MD-11
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 7; Flight Crew Total 14000; Flight Crew Type 4500
Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Aircraft
Once I got the paperwork; I was looking through the deferrals and the one that concerned me was both autopilot release buttons were inoperative. With both autopilot buttons inoperative; the MEL operating procedures tell us that we are not allowed to select either autopilot after takeoff. The MEL also limits the flight no more than 3 hours and the flight must be flown at or below 25;000 feet because we are not RVSM qualified. I called my Dispatcher and Maintenance before going to the aircraft to see if there was any chance they could repair the autopilot switches before we left; even though I knew what the answer was going to be I thought I would try. Of course they said NO. I then approached an MD-11 [Chief Pilot] and told them I was concerned about having to fly two legs without an autopilot. The response was; well you can fly for 3 hours without the autopilot as per the MEL. I acknowledge that; but responded with I deem it unsafe to fly two legs into the weather in [destination]. The response I got back was; 'well it is up to you; you can refuse the flight and have a hearing like the crew had done the night before or take the flight'. The weather when we arrived required us to hand fly an ILS. There were several cloud layers on the descent. At 8;500 feet; we flew into the top of the last layer and got the runway in sight at 400 feet. Here is the official weather upon arrival; wind 040/03 knots; 4 miles visibility; OVC 600; altimeter 30.16. This is how we conducted this flight - the First Officer and I each hand flew the aircraft for approximately 30 minutes until I; as the Captain; flew the arrival and the ILS. Thankfully; I had an awesome First Officer that was a great asset to the success of this flight.
MD-11 Captain reported expressing concern before departure about the safety implications of flying two legs with no autopilot available; but ultimately agreed to do so.