Originally Posted by Kill Bill
autobrakes are good. why ANY airline wouldn't use them is beyond me. trust me, autobrakes don't EXTEND stopping distance.
I think, and I could be wrong, the reason SWA doesn't use the auto brakes, is to basically stay off the brakes all together until 80 knots (slowing with reversers only) that in turn lets them do quick turns with no concern rising about break temps.
We operate the DC8 in basically the same way (no autobrakes though), use the reverers to slow to 100 or 80 knots and then use brakes as you come out of reverese. Of course runway length, condition, weight, Capt preference, etc all come into play.
Just trying to shed a little light on the "thinking" behind it,