What is the autopilot minimum for an autoland approach?

What is the autopilot minimum for an autoland approach?

• A. 100' AGL
• B. Rollout/Taxi Speed
• C. CAT II Minimums
• D. CAT III Autoland Minimums

Answer: (B)

The important idea here is what the autopilot is allowed to control during the landing sequence, especially as you transition from the air to the ground. In an autoland, the system flies the approach and touchdown, and then continues to manage the airplane through the rollout on the runway until it’s safe to disengage or hand over to the pilots for taxi. The point at which the autopilot’s involvement is effectively limited to the rollout phase is defined by the rollout/taxi speed. That speed marks the minimum pace at which the autopilot can reliably control and steer the aircraft after touchdown as it slows and exits the runway, making it the appropriate autopilot minimum for an autoland approach. The other options refer to heights or minima for instrument approach categories, not the autopilot’s ground-phase control threshold.

The important idea here is what the autopilot is allowed to control during the landing sequence, especially as you transition from the air to the ground. In an autoland, the system flies the approach and touchdown, and then continues to manage the airplane through the rollout on the runway until it’s safe to disengage or hand over to the pilots for taxi. The point at which the autopilot’s involvement is effectively limited to the rollout phase is defined by the rollout/taxi speed. That speed marks the minimum pace at which the autopilot can reliably control and steer the aircraft after touchdown as it slows and exits the runway, making it the appropriate autopilot minimum for an autoland approach. The other options refer to heights or minima for instrument approach categories, not the autopilot’s ground-phase control threshold.