On the 737 NG:
I make my students hand fly manually FD and AT off all the way till cruise alt during line training, same for the descent. Feel the aircraft, get to know te difference between Mach and IAS. Then a visual pattern into a Greek island, all manually raw data. No rules in my company limitting the use of automation, manual flying strongly encouraged. In general manual flying skills are very good.
We do have other problems though.
PS I am familiar with RVSM requirements
Last edited by repulo; 9th Feb 2018 at 18:59.