Can airplanes take off and land on autopilot?
The autopilot can fly an airplane once in the air, and land it, but it cannot be used during takeoff. “Most pilots will hand fly the plane up to 10,000 feet or at cruise altitude before they engage the autopilot,” says Cap’n Meryl. The autopilot makes constant corrections for altitude and course. “This frees us up to look out for traffic and other duties,” she adds. The autopilot is mandatory for landings during foggy conditions or in a snowstorm when visibility is low. Restrictions prohibit landing using autopilot during very windy conditions. 6. Is fuel conservation an issue for pilots? “We’re extremely fuel conscious these days,” Cap’n Meryl says. Pilots can do numerous things to conserve fuel, such as adjusting speed; asking for the best altitude for their current weight, wind and weather conditions; or taxiing on one engine. “We request routes that will minimize fuel consumption,” she explains. With a tailwind, fuel can be economized with a straight-line route. In strong headwinds
