Plane Answers: When do pilots use the autopilot?

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I have a follow up question. How does it work that the autopilot does the landing? Doesn't it have to be programmed for each flight? Do you know the exact runway you'll be landing on at the destination airport before you leave the departure airport in order to program the autopilot? Or does air traffic control communicate with the autopilot in some way?
Thanks.

5-02-2008 @ 6:10PM

Kent Wien said...

Good question. The Cat III autoland feature works using three autopilots engaged at the same time while tracking an ILS (instrument landing system). Think of an ILS as a radio beam that the airplane tracks while on the final approach. This really only applies for the last 3 to 4 miles or so.

ATC simply clears you for the approach, after which you engage the three autopilots and intercept the ILS.

The programming happens much closer into the airport after you are told which runway is in use.

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