Originally Posted by FL11967
Poor pilots are not those who cannot fly manual but those who do not have sufficient understanding of the increasingly complex aircraft systems. In particular, the flow on effects and consequences when a part of that system fails.
I'm with Iccy; this is rubbish. Virtually e
very loss of control accident recently has been because the crew couldn't fly. You can memorise reams and reams of books and be able to describe how to build and aeroplane in intricate detail, but if you cannot fly, if you cannot push aside all of that stuff and just keep the thing wings level and with a reasonable power setting, it's all for nought. In fact, there is a good argument that saying we need more and more systems knowledge is covering/hiding the absolute need to be able to basically fly.
Keep/get the aeroplane wings level, in level(ish) flight, with a reasonable power setting/GPS speed, then do your diagnosing. And as Iccy says, if we can identify what the issue/warning is, we have to do what the QRH says. This isn't some gathering of engineers in a room pondering what to do next. Do what the QRH says.
If some weird crazy thing happens that isn't covered, then by all means use your systems knowledge to get yourself out of it, but to my knowledge there hasn't been a recent prang caused by lack of knowledge of an aircraft system.
Of course, it's much easier to test systems knowledge at a computer screen than it is to give pilots initial/continued training in stick and rudder skills...