Why is it every time a crash or serious incident occurs there are many calls to "automate" or "procedualise" out the suspected cause?
In this thread alone there have been calls for ATC to break off a suspected unsafe approach, for ATC to remind pilots to select gear down and I believe I even saw a suggestion to drop the gear automatically if it wasn't already down as the aircraft got below a certain height. Admittedly a lot of these ideas come from armchair critics and Flight Simulator specialists, but over time a lot of these types of ideas have found their way into the system in the name of safety.
Is it not the incorporation of all these so-called safeguards that point towards more of these types of accidents happening in the future?
The pilots get too reliant on the computer and gain very little appreciation of hand flying (and thereby aircraft charecteristics / limitations) as they are often required by SOP's to use the autopilot for the vast majority of the flight. If anything out of the usual comes up, rather than try to problem solve, in many cases I am sure the result is to "let the computer sort it out". Reliance on the computer then further results in loss of awareness, another incident may occur the computer is given an upgrade and the whole circle starts again.
Just me thinking aloud! back to my retirement now.