[SystemSafety] Critical Design Checklist

[Peter Bernard Ladkin]

On 28 Aug 2013, at 03:20, Les Chambers <les at chambers.com.au> wrote:

> Peter
> I put it to you that modern aircraft are redolent with panic buttons, the lead actor being the lever/button that engages the automatic pilot ... 

Right about the button, maybe, but you couldn't be more wrong about the function. In most in-flight emergencies/abnormal procedures in most modern aircraft, one of the first actions is to *disengage* the autopilot. Otherwise it's usually on from 200 ft after takeoff (positive rate of climb) to short final on landing, and sometimes further (if weather is Cat 3).

PBL

Prof. Peter Bernard Ladkin, University of Bielefeld and Causalis Limited