AA fined $7.1 million

[Joe Patroni]

Ask a DC-9 pilot what its like to hand fly one for 5 hours.

Short answer:

It is an integral part of the modern passenger aircraft systems. The aircraft is certified with an autopilot system, therefore it (or a portion of it) must work. It can be deferred for certain time periods as set forth in the MMEL (Master Minimum Equipment List), or the air carrier specific version of the MEL. See FAR part 121.

If I remember correctly, if both autopilots are on deferral, the flight length can be no longer than 3 hours. An MD 80 capt. friend of mine told the airplane is no fun to hand fly at high alititude.

 

[IORFA]

I personally jumpseated on a 2 hour flight that the pilots hand flew. All I can say is that that if that happens again, I am not looking outside next time. I was mesmerized by the horizon slightly rolling up and down. After 45 minutes or so, I started to feel a little quesy in the stomache. Otherwise if I ignored looking out the windows, everything was great. I am sure no one else knew anything. (I was told by the pilots before we left, otherwise I doubt I would have known anything was different)

 

[1Conehead]

If I remember correctly, if both autopilots are on deferral, the flight length can be no longer than 3 hours. An MD 80 capt. friend of mine told the airplane is no fun to hand fly at high alititude.

I wish I could say "sorry thats going to make me work more than 3 hours I'm not going to do it".
That fuel quantity harness is no fun to change.

 

[Deleted member 14439]

I wish I could say "sorry thats going to make me work more than 3 hours I'm not going to do it".
That fuel quantity harness is no fun to change.

roger that

 

[Mach85ER]

With the new RVSM airspace, the vertical separation went from 2000' vertically to 1000'. Without a functioning A/P among other things, you can't operate in that airspace.

Two guys on a clear, smooth day, no problem The rules are there for the guy who's been awake for 18 hours, at night, in moderate turbulence, in clouds deviating around storms and receiving a clearance change while the other pilots in the lav and the senior FA is in the cockpit trying to show the pilot her picture wallet of her kids (actually cats 😉 )