Originally Posted by
Gyro139
Aircraft was at least Phase 5 with 4 axis enhanced FD. This means that TU (transition up) would have been available to them from zero speed, a great tool in the event of disorientation after departure and below 60kts when the traditional FD modes are not available. As to the safety flyup function, this requires the Collective mode of the FD to have been engaged/captured.
What happened to just being able to fly the aircraft without all the doodads?
Many of us have done thousands of these black night departures without an FD and fully coupled AP.