How do you use Cruise Control?

Meanderer

Meanderer

Supreme Member
Location
PA
Don't use cruise control during winter conditions such as when it is snowing or icy or under other slippery conditions such as when it is raining.

http://www.gmfleet.com/content/dam/...Resources/PDFs/TechTip_1105_CruiseControl.pdf

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/cruisecontrol.htm

Cartoon_CruiseControl_Mar2010.jpg
 

I never use it, feel out of control with cruise control...my husband uses it on long highway stretches.
 
I recall a 911 call recording of a woman on the Interstate, whose cruise control malfunctioned and kept creeping upward. She was calling while driving at 90+ MPH and climbing....responders and police were trying to clear the road ahead of her.....she finally went off the road and came to a stop and survived. ...Cell phone probably saved her life.

...course, I might be confusing the ending with the lady, whose car at a RR crossing, was pushed into...and wedged between two train cars....but that's another story.:)
 
There used to be a set of runaway ramps here in PA going down a steep hill that I always wondered about.

They looked like an over-sized washboard, with big "ripples" all the way up. I guess there were 6 or 7 of them.

Now, I know they're meant to slow down a runaway truck, but thinking about an 18-wheeler going over those things is scary. It's like they would launch it into orbit.

Then I wondered what they would do to my little fiberglass Vette if I hit them at 70 or so ... :eek:
 
Meanderer said:
Don't use cruise control during winter conditions such as when it is snowing or icy or under other slippery conditions such as when it is raining.

http://www.gmfleet.com/content/dam/...Resources/PDFs/TechTip_1105_CruiseControl.pdf

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/cruisecontrol.htm

Cartoon_CruiseControl_Mar2010.jpg
Click to expand...



When flying a jet, this cartoon is pretty much true. Autopilot maintains speed, altitude and keeps the aircraft on course. Each pilot uses the autopilot function to his or her liking. I sometimes would not use it until I got to my cruising altitude and speed. (Depends on the weather.) On the other hand, some pilots will turn it on after they get above 10,000 feet and for some pilots, even less. I flew mainly 757's and 767's. In bad turbulence, I would turn off the auto pilot and fly the plane manually. I always wanted to be in control of the aircraft. Other pilots may choose to continue to use the auto pilot in bad weather or turbulence, which is also fine, if they choose to do this. Some pilots use the autopilot to line up the aircraft with the runway on landings, which is also OK and I would do that most times also. I was just one of those pilots that preferred to be in control of the aircraft and to keep the passengers as comfortable as possible. If I would see some bad weather ahead on the plane's radar or computer or hear on the radio other pilots reporting bad air or weather issues, I may ask the tower that has me on their scope (radar) for permission to change course or altitude to get to better air or weather to avoid bad turbulence. A lot of people become nervous when the plane shakes or bounces too much, or if they see a storm outside the plane, especially lightening. It's all about keeping the aircraft safe and the passengers comfortable. Autopilot is a necessity for today's big jets. There is just a lot of work going that needs done on the flight deck and the auto pilot removes some of the stress while the pilot makes adjustments and the first officer is making announcements and doing other duties. I enjoy 'hand-flying" (pilot talk for manual flying), the aircraft as much as possible. Using the stick and rudder always gave me a sense of control in the proper situations, but when cruising with good air and making landings at airports that have systems that support autopilot landings, that's also a good thing.
 
oldman said:
When flying a jet, this cartoon is pretty much true. Autopilot maintains speed, altitude and keeps the aircraft on course. Each pilot uses the autopilot function to his or her liking. I sometimes would not use it until I got to my cruising altitude and speed. (Depends on the weather.) On the other hand, some pilots will turn it on after they get above 10,000 feet and for some pilots, even less. I flew mainly 757's and 767's. In bad turbulence, I would turn off the auto pilot and fly the plane manually. I always wanted to be in control of the aircraft. Other pilots may choose to continue to use the auto pilot in bad weather or turbulence, which is also fine, if they choose to do this. Some pilots use the autopilot to line up the aircraft with the runway on landings, which is also OK and I would do that most times also. I was just one of those pilots that preferred to be in control of the aircraft and to keep the passengers as comfortable as possible. If I would see some bad weather ahead on the plane's radar or computer or hear on the radio other pilots reporting bad air or weather issues, I may ask the tower that has me on their scope (radar) for permission to change course or altitude to get to better air or weather to avoid bad turbulence. A lot of people become nervous when the plane shakes or bounces too much, or if they see a storm outside the plane, especially lightening. It's all about keeping the aircraft safe and the passengers comfortable. Autopilot is a necessity for today's big jets. There is just a lot of work going that needs done on the flight deck and the auto pilot removes some of the stress while the pilot makes adjustments and the first officer is making announcements and doing other duties. I enjoy 'hand-flying" (pilot talk for manual flying), the aircraft as much as possible. Using the stick and rudder always gave me a sense of control in the proper situations, but when cruising with good air and making landings at airports that have systems that support autopilot landings, that's also a good thing.
Click to expand...

That's interesting oldman, but what about when you drive?
 
I use the cruise on Interstate and long straight two lane roads with very little trafic. I do not use it when roads are wet or nfavorable conditions. Another place I do not use ir is hilly rosfd.


PS I can snell I just chose not to do so at this time.
 
"That's interesting oldman, but what about when you drive?"

We drive to Florida and home again maybe three times a year and fly down and back probably three times a year. We use Interstates the whole way, so yes, absolutely, we use cruise control. But, wouldn't it be nice if highways were like the sky and you could drive mostly in a straight line and have autopilot, so you could set your course and speed and then just sit back and let the auto pilot do its job while you wold reclined your seat and just relax a bit?
 
In England I use it on Motorways only when it is dry and as light traffic.

I was interested in the lady who's car took off at 90 mph. All she had to do was turn off the ignition. Ok it would have wrecked the transmission but that is cheaper than losing her or others lives in a crash. Or she could have just selected neutral and rolled to a stop.
I drive Automatics my self.
 
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