Auto-throttle lethal potential -Boeing NG checklist.
The revised checklist procedures recently published for the Boeing 737 NG series, has the autothrottle switch armed as part of the after start procedure. This procedure was adopted by United Airlines some years ago. I believe a United Airlines aircraft came close to entering the airport terminal when someone accidently touched the TOGA button after the engines had been started before push back.
For years Boeing recommended that the autothrottle arming should not take place until the aircraft was approaching the departure runway. Presumably there was a sound reason for this at the time. One can only speculate that reason was in respect of Murphy's Law.
With the autothrottle switch armed, and the 737NG TOGA switches hidden from direct view under the thrust lever hand grips, it takes just one momentary lapse of concentration for just one finger to inadvertently activate the TOGA button after engine start, to cause a major disaster - especially after the wheel chocks have been removed and parking brake set off. I have seen it happen in the simulator where the crew were so shocked that neither pilot reacted fast enough to stop the aircraft moving under full power.
Why on earth would Boeing want to change to such a potentially dangerous checklist procedure?