serfty said:
The 146's were really smooth in this regard; many time the only indcation of touch down was a vibration though the fueslage as the wheels started rolling along the runway.
Don't know if I have ever experienced an auto-land in a 146. I didn't know they were certified for it, but really don't know much about them.
I did once have the pleasure of sitting in the flight deck of a QF 744 for an Autoland (into LAX). Initially the weather conditions were such that it was going to be a normal pilot-in-control type landing, but the clouds lifted and the captain radioed ATC to inform them he was going to do an auto-land (at least the aircraft was). He explained that when they boarded the aircraft, the records had indicated that this particular aircraft was going to lose its currency certification for auto-land soon, so he was relieved when the clouds lifted. Such tests need to be carried out in VFR conditions so the pilots can monitor and take over at any time if the computers are not doing it right.
The captain explained there are only a few airports around the world where they do the auto-land tests do to having the right category of ground equip for full auto-land capability. So if they were unable to do it that time at LAX, it would be possible that the aircraft would not be in a position to test again before its currency expired and that would mean they could not auto-land under weather/visibility conditions that may require it, and would have to divert to another airport with full auto-land was not required. Unfortunately, none of the Australian airports have the right equipment for full auto-lands in zero visibility (Cat III). Not sure what is in place in SYD and MEL and if they can be used for the aircraft currency testing???
It was a very interesting experience watching the controls, including yoke and thrust levers, moving themselves as the aircraft landed. I think the engine reverse thrust was still done manually, but wheel breaking is automatic. The captain lines it up on the ILS and then hit the button for the computer to take over, then sat back and watched.