rad0 wrote:
> I think this is true too.  From what I remember, the pilots take
> control on final approach and land the thing.  Do they do this by
> custom or necessity?
>
> Can it automatically do all the maneuvers required to bring it to
> full stop on the runway?
>
> just curious


As far as I know, a comercial plane as the 747 has auto-landing, it is
based on several advantages over the human behavior and "sensing".
Different in a militar airplane, the case of the Shuttle, human reaction
can be much better than any "landing computer", adverses situations could
be so vast and mixed all together that a computer could not have solutions
for all of them - in this case, human reaction based on extensive training
even for the untinkable can solve situations not yet minded.

Of course, one could say, if you trust computers to lead the Shuttle cross
the infernal reentry orange blazing temperature and at that speed, why not
trust the same computers to do its job in much less speed and in controlled
nice smooth situation?

The answer is probably simple:  The pilot and commander should do something
to deserve the title, isn't it?  :)

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