Originally Posted by
Phantom Driver
tttoon
Correct. . However , I believe the pertinent word is " regularly" . Congratulations on flying with an enlightened operator that permits you to indulge and hone your skills . However , not all operators can permit that luxury when most flights are in the longer haul category with a pax load of 300 plus , you are part of a heavy crew and there is a battle for sectors to maintain landing currency. Those folks at the back want a smooth ride which the automation delivers .
With all due respect , I don't think all pilots can guarantee to keep the needles centred perfectly on every departure/arrival (mostly RNAV these days) using raw data alone . With FD it is another matter and I believe most operators do encourage hand flying whenever practical . But RAW data on the line in a heavy jet ? I don't think so .
The simulator is the place to do LOTS of this raw data stuff . If you are not up to standard , then that is a fail . Having retired , I am not sure if this is common practice in training departments these days . It was moving in that direction when I left my last outfit .
I would say especially on heavy jets on long haul the company culture should be to take every opportunity you've got. I've got some experience on a detachment with a different operator flying the same type of widebody as my company, with similar (tropical) destinations, and in general, most people were just happy to chuck in the A/P as soon as they could and take it out fully configured and checklists completed. What makes flying a widebody different from a 737 or a C150? The 300 pax should not figure into this, as risk is not increased. I don't understand the invisible wall that prevents someone flying an approach raw data in appropriate conditions from downwind in a big jet? Flying manual thrust is another one: as a passenger, I would much prefer a pilot who has done this regularly for training after briefing it correctly over a guy who hasn't done it in 5 years and suddenly had his heart rate go up by 30 beats when he opened the ATL and saw the A/T was MEL'd.