Originally Posted by DryMotorBoatin (Post 758120)

he is the captain of the airplane. he refused the airplane. end of story. why all this BS about hand flying and this and that and weather and shoulda/coulda/woulda. HE REFUSED THE AIRPLANE! HIS WORD IS GOLD! HES THE CAPTAIN!

Originally Posted by aviatorhi (Post 758137)

I encourage everyone to perform their jobs to the best of their ability, my only "complaint"/"concern" is the fact that lack of an AP appears to be the only reason that this flight didn't go... I can think of several outfits that fly 727s and 737s that routinely go without APs or FDs into similar, or worse, weather because as pilots they don't come up with reasons not to go, but try, to the best of their ability, to get a job done. Did you stop to think that this isn't a concern about PIC authority and more about doing/not doing your job, one could easily call PIC authority in rejecting every single aircraft that has an MEL on it etc. etc., where does PIC authority end and where does doing/not doing your job begin?

Originally Posted by Lab Rat (Post 757977)

I don't think anyone on this thread is belittling automation, nor do I think this thread is an "I can hand-fly better than the autopilot" discussion either. As mentioned earlier, a decision was made based on stated criteria and the bulk of the conversations thus far have centered around the merits of that decision.

The camps seem to be split on whether or not one should accept an aircraft with an inoperative autopilot. As I mentioned earlier, that would depend not only on the individual, but also on the circumstance(s) as well.

If the aircraft is approved to be dispatched with an inoperative autopilot, then it can be operated legally. Is it dangerous to do so? All things being equal, this really should be a non-event for most people.

Now, if the weather is down, the crew has had a long day, and the flight will be operated into very congested airspace, then the PIC must make - and be prepared to defend - his or her decision if the PIC elects not to accept the aircraft. That decision may be based on factors such as fatigue, experience, and proficiency.

Legally, if the aircraft can be dispatched without the autopilot and the weather is such that it does not negatively affect operating within the bounds of that deferral, then the PIC is going to have a tough time defending his decision based solely on the autopilot being deferred. In other words, why is it a safety issue if one must hand fly? That answer depends on the individual and one answer will not suffice for each and every individual.

Some may refuse to accept the aircraft and some may not refuse to accept it. In either case, both may be correct.

Originally Posted by steveo1kinevo (Post 758162)

We are PILOTS...not button pushers...I have flown many aircraft with and without autopilots in all types of weather. If you cannot depend on your hand flying skills...go home and be suspended! And for those of you that are lazy and argue against that...then I never want you to hear you complain about the pay rate of flying...because we should get paid to BE pilots.

Originally Posted by steveo1kinevo (Post 758162)

We are PILOTS...not button pushers...I have flown many aircraft with and without autopilots in all types of weather. .