Boeing Resisted Pilots Calls for Steps On MAX

[MurphyWasRight]

Originally Posted by megan

Automation is as much subject to failure as is the pilot, for the simple reason that the automation is designed by a human. An A320 that wouldn't let the crew flare for landing, writing off the airframe.

http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/8...006_A_ENG1.pdf

True but only to a point. A major difference between pilots and automation is consistency, automation can pretty much be relied on to always do the same thing (right or wrong) in a given a scenario. On the other hand pilot response is less predictable, sometimes they will rise above any realistically predicted response, other times they will fall well below the mark.

The problem then is balancing the two and retaining the best features of both. One problem I sense is that training has devolved into attempts to have pilots behave as automatons with no experience in dealing with situations outside of the expected failure scenarios.
An argument could be made that most things covered by detailed checklists could in fact be automated.