autopliot 10 degree bank rate or 30?

[philyare1]

hi - would somebody by able to tell me in which circumstances you would alter your bank rate when using the autopilot - I'm assuming 30 degree gives you a sharper turn like when you move on to your next waypoint and 10 degree is for accurately tracking a course to a VOR or ILS?

[zacaviator]

I can't speak for others but when I fly we use it for passenger comfort outside the terminal area primarily. Somewhat opposite to what you suggest we don't use it on departure or arrival. Because it limits the bank angle, our autopilot has a difficult time intercepting a localizer course or VOR/TACAN course if we forget to return the bank angle to normal. At cruise however the computer compensates for the reduced bank angle and begins turns earlier when approaching a waypoint. It isn't able to do this as well on approach because instead of using the computer to intercept final it relies on the actual signal received from the navaids.