Originally Posted by
Icelanta
rubbish.
Refrain from reprogramming the fmc unless you get a new runway, star or waypoints below 10.000ft. or in congested airspace. Even as PM. Keep things simple. Type type type is poor airmanship In the Terminal area, and when I see this on linechecks, you will get a comment on it.
if you get a different speed, deal with it, do your mental maths, the vertical profile indicator will still give you your position compared to the original programmed path, and will continue to do so. Otherwise, learn to interpret the 3x rule, learn how to interpret the speed/altitude/distance for your type and get to know how your aircraft behaves using your instruments and maps, instead of overrelying on a computer.
One could say keeping FMC up-to-date with the situation (route, speed, vertical profile), which allows for high level of automation (LNAV/VNAV) where appropriate, would contribute to a higher situational awareness.
It takes as many actions to change FMC speed on the 737 as it does to switch engine anti-ice on/off - four. Three digits for the speed and execute. Is that too much for a competent pilot to type in?