Just an aside and I think I have talked about this before:
In Olden Daze.
Springtime in Canada is training season for bush pilots.
We trained with 205- 206- 206L, As 350.
Firstly we made sure the aircraft used were adjusted for proper RPM regime in the now, warm WX. (+15-20C vs winter -35, -20C ) All autos were full ons.
We noticed that some pilots were not totaly comfortable in autos initiated from below 1000AGL....heck they only got to do this once a year so competely understandable.
So we started, when someone was uncomfortable to climb to 4-5000 AGL , make a very easy entry into the auto and just let the fellow fly the aircraft in automode at various speeds and RPMs for Min Rate, Max range ect. while making turns and concentrating only on Speed and RPM control ( as IP you took over responsibility of making sure you were over a suitable area in case the donkey resigned. LOL)
This worked very well and improved their confidence level very quickly. Seldom had to do it more than once or twice.
Just a thought.