On Feb 13, 11:40*pm, (Richard Casady)
wrote:
On Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:26:02 -0800 (PST), wrote:
So this autopilot, when it's over the weather knows what the weather
below is like? The conditions are continuously broadcast on the radio

No reason why an autopilot can't listen. I have been flying for almost
fifty years, and I can assure you it is not that difficult, even in
nearly all weather. Icing is the killer. Airline plane crashed and
burned today, killed one victim on the ground. It was ice coated. If
the plane makes it to the airport there are usually survivors, even if
it burns, but not this time.

That Hudson river landing was something. Those guys do not practice
power off approaches and landings, and with any glider, you only get
one chance, and the jets are moving fast, with a high sink rate when
they land. Power off is very difficult to judge. Only good thing about
the river was it was effectively infinitely long. Power off is not
even on the airline transport rating check ride. One engine out on a
multi is what they test for. One guy did get a single engine ATR. For
an emergency they steadily reduced the power, to simulate accumulating
ice. Stay in the air ten minutes., think fast. With ships, things take
place with glacial slowness, although occasionally they explode.

Casady.

In western NY, icing is a problem a lot of the year. Then you have to
figure out whether to try to climb above the conditions, or descend
below or at least down to higher temps. If you do that, then theirs
these things called hills that can ruin your day!