[quote=LeadSled;10108866]DHC8 driver,
Maybe it will come as no surprise to you, but based on now 50+ years flying, and 35 years in airlines, with the usual Check and Training stints, and with little real change in the "technology" in the last 20, I totally disagree.
Indeed, hand flying straight and level can really sharpen up the scan.
It doesn't have to be a raw data hand flown ILS (or any other approach) to be of value in keeping up hand IF and visual flying skills.
Company/manufacturer "recommendations" to leave the auto-throttle engaged when hand flying are seriously misguided.
Tootle pip!![/quote
Lead Sled
Sorry, my bad. You’re clearly a Boeing man. You speak of autothrottles.
I agree with you that on earlier generation aircraft there was some benefit in having a hand fly - but straight and level in normal law with auto thrust (ie. an Airbus with auto-trim, auto every bloody thing). Not very much to be gained there. You just load up the other pilot and increase the risk of something bad happening.
I’m not saying there is no place for hand flying - I’m just saying there are very few opportunities to do any hand flying that is really beneficial.
These days the sim is the only real chance you get and even then most cyclics are written with the need for max use of automation.
I’m sorry I only have 30 years flying experience with mostly training roles.
Last edited by DHC8 Driver; 7th Apr 2018 at 16:01.