Richard Portier wrote on Dec 12^th, 2009 at 8:48pm:

Concerning Auto/GS approach mode, it works without problem when the plane is EMPTY (just the 3 officers + 3* 20 or 30 percent of fuel) I made several touch and go at KORD with not problem. BUT if the bird is full passengers + some luggages in cargo + 10 or 20 percent of fuel (typical config after a trip), it seems react like you wrote. Maybe a clue for some fine adjustement in plane.cfg or other files...!? Have you tested with an empty plane ?

Richard, thanks, it never occurred to me that aircraft weight would have anything to do with AP performance, and I have NOT tested with an empty airplane- all of my approaches in this fine bird have been at the end of a 1-2 hour flight that started with full fuel and about 50-80% passenger/baggage loads.

I will do some testing with an empty airplane and see if that cures the AP problems, but even if it does, I hate to have to placard the AP "WARNING: APPROACH MODE UNUSABLE UNLESS AIRCRAFT IS EMPTY"  :D