Re:Launch HN: Airhart Aeronautics (YC S22) – A modern person...
by sokoloff on Monday August 05, 2024 @11:19PM
(#41167516)
Most GA aircraft used for travel have autopilots. Even most flight school aircraft used for IFR training have them, at least in my experience in the northeast.
Re:Launch HN: Airhart Aeronautics (YC S22) – A modern person...
by floam on Tuesday August 06, 2024 @01:05AM
(#41167931)
GA planes can’t land themselves, the autopilot they share in common is more like cruise control.
Re:Launch HN: Airhart Aeronautics (YC S22) – A modern person...
by wkat4242 on Tuesday August 06, 2024 @09:33AM
(#41170731)
You can buy a full flight director autopilot on a G1000 Cessna 172.
The main reason it can't fully land itself is the lack of autothrottle and FADEC. But some GA planes do have even that. For example the Cirrus Vision (very light jet) is also a GA aircraft and has an emergency function where a passenger can trigger an emergency landing at the closest airport (as well as having a rescue parachute too)
The first quote is meant to highlight that commercial planes have autopilot while e.g. Cessnas do not.
The second quote emphasizes the importance of training despite autopilot.
There is no inconsistency in pointing out that commercial planes have auto pilot while acknowledging that it would be nice for non-commercial planes to also have auto pilot even though training is important.