyHigh