January Fly-Bys
Autopilot Advice: An Interview With Gil Rud

Courtesy of Gil Rud,
Director of Business Development, Boeing
Patuxent River, Maryland

Pilots are used to getting advice from other pilots. Sometimes they pay attention, sometimes they don’t. However, when that advice comes from a pilot with Gil Rud’s credentials, it would be wise to listen. With a distinguished history including 5600 hours as a Naval Aviator, Gil has had experiences that many of us can only dream of. He is also in a unique position to track the advancements of cockpit automation thanks to his distinguished career path.

Gil’s first military assignment was in A4 Skyhawks. From there, he moved into A7B and A7E Corsair IIs, with many hours earned in wartime and in command of the 192nd Golden Dragons Attack Squadron. In 1986, he was chosen to lead the Navy’s Blue Angels demonstration team and led them through the transition from the A4 Skyhawk into the F-18 Hornet. Most recently, Gil rejoined his fellow pilots and became a Cirrus owner.

“In the A4 there was little to no pilot assist mode for the flight controls. The A7 had improved capabilities, but the Hornet had the ability to make a hands-off landing on an aircraft carrier,” said Rud. Being a part of automation evolution allowed Gil to see first-hand the value and importance of proper autopilot use. “During long repositioning flights in the Hornet, the autopilot really helped reduce fatigue.” Additionally, the autopilot was a valuable tool that reduced workload and increased situational awareness as Gil and his wingmen flew F-18s at more than 8 miles per minute.

Gil’s appreciation of the autopilot has extended to flights in his Cirrus SR20. He often uses its capabilities to maintain situational awareness and simplify his flight tasks. To help you safely and efficiently operate your autopilot, Gil offered the following tips:

1. Practice, knowledge, and proper use are key.
   
   “ The autopilot will only help if you understand it, utilize it, and are proficient,” states Rud. While it may seem obvious, many pilots don’t think of using their autopilots until they need them. Unfortunately, situations where they are needed are not the most convenient situations to learn how to use them.
   
2. The pilot is always the ultimate authority during the flight.
   
   Many pilots turn on the autopilot and lose track of where they are and what the plane is doing. Remember that the autopilot is not a substitute for diligence in the airplane. “You should always be the PIC. The autopilot is a co-pilot at best,” says Gil. “Keep the human factor in there at all times.”
   
3. Take advantage of the autopilot in IMC.
   
   “ Single pilot, you have your hands full, especially in the weather,” says Gil. Workload can be highest during departure, arrival, and approach while operating in the IFR system and the autopilot can help significantly reduce pilot demand. Gil specifically suggests using the autopilot during complex route changes, avionics tasks, and checklist procedures.
   
4. The autopilot can help you even in VMC.
   
   “Be very careful about keeping your head in the cockpit on a VFR day,” advises Rud. When the skies are blue and the sun is shining, there are probably a lot of pilots in the air and a diligent traffic scan will go a long way toward keeping you safe. Using the autopilot may reduce your workload, allowing you to spend more time looking outside.”
   
5. Know the autopilot limitations.
   
   Like most things in aviation, autopilots have defined limits and it’s important for pilots to know them. Gil has seen controllers give vectors that were too close to the FAF for the approach mode to capture the localizer and crosswinds that were beyond the capabilities of the autopilot system. In both cases, he recognized that the limits were exceeded and flew the airplane manually to prevent unexpected responses. “Know the limits ahead of time so that you don’t panic when they’re passed,” he suggests. One of Gil’s favorite tricks is to use the PFD wind vector to monitor the crosswind component during an approach, confirming that the limitations have not been exceeded.
   
6. Know your own abilities and comfort zone.
   
   Even with his experience in varied conditions and a wide range of airplanes, Gil emphasizes the importance of knowing your boundaries: “Pay attention to your personal limits. Even with the autopilot, I’m just getting comfortable shooting approaches to minimums after 7 months and 215 hours in my plane.”
   
7. A little instruction goes a long way.
   
   Perhaps because of his incredible experience as a pilot, Gil recognized that he needed instruction to fully utilize the capability of his autopilot. As a novice S-Tec 55SR user, he flew both VFR and simulated IFR approaches with a flight instructor who was already familiar with his autopilot system. Now that he is comfortable and proficient in its use, he still flies occasionally with a CFI-I in the right seat. “I make sure that I can always meet the requirements of an IPC or BFR,” Gil said. No matter what, he reminds pilots that it’s important to “put aside your pride and be a student again.”

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