Originally Posted by aCavalierInCoach
Probably an a.net topic but I thought one of you might be able to shed some light on this. On UA 205 IAD-SFO last night our pilot asked approach to relay to tower that we would be on "auto-land". Both approach and later the tower noted that "ILS critical areas are not protected".
I assume the former just means something along of the lines of that we landed on autopilot (which was close to perfect, by the way). What's the deal with 'critical areas' though? And why might a pilot choose to autoland? Thanks.
D
aCavalierInCoach, I think was landing parallel to you on 28L at SFO, I was on the PHL-SFO. I heard the same thing and remembered reading about it on FT. ILS is instrument landing system, and autoland I believe automates most of the process. "Critical areas protected" means there are no stray vehicles, aircraft in the path of the ILS that might block/interfere with the ILS signal. If the tower "protects" the area, I think no vehicles are allowed in. This is all IIRC.
Search turned up this thread, which is the one I am refering to...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forums/show...+critical+area