2006-08-04 05:52:06 · 17 answers · asked by Happy Health Coach 1 in Travel ➔ Other - Destinations
Virtually all of the flying performed on a commercial flight is done from the vantage of the auto-pilot, with exception of entering the airspace of a restricted area, an airport or averting a storm.
2006-08-04 06:10:14 · answer #1 · answered by Michael 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suprise Suprise! It depends.
How much of the flight CAN be done by autopilot? Practically speaking: All of it.
The first time I figured out how advance the autopilot was, was last year on a flight to Seattle. The airport was fogged in, and the autopilot LANDED THE PLANE!
The pilot actually told us this! I was shocked.
2006-08-04 12:58:32 · answer #2 · answered by aelk2004 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alot. I am training to become a commercial pilot and it depends on the level of laziness of the pilot. They could fly manually the whole way or they could set the autopilot to a follow a course for the whole flight right after take-off. It is up to the pilot to decide how he wants to fly. A flight attendant friend of mine said that some pilots bring laptops to play games on long haul flights while the plane flies itself.
2006-08-04 12:56:05 · answer #3 · answered by Michael B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Autopilot- is sort of a misnomer. The plane is never un-manned. Autopilot does the tedious task of monitoring and correcting altitude, airspeed, and most importantly heading and navigation. The tricky part of flying is landing and take-off. That is all-pilot.
2006-08-04 12:59:19 · answer #4 · answered by badslaw 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually, the whole flight is on autopilot except takeoff and landing. In some cases, takoff and landing is automated too.
2006-08-04 12:56:53 · answer #5 · answered by Duke 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's only on autopilot when getting drinks and reloading
2006-08-04 12:57:02 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe most of it, the pilots just takes the command landing and taking off, or if something abnormal happens.
Most of the flight is just checking if everything is OK in auto-pilot.
2006-08-04 12:55:55 · answer #7 · answered by Mary7 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say 50%
Take off 25%
Flying 50%
Landing 25%
2006-08-04 12:56:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
most except for actual landing ( approach is auto ) and takeoff cause it is more fuel efficent so the crew is not allowed manual flight BUT don't worry most accidents are in the manual flight phase so it is SAFE
2006-08-04 12:55:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything between take off and landing once cruising altitude is acheived.
2006-08-04 12:58:26 · answer #10 · answered by ceprn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋