True that only CAT1-approaches can be flown manually (and therefore Cat 2 and 3 only autopilot)?

Question

True that only CAT1-approaches can be flown manually (and therefore Cat 2 and 3 only autopilot)?

Answer 1

Yes, that is essentially true.

Cat 1 approaches can be either hand- or autopilot-flown.  Its the pilot's option.

Cat II and III approaches MUST be flown by the autopilot.  Its a certification requirement and part of the training that goes into certification of each pilot allowed to execute them.  Only after reaching the MAP can the autopilot be disengaged.  Either for landing or for the missed approach, but the autopilot must stay engaged until then.  The exception is if the runway is visually acquired prior to the DA, the pilot may disengage and hand-fly the rest of the approach under visual conditions.

Answer 2

John,

Cat I, II, III are various versions of an precision approach (only Instrument Landing System or ILS to my knowledge) that aircraft attempt to land at an airport with those approach capabilities.

On an instrument approach there are certain criteria that much be met, and those criteria generally speaking get less and less as you move from a Cat I to a Cat III (c) minimums. A Cat I ILS approach may require you to have 3/4 mi visibility with a cloud deck above 250 ft. A Cat III (c) has zero minimums - allowing you to try to land the aircraft without ever seeing the runway until the very last second.

In each case a suitably equipped aircraft and appropriately qualified crew are required. For example, Cat IIIc requires a fail-operational system, Cat I does not. A Head-Up Display which allows the pilot to perform aircraft maneuvers rather than an automatic system is considered as fail-operational. Cat I relies only on altimeter indications for decision height, whereas Cat II and Cat III approaches use radar altimeter to determine decision height.

If you were to ask me, when shooting anything besides a Cat I it only makes sense to allow autopilot to take the approach to minimize the odds of going missed.

Answer 3

I havn't flown cat III, but Cat I can be hand flown or coupled.  Cat II had to be coupled, which means the autopilot flew it.  Now, that was the rule at my airline, and could be different elsewhere, but I believe that's the rule for anyone.  There were many things that could be inoperative when you are flying Cat I, but not with Cat II.  That leads me to believe that the autopilot was required for any Cat II, not just at my company.

Answer 4

No this is not true. CAT II and CAT I are frequently hand flown. CAT III is usually flown under dual autopilot, except when the aircraft is fitted with a Head Up Display when it can be flown manually.