Actually, this is a worldwide problem involving automation and the auto-flight concept. Take one of these new first officers that got his ratings in the US or Australia and came to KAL or Asiana with 225 flight hours. After ta!keoff, in accordance with their SOP, he calls for the autopilot to be engaged at 250’ after takeoff. How much actual flight time is that? Hardly one minute. Then he might fly for hours on the autopilot and finally disengage it (MAYBE?) below 800’ after the gear was down, flaps extended and on airspeed (autothrottle). Then he might bring it in to land. Again, how much real “flight time” or real experience did he get. Minutes! Of course, on the 777 or 747, it’s the same only they get more inflated logbooks.
I never thought of it that way. So most of a pilots flight hours might actually refer more to programming and using the flight management system, than actually flying the airplane! Eye opening!!
I never thought of it that way. So most of a pilots flight hours might actually refer more to programming and using the flight management system, than actually flying the airplane! Eye opening!!
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