Originally Posted by VPescado
She wanted to know why the pilots couldn't be bothered to do it themselves.
This might help answer why... - from a AA pilot friend:
FAA requires that all CAT III autoland installations be excercised every so often- that is, an autoland be executed all the way to rollout in either VFR or IFR conditions. If, for some reason, this has not been accomplished ( say the airplane does not transit an airport with a suitable ILS installation for that length of time, or simply no one does one ) then autolands in CAT III condiitons are not allowed until one is done in better weather conditions.
On the line, most pilots usually hand fly landings when they can, simply because its fun! I myself try to do autolands at least every other month or so, and definitely when I get the notice on the flight plan that the airplane needs one within a few weeks. That notice is a company function to prevent unnecessary out of CAT III status.
Some routes involve CAT II landings every day - anything into LHR in the winter, also ZRH. I could have used it in Rome a few weeks ago, but Rome has only a CAT II installation. You can do an autoland there, but not below around 1200 or so RVR (feet)