Captain
Final Approach
There's been a few threads on auto pilots lately and that's brought this topic to my mind.
I'm a big fan of preflight checks and the autopilot preflight checks are no exception. However, there is one check I hate. Every plane I've flown with an autopilot installed has the pilot ensure they can override the clutch by engaging the AP and pulling against it to the point of slipping the clutch.
To my mind this seems like a bad idea. It's wear on the parts and as long as the various disconnects work normally I don't see the point. Every AP I've flown has no fewer than 3 seperate ways to disengage the thing and each are checked in the first flight preflight. So what's the point of grinding the clutch?
I don't like damaging equipment and in this case there seems very little benefit in performing the override test. What do you all think? Am I off base?
I'm a big fan of preflight checks and the autopilot preflight checks are no exception. However, there is one check I hate. Every plane I've flown with an autopilot installed has the pilot ensure they can override the clutch by engaging the AP and pulling against it to the point of slipping the clutch.
To my mind this seems like a bad idea. It's wear on the parts and as long as the various disconnects work normally I don't see the point. Every AP I've flown has no fewer than 3 seperate ways to disengage the thing and each are checked in the first flight preflight. So what's the point of grinding the clutch?
I don't like damaging equipment and in this case there seems very little benefit in performing the override test. What do you all think? Am I off base?