Originally Posted by
lederhosen
........We have also had some crusty old pros saying that the Airbus flies just like any other aircraft. At one level that is true. But in reality in normal operation it does a lot of the work for you. Which is where we get back to the insidious skill deterioration that automation encourages. Maybe a Corona enforced reduction in flying, plus Airbus skill atrophy.
I agree with the general spirit of your post that I have quoted from. I have also avoided writing any speculation about why this happened.
But come on. The most basic function of every flight is to start descent at a reasonable range from the destination. To slow down and configure in good time. To be fully stable* by 1000' agl, (500' if visual), and to land, or go-around. One cannot blame Airbus or automation dependancy for the pilots' failure to perform this most basic series of operations.
*Which in most definitions means: Fully configured for landing. On speed. On track. On altitude/DME, and Landing checklist completed.